We opted to head out later in the afternoon so that the sun was lower in the sky and we were able to make the most of the amazing light that filters through the trees at this time of day!
Amani was a very well behaved little boy, and together with his enthiusiactic family, we managed to not only take some lovely shots of him by himself, but also group photos and even individual portraits of everyone there.
It was a lovely afternoon for this fun little first birthday photoshoot and I hope they enjoy their delightful family photography!
The birth of a newborn is always an exciting time, especially for the parents. With their tiny hands, feet, and toes, babies have a way of bringing joy and happiness to anyone. As a parent, these feelings are meant to be treasured and never forgotten. However, since babies grow surprisingly quickly, you would want a way to easily store these memories forever.
Our answer to you is with newborn photography. More specifically, you can have your family together for photos that you cherish for a lifetime.
That said, you must keep your baby safe during photoshoots as a top priority. This means that during the shoot, the baby must be safe and cared for at all times.
Tips to Keep Your Baby Safe During Photoshoots
To make sure that you keep your baby baby safe during photoshoots, here are some things you must do:
Keep them warm or cool
Babies cannot regulate their body temperature properly. For this reason, if they are placed in a room that is too cold, their temperature will drop. Also, if they are in a room that is too hot, they will feel hot quickly.
To ensure that your baby stays at a comfortable temperature and that they do not start crying, make sure that the room you are taking your photos in has the temperature controlled. Or if taking photos outside, simply make sure you have ample clothing or coverings available.
As a precaution, learn of the symptoms and signs a baby will show if they are too cold or hot so that you can then take the appropriate action when these signs show up.
In a basket
Do not hold them too tightly
As a parent, you might unknowingly hold your baby tightly in an attempt to keep your baby safe during photoshoots. having a photoshoot done can be quite annatural for a lot of people and this is simply a natural thing to overcompensate doing. This, unfortunately, can hurt the baby since it can stop blood from properly circulating throughout their body.
With this in mind, ensure that you are not accidentally pinching any part of the baby’s body. Try to regularly shift positions, as keeping a baby in one position for too long might block blood from reaching certain areas of their body.
Looking over Mum and Dad’s shoulder
Maintain a clear airway
Sometimes, when your baby’s head is in a particular position, their airways might be constricted. They will not be able to tell you that they cannot breathe, so it is always vital that you make sure the baby’s head is positioned correctly. Also, if you are wrapping your arms around the baby, do not press around their neck too tightly.
Baby in Basket
Talk with the photographer
Ensuring that your baby is safe does not only fall on your hands but the photographer’s as well. They, too, must ensure that your baby is comfortable and can breathe properly.
You should always check that your photographer has a current working with children check issued by the government, as it’s a legal obligation in Australia to do so. While also checking if they are specially trained for working with children.
Because of this, when you choose a photographer, have a chat with them first. Talk about some of your concerns regarding your baby and speak up during the actual session if you experience anything you’re not comfortable with.
Quickly sidestepping into my own personal case – I happen to be a registered teacher in South Australia with special training in working with young children.
Hadley sitting pretty
Remember, safety is always the priority, especially for your baby. Before you go for a photo-taking session, always be prepared. This can mean either packing up some food for the child or bringing in extra clothes in case the venue is cold. Just try to think of any contingency to keep your baby safe during photoshoots!
Never forget to have a chat with the photographer beforehand. Ensure that he or she knows of your concerns and that you are entirely comfortable working with them. Otherwise, look for someone else you can trust who has more experience working with babies.
Things to Avoid When Taking Photos of Newborn Babies
Newborn photography is something that excites many parents. Photos of babies are beautiful mementoes, and they can also make great gifts for when these children are older. However, it can be challenging to pull off these types of photos. Here are some mistakes people make when photographing newborn babies and how to remedy them.
5 Things to Avoid When Taking Photos of Newborn Babies
Mistake #1 – They shoot in poor lighting
One of the common errors that beginners make is that they shoot without regard for exposure and lighting. Since cameras record differences in light, illuminating a subject is the quickest way to improve picture quality.
Photo editing software can do many things; they can crop photos, modify the background, and even remove red-eye in subjects. However, no software can solve lousy lighting. Although there are tools that can adjust lighting, a post-processed photo will still look subpar to one taken in good light.
baby mirella
Mistake #2 – They want to capture a ‘perfect’ photo
Like anything that has to do with young children, it is a lot of work trying to photograph babies. Newborns, especially, will not hold a pose unless when asleep. Even then, they might shift around. If you are aiming for Anne Geddes-level pictures, know that there is a lot of planning involved.
The best photos are taken when the little ones are not posed awkwardly. They are just sitting, sleeping, or playing as they would, and the photographer only captures them as they are. Let your child go about his or her business, and snap the photos without overthinking.
baby shoot
Mistake #3 – They are not always ready to shoot
Seasoned newborn photographers are always ready with backup cameras, batteries, and memory cards. It will be a letdown if you miss important moments like your baby smiling, laughing, or seeing something for the first time.
Experience is the only way to learn how to avoid the special moments, which is why the better photographers out there can charge quite a bit more for their work, while cheaper photographers may not have as much experience and/or equipment under their belt.
Happy bub
Mistake #4 – They rely on DIY too much
Though it is perfectly fine if you want to document your child’s everyday life, there are moments when hiring a professional is the better choice. For example, if you are sending birth announcements, a professional photo that your loved ones can frame is the best option.
Birthday or holiday cards are also better if professionally shot. In the end, you will be the one to compile all of these in albums, so you should get something classic which you can look back on fondly.
Happy bub in the grass
Mistake #5 – They do not make backups
Backing up your data is essential for work and school documents, but you should extend that to your photos as well. Losing your photos is definitely one of those things to avoid when taking phtoos of newborn babies! These photos show memories that you cannot otherwise retrieve. If you lose your only images of an event, these are gone forever. You can revisit the place and retake those photos, but the memories you will have are different from the original.
Capturing a baby’s first moments is priceless, and SvenStudios can help you with that. We work out of Adelaide and specialise in newborn photography, and we have been accredited by the Australian Institute of Professional Photography while also being a registered teacher! Get in touch with us today to learn more.
I was excited to meet little baby Ellie and her big sister Ava at their family’s little photoshoot they had a few weeks ago! It’s always lovely to see families are eagre to capture this moment in their lives for future reminicing. It’s also a great parenting tool for little ones as they grow up!
We began with a short walk in the nearby park to make use of the lovely light that was filtering in through the trees for some cute family shots! After a bit of bribery of Ava with some bikkies, she was co-erced to be a part of some of the photos we tried to get, while their parents also managed to get into some of them too!
We tried not to stay out in the open for too long, as little baby Ellie was getting a little chilly so we head back up the road to my little newborn photography studio setup.
Family photo in the evening sun
Sisters together
Family walking through woods
Family photo next to tree
Family photo in the trees
Family walking along the pond
Mum and Bub 2
Little one looking back
Sisters
Baby Ellie in a basket
While back home we used the studio lighting for some newborn shots of baby Ellie and her parents. She was very well behaved!
baby ellie lying down
baby Ellie looking at camera
baby in a basket 2
baby in a basket 3
baby in a basket 4
baby looking over shoudler
Mum kissing baby
Was a lot of fun meeting these two little ones and their family for their shoot!
Welcoming a baby into the family is an amazing and touching experience. As parents, you may find yourself just staring at your little bundle of joy, holding their small fists, and caressing their tiny, rosy feet. After all, it’s a magical moment that you’ve waited for so many months for!
As your tiny human grows each day, they start to do things they never did before, melting your heart with their little smiles and occasional silly faces. That said, it’s a wonderful idea to work with professional newborn photographers to capture these milestones and precious memories! They have the skills, experience, and techniques to take photographs of your child that you’ll surely treasure forever.
4 Things you should know about newborn photography
If you’re about to have a photo session for your three-month-old baby, however, there are things you should know to ensure that the shoot goes smoothly—and that you get great pictures in the end!
The Poses will Depend on Your Child’s Capability
At 12 weeks, your baby can already kick their legs about, but they’re still not strong enough to push themselves up. Considering this, please know that we can use as many bean bags or blankets as we have to support them, but we are still limited by what your child can do. After all, we want to make sure that they are comfortable and safe throughout the shoot.
Having photographs of your child carrying their own body weight completely may still be impossible at this point. However, there are other shots we can explore, such as baby on tummy and baby on back shots!
Happy bub
We Need Your Help to Make Them Smile
Capturing your baby’s smile is always the highlight of any photography session. Unfortunately, it can be tricky to achieve this, as they usually hold their smiles for less than a second.
We will have you come as close as an arms’ length for your child to recognize you. Babies around this age often smile and laugh at hearing their parents’ voice or seeing their faces, so your presence can help us get that precious shot!
Smiles
The Fewer Changes, the Better
We don’t want to tire your baby out throughout the session, so it’s best to limit the poses or setups to a small number. They can get easily exhausted after being moved around so much. Considering this, we’ll take into considering your child’s capabilities and mood during the actual shoot and make the necessary adjustments.
Moreover, we also suggest limiting passing the baby around for family photos. Instead, we can arrange for you more intimate cuddling poses—just the parents nestling the baby in their arms or lap. In this way, your baby can relax, and we can capture these special moments without a hitch!
Mummy cuddles
Don’t Forget the Milk
While we will do our best to finish the photoshoot as quickly as possible, the whole process will still take time, especially if you have a few more setups you want to achieve. That said, it’s best to keep your baby happy and satisfied by keeping them well fed. Take advantage of the break time to feed them so that they can continue flashing those adorable expressions once the shoot resumes.
Baby Bub
Three months is an exciting age, as this is when they start moving around and amazing you with their capabilities. Sadly, they won’t stay this small and adorable for long, so you have to make every moment count!
This is where a professional photography session is very helpful. It helps you capture these milestones and, ultimately, immortalise the experience of being able to hold your tiny human in your arms. Hopefully this short list of things parents must know about newborn photography gives you a little insight on what the whole process is like.
If you’re looking for a professional newborn photographer in Adelaide to capture your baby’s beautiful moments, get in touch with us at SvenStudios! We conduct our sessions where you feel most comfortable. On top of this, we draw on our many years of experience in working with children to produce incredible photographs that you and your family will cherish forevermore.