This guest post has been written by Abi Moore, an amazing professional newborn photographer based in Windsor.
I never had newborn photos with my first born and I always regretted it when I saw everyone else's adorable pictures of their little ones. When we had Ava, I was delighted when lockdown eased right after she was born and we managed to book the first weekend of 'social distancing photography/photos with a face mask'. The photos were stunning; the hardest part was narrowing down the ones we wanted to keep most.
There are so many different styles of newborn photography and we can often feel concerned about choosing the 'right' photographer.
Abi shares her top tips for choosing and planning a newborn photoshoot below.
The first few days, weeks and months with your newborn will pass in a blur; before you know it, twelve months will have flown by and you’ll have a baby that has tripled in weight, is on the move (crawling or even walking!) and starting to talk.
They don’t stay tiny for long!
Once those moments are gone, you can’t get them back.
Photographs will help you remember how tiny your sleepy little bundle once was.
However, I know that handing your precious new baby over to a photographer can be daunting, so I’m sharing my top tips for choosing and preparing for a newborn photoshoot.
1. Consider safety, training and experience There is no regulatory body that governs newborn photography, so it can sometimes be tricky to tell who is a trained photographer and who is a keen amateur trying their hand at a business. As such, it’s really important to check that your photographer has been trained in how to safely handle and pose newborn babies, is experienced in doing so, and holds insurance. Any good photographer will be happy to explain their training and qualifications if you ask. If they are a qualified member of a professional organisation (such as The Guild of Photographers, RPS, BIPP or SWPP) this will give you a little extra confidence as qualifying with these bodies ensures photographers are of a professional standing.
2. Know your style Consider what you’d like to see when looking back on your photos. There are a variety of photography styles available, from ‘lifestyle’ photos of families in their own homes, to those that are more stylised, themed or artistic, using props and outfits. My style is very natural, I’ll photograph babies both on their own as well as with parents and siblings. I use simple backdrops and swaddles for babies so they remain the main focus in the image. My shoots include a little posing, but only positions that you might naturally find a baby in. When choosing a photographer, look through their website and ask yourself if you’d like to see those kinds of images on display in your home.
3. Location, location, location Your choice of photographer may also be guided by whether you’d prefer to visit a studio or be at home for your shoot. I bring everything to you, the benefit being that you can relax on your own sofa while I photograph your little one. Some mummies don’t even change out of their PJs until I take the family photos and that’s fine by me! I’ve been to many homes of families with newborns, so I’ve seen all the chaos that new babies bring. I don’t judge and I definitely don’t want you to tidy up, so just relax knowing I’ve seen it all before. I’m careful with my framing and you won’t see any of it in your photos!
4. Timing is important Hopefully you’re reading this whilst still expecting your new arrival. If so, now is the time to get in touch with your chosen photographer. Ideally a newborn shoot should take place in baby’s first few weeks. We’ll pencil in a shoot, usually a couple of weeks after your due date, and will move it if your baby is much earlier or later than expected. If your baby has already arrived, then don’t panic… We won’t turn you away for your baby being ‘too old’ and will try to fit you in as soon as we can. It’s worth bearing in mind though, that the older your baby gets, the less curled up and sleepy they’ll be, so some of the poses and photos you see may not be achievable. However, wide open eyes and little smiles are more likely, so all is not lost! Your photographer will advise you how much time you should allow for your session. I suggest approximately three hours. This is not constant photography, but allows plenty of time for feeds, changes and anything else your baby needs. Of course, if your baby is fast asleep and photographed within an hour or two, I'll be out of your way as quick as I can.
5. What to wear and prepare Upon booking I’ll give you information on what to wear and prepare. I bring everything we’ll need, including swaddles and outfits for baby; however, you may also have special mementoes or outfits you’d like photographed, so please have these ready. When I’m photographing the whole family, I suggest keeping parents’ and siblings’ clothing simple and neutral. This will keep the attention on you and baby, without being distracted by bright colours, patterns or big pictures on clothing. On the morning of your shoot, I advise feeding baby as normal and following your usual routine. Dress them in something that’s easy to remove so they aren’t too disturbed when I undress and swaddle them; and avoid tight bands (such as socks) that may leave marks on their skin.
6. Join in. Aside from choosing a trained photographer, if there’s one piece of advice I wish I could give to all new parents, that’s to be in the photos too. If we take family photos and you decide not to frame them, at least you’ll have them to look back on if you later change your mind. If we don’t, then we can’t go back in time if you later regret it. Including parents in photos shows how tiny your baby is compared to you; there’s nothing cuter than a little hand curled around a parents finger. And older children love to see themselves as babies snuggled in their parents’ arms. Having had two children myself, I understand that you may be feeling tired and not your most glamorous. However, I use lighting and posing that hides tired eyes and squishy tummies. I promise to ensure the photos are flattering, however you are feeling!
7. Relax and enjoy yourself Lastly, I want your photoshoot to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Ideally, I’d like your baby to sleep for some of their shoot as this is when we’ll get the best photos. However, it’s always nice to capture a few where they’re awake, and I have lots of techniques to help settle them too, so it’s normal if we spend a bit of time getting them to sleep. If you have older children, it’s ideal to have both parents there or another adult on hand, so that once we’ve taken family and sibling photos, they can be entertained out of the way to ensure you and baby can relax for the rest of the shoot. Over the years in this job, I have been weed on, my backdrops have been pooed on, and I’ve photographed babies that want to feed constantly or do not want to sleep. I’m very patient and everything is washable, so please don’t worry if you feel it’s not going to plan. Every baby is unique, and therefore, every newborn shoot is unique too, so I approach it with a very flexible plan!
Abi Moore is a trained and experienced newborn photographer based in Windsor, working across Berkshire and beyond. She brings a studio kit to you for professional baby photography in the comfort of your own home. You can find out more about Abi’s newborn photography on her website:
