Props & Preparation for a Newborn Photography

Although I only shot one time for a newborn; I am ready to take my newborn images to the next level.

When I was shooting  Emma Grace, I was not very lucky because Emma did not want to cooperate all the way through the session. First of all the shooting was at my home. Emma was almost 2 weeks old. When she arrive with her parents she was sound a sleep as newborn baby supposed to be. But as soon as the mother try to change her or try to take off her clothes she started to cry. From then on; she just won't stop crying unless the mother give her a bottle or the father hold her for a little while. Then when we tried to put on the head bands, she started to make a face as if she is trying to say she does not want to be dressed up. So the session was just not completely successful like I planned. It seems to me, Emma did not want to be photographed. Period. At this point, her mom and I gave up. Most of the time, her mom handled her. I was just touching her softly on her forehead to put her to sleep. She did quiet for a short period of time but then when we tried to move her to make a pose she moaned again. I did have a soft toy with a mechanical part that make a soothing sound like rain, ocean, etc. for her to sleep positioned next to her. But this did not help either.

Anyways, if you curious about the result you can check it here.

My heart and favorite are always photograph newborn, maternity and senior. If you ask me. But I photograph anybody simply because I love interact with people. Direct them to make a pose, try to create a good composition including style them. This is my passion. I am an artist. I am a painter before starting the new photography business. And I do still paint in my spare time.

I am also a crafter. I love working with my two hands; gluing, tearing, cutting, sewing them together to create a DIY piece from something. This is my nature and got these traits from my mother who is a seamstress and a good cook. 

It is only natural that I created these little head bands for newborn baby girl. Some I created from a vintage silk flower and some from a new silk flower. I tried to get the 'EllyaPhotography' look for my newborn photography. Although like Emma's mom; she brought her own props and head bands. So in the end; I did try mine and the clients'. If only I could get Emma cooperate.  In any session; let it be a senior I always like to work together. I want my client to have fun too. We discuss about everything in advance. And I answered all questions before hand. 

I enrolled myself on how to learn to photograph a newborn on an online course in the past. Nothing intensive; it was a short course. The rest I learned from youtube or reading from other photographers' blog about shooting a newborn. In this course I learned on how to handle the baby (oh, I am a mother of a 28 years old by the way and I love kids) from keep on washing your hands with anti bacterial wipes, a trick try to put the baby to close her eyes and finally fall asleep.  And of course the shooting itself and the kind of props I should have. To be honest; newborn is the most intensive labor job in photography. Simply because you have to have a lot of props with you all the time. Ton of blankets,  head bands,  hats, and sometime the heater during winter. Not to mention the photography equipment like, tripod, backdrop stand, umbrella lighting when the house has limited  natural light coming in. So it is the most labor intensive work like, carrying, setting up, etc. Although in the end it is not difficult at all. Unlike shooting a senior, they are an adult. They can carry stuff to the location and most of the time they know what to wear and pose. But the basic principal it is all the same.

I  sewn and stuffed my own little pillows to support the baby to make the poses. These pillows has it's own function. Two to create a butterfly pose while the other to create a frog pose. And the rest just to support her little legs and arms. They are all position under the blanket where the baby lay on.

So here are my equipment and props.

On below pictures I used 'the soothing sound toy' as a baby model. These are the positions that I was talking about with pillows under the blanket to support the baby to create poses. Of course there are so many positions for the newborn to pose. I am using a stiff toy who can not be posed accordingly.  I love seeing the part of face is sharp and the back of the toy's body is blurred (bokeh). This effect will occur to a human baby as well.

The color of the images are endless. Recently, I am trying to get the look of a roll of film effect of pictures. It might not look good for a newborn, there is no way of knowing until I have a real human baby. But then again, I can create so many effect in color of images through Photoshop Lightroom 5 with or without presets. So I am super excited about my next newborn session.

These are the head bands and tiny vintage flower crowns for the newborn baby girl to wear. I do not have a lot for baby boy since they are not wearing flower on their heads; I am going to start to look and collect some hats for them. I think they are so adorable. Last seen here. I love fashion and I love vintage, since I was a young girl I always try to look different. I do not like to look the same as what others are wearing. This is just me. So I always try to create and style my own signature styling.

These are blankets and baby wrappers. I still collect and buy new baby wrapper when I see something pretty and suitable my budget.

These are basket and filler for the baby to be tucked in. The wood planks are vintage. Bought them from an old barn in Vermont. I styled them together to see how the over all colors are going to be with these vintage plank wood background. All I need is a baby girl and I think she would look, pretty  simple and elegant. Which the style I always love so much in any styling of fashion, photography and home decor projects.

These are the little pillows that I created. And the baby lamb soothing sound toy.

I do not have a studio just to dedicate for portrait or a newborn photography. But my home has so much natural light coming in. We have been in this home for about 6 weeks. The openness feel of the whole rooms what I chose to live in this home. I know it is good for my photography business while shooting in door and in my home. It is a photographer's heaven when they are able to shoot in this environment with a lot of natural light coming in. Don't be surprised if at first I ask you to come to my home for this particular reason. But I am willing to travel to your home as long as you have a lot of natural sunlight source coming in your room for me to shoot. We can discuss about this before hand. Other wise the umbrella lighting will solve the problem although they say it is not the same. I have yet to test this fact.

It is only natural we, beginner photographers learned from others who already in the business for a long time. And try to incorporate their style with your own signature style. Since the sources are so much out there; you won't go wrong with what you picked in the end. As long as you know it is appropriate for (in this case) a newborn baby girl and boy or a twin. Here are the example of other new born photographers.

Source; here.

Source; here.

This is not my image. But I love this style. Following to the newborn session; I would add a package for what I called 'the newborn is an older baby' package. This is good for Mom and her once newborn to be photographed because she is now a little older that she can be carrying and holding such a way to be photographed with the mom.

Source; here.

Ohhh....what a darling little picture this is. Now she is much older.

Source;here.

Well, just to update you on how excited I am to shoot another newborn. Hopefully she or he will cooperate this time. And from the bottom of my heart I thank Emma's mom for trusting me to shoot her newborn; Emma Grace.  The experiences was just beyond anything I could imagine. Because of her; I am much more confidence shooting a newborn for the future.

Thank you so much for reading!