Tips for New Parents to Get Great Newborn Portrait Photographs

The birth of a baby is a momentous occasion for the family and every parent wants to capture the special moments in the first few days after the baby’s birth.  Newborn portrait photographs can be done by a professional photographer, but you as a parent can capture so much more of your baby’s first few days as you spend so much more time around the little one.  Here are some tips for new parents to get great newborn portraits.

Catch the special moments:   

Newborns sleep a lot during the first few days and when they are awake they are probably feeding or crying.  However, in between there are those fleeting moments when they will suddenly smile or chuckle.  Be on the lookout for these moments.  They make for gorgeous newborn portraits.
    

Lighting:  

It is best to use natural light when photographing newborns.  It ensures they are comfortable and gives the portraits a softer look.  If possible avoid a flash totally.  If you absolutely must use it, try bouncing the flash light off the ceiling or a wall onto the baby instead of directing the flash at their face.
    

Keep your camera handy:   

Newborns have moments which can be incredibly cute.  However, you never know when they are going to happen and they are generally fleeting.  The only way to capture these is to keep your camera handy at all times, especially when they are awake.  This way you are prepared when they do something cute or funny.
    

Take loads of pictures:   

This is further to the above point.  Keep your camera close and click loads of pictures of your newborn.  Often there are minute changes in even the angle of their face or head that will make the difference between an average portrait and a gorgeous one.  Keep clicking and rest assured you will get some amazing portraits.
    

Document the firsts:  

In the first few days, there are so many moments that are firsts and that you want to capture.  The first time you held her, the first time she looked at you, her first smile, the first time grandparents and other family members held her.  These may not all be exactly portraits but all the same you can capture them.  They will make great memories to show her when she grows up.