How to Take Your Own Newborn Photos in Quarantine

TIPS FOR TAKING YOUR OWN

NEWBORN PHOTOS

CONGRATS! YOU'VE HAD A NEW BABY... ...and in the craziest time ever! A normal new mom has so many emotions after giving birth and I can only imagine that you are feeling that even more with the pandemic.

Maybe you had newborn photos scheduled that you had to cancel, or maybe you hadn't even thought about it-regardless, you can still get some beautiful photos of your newborn right on your phone. I'm giving you some tips and tricks of my own to get the very best photos you can!

TIP 1 TIME IT RIGHT The best part of taking your own newborn photos?

You are on your own timeline--no photographer telling you when to be ready! Babies tend to be easiest to photograph when they are sleepy--and they tend to be sleepiest in the first 4-10 days of life, so aim to photograph then if you are up to it.

Past that point? DO NOT WORRY--you can still get awesome photos. Make sure that your baby is fed, has a clean diaper and are in a warm room. If you have a portable heater, you can put that on the baby to keep them cozy and sleepy.

TIP 2

NATURAL LIGHT You always want to shoot in natural light to get the best results. So I'd pick a room and a time of day when it's nice and bright in your home. Turn the overhead lights off and have the sun shine ON the baby (you'll get lots of shadows if you have the baby in front of the window). Don't be afraid to move furniture around if you need to. Sometimes the best light won't be in the prettiest part of your home. I've shot entire sessions in the corner of one client's home and in the stairwell of another-just because that's where the light happened to be the best!

TIP 3 LESS IS MORE I like to keep things clean in my photos. So although there are so many really adorable baby clothes and blankets, I tend to lean towards keeping the baby in a white onsie and on a clean background (like a chair or a couch) and wrapping them in a swaddle. Changing up a bow or blanket can add pops of color too. Make sure the onsie you have for your baby fits snug. They will look swallowed in outfits that are too big.

TIP 4 DON'T BE AFRAID TO GET IN & CLOSE Some of my favorite photos are close up shots of teeny tiny baby feet and hands because these kids grow SO FAST! Make sure to capture their chubby little cheeks, the swirl of their hairline, and the wrinkles in their arm and leg chub.

And hand over your camera and make sure you get IN some of the photos too even if you don't want to at all. You don't have to post or share any photos you are in if you don't want to, but you'll want to remember how tiny these little babies were in your arms down the road--I promise!

TIP 5 PORTRAIT MODE & EDITING If you have portrait mode on your phone. try using it!

It does a really fabulous job of making photos look more professional.

And don't be afraid to try editing your photos! You can play around with them right in your camera app or you can purchase editing tools to help enhance your photos! You can find my presets here, via etsy.

And I'm offering new moms $5 off during quarantine using code "newmom" . You can load them right to your phone and take your pictures to the next level.

KEEP IN MIND...

Documenting these moments are so important, but not always easy. Just do the best you can with what you have and these tips! When it's safe to go back out in the world, don't hesitate to do professional "newborn photos" regardless of what age your baby is.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT! AND IF YOU SHARE ANY PHOTOS, PLEASE TAG ME SO I CAN SEE!

@JANELLECARMELAPHOTOGRAPHY JANELLECARMELA@GMAIL.COM JANELLECARMELA.COM

EGAYOV • 5 EGAP

GOOD LUCK! YOU GOT THIS!!