Unlike family photography, which is most popular in the Spring and Fall, babies can be born any time of year, even in the dark of winter. As we well know, living in Seattle, some days can be dark and grey. One of the challenges of being an in-home newborn photographer is photographing newborns in small, dark homes. This does not limit me or stop me from taking beautiful photos of your newborn at home! Throughout the years, I’ve honed my skills to give my clients the best results possible. One client recently asked if all of my clients had magazine shoot ready homes or if I was a magician… I assured her that I am, in fact, a magician! 😉
Lighting
The first thing I do when I come into your home is to assess where the best natural light is in your home. When it comes to lighting, the best place to shoot is near windows, which can provide natural light that is soft and flattering for newborns. I look for a window that provides a lot of light and position your baby so that they are facing the window. This will help to ensure that they are well-lit and that their features are visible in the photos.
Even if it’s darker in your home, I will almost always turn off all of the artificial lights in your home (lamps, overhead lighting, etc.) Artificial lighting tends to cast unflattering shadows on faces, and is usually a different “color” or “temperature” than natural light (i.e. it will look really blue or really yellow in photos!)
I can (and have) do entire newborn sessions in just one room, too! So don’t stress about having a ton of options!
Clothing
Another trick I use for light is to suggest that you wear white or light-colored clothing that can help to reflect any available light and make the scene appear less dark. I even wear white, myself, for this reason! I’m like my own natural light reflector! I want to use any available tool to create more light, so clothing works as a reflector to shine more light on my subjects. Similarly, dressing your baby in a simple white (or light) onesie or swaddle (or au natural) can help to brighten up the images.
Bedding
One of my favorite places to capture the connection between you and your new baby is by getting you all to snuggle on your bed. Similarly to the clothing choices, choosing light neutral or white bedding can help to reflect any available light and make the scene appear brighter.
Timing
The best time of day to take photos is during the late morning or early afternoon when the light is most bright outside. This gives us the best chance of having more natural light inside your home. I am always flexible however to plan your shoot around your family’s schedule.
Equipment
Knowing which equipment to bring to a session is a key part of my job. For newborn shoots, I like to use a wide-angle lens to help capture the entire room and create a sense of space, even in a small room. This allows me to get close to the baby and capture their tiny details, such as their fingers and toes, while still including the surrounding environment in the shot.
There’s nothing I love more than photographing newborns in my client’s homes. Being at home creates a feeling of comfort and calm which is important in the early days of new parenthood. I also think taking newborn photos at home is essential in telling the story of your baby’s birth, and where you were at this season in your life. This is the space you brought your baby home to!
Although small, dark spaces require some careful planning and attention to detail, it is still possible to capture beautiful and memorable photos. My goal is to be able to create stunning newborn photos that you’ll treasure for years to come.
