Newborn shoot TOMORROW!!! -- need tips!

[Indigo November]

Hoping to hear from some of the great newborn photographers here (i.e Susan, Ruthie and Private).
I offered to do a newborn photo shoot for a friend. I'm not getting paid, just doing it for experience/fun/photos to my website.
I'm not too worried about things, but if you have any tips or things to avoid I'd love to hear them!
Anything I should bring (besides my camera, lol)? I am planning on bringing a reflector, is there anything special I'll want to bring? We'll probably be doing this outside as long as it doesn't rain, as their house doesn't get a lot of natural light coming in. What should I do if it has to be inside? I don't have too much in the way of lighting.... They don't expect much since I am just doing it for experience, but I want it to go as well as possible.

TIA for your help!

[RuthieMae]

I think the main thing you need besides your camera.. is a beanbag! I do almost all my newborn shots on a bean bag. I also use a boppy (u shaped nursing pillow) for many of the shots. A variety of different blankets. If you're shooting naked newborn shots, your blankets will need to be changed often because they will pee on them almost every time...lol
If you have to shoot inside, just look for the room with the best light and place your subject at about a 45 degree angle from your light source/window. Once you get baby in position, move around and shoot from different angles...so you'll get completely different poses/images before trying to reposition them into another pose.
hth...and good luck!!

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by RuthieMae

I think the main thing you need besides your camera.. is a beanbag! I do almost all my newborn shots on a bean bag. I also use a boppy (u shaped nursing pillow) for many of the shots. A variety of different blankets. If you're shooting naked newborn shots, your blankets will need to be changed often because they will pee on them almost every time...lol
If you have to shoot inside, just look for the room with the best light and place your subject at about a 45 degree angle from your light source/window. Once you get baby in position, move around and shoot from different angles...so you'll get completely different poses/images before trying to reposition them into another pose.
hth...and good luck!!

Yeah, like she knows anything. She's only shot about a gazillion newborn sessions, and only millions were worth a second glance.



Totally agreed, where the hell did you think I learned? If shooting inside at the 45 degree angle as Ruthie mentioned, a good rule of thumb is to look for a butterfly shaped soft shadow under baby's nose. Then you know you don't have harsh or flat lighting.

PS I was on the phone with Ruthie tonight picking her brain for ages.

[jak5887]

Great tip on the butterfly shape - - Do you have an image you can share as an example of that?

[Indigo November]

Thanks Ruthie and Susan! It looks clear today, so we should be able to do it outside. OK, so beanbag and blankets... Got it! Thanks!

[private]

I also always have a space heater with me to keep them nice and warm, for indoor sessions. and to lull them asleep, I have a white noise Ap on my phone that I "play" for them.

I also put a garbage bag or plastic sheet under the blanket, when taking pics with mom I have her hold the baby facing forward (away from her chest) first and the last pose is when the baby is facing her chest (they always want to nurse when they smell mommy)

And I am longing for a nice day for an outside newborn session - Good luck to you (remember, open shade is your friend)

And what everyone else said. Oh, one more thing, if baby wont sleep, have mom run her fingers from the top of her forhead to the tip of baby's nose, for some reason they always close their eyes, but be ready, cuz they WILL open them again.

[Indigo November]

Thanks all, and wish we luck. Only 20 min. 'till I'm supposed to be there.
It's a beautiful day, so at least that's on my side!

[naeno]

Originally Posted by Indigo November

Thanks all, and wish we luck. Only 20 min. 'till I'm supposed to be there.
It's a beautiful day, so at least that's on my side!

I can't wait to see them! You'll do a wonderful job!

[Indigo November]

Thanks everyone! So, I got the photos off the camera now, and I think I have about 40 good ones.
Is that a good amount? It turned into more of a family photo shoot, lol.
I started processing them so maybe I'll post some here later.

Thanks again!

[private]

cannot wait to see - 40 is more than enough...