We’re continuing our “Home Series” blog posts, which include tips for photo shoots that take place at home - which is an awesome idea on many levels. One’s house is a place of comfort, an escape from the "toils” of the outside world, a home for our pets, and a place of personal expression. For all of these reasons, your personal dwelling makes for an excellent location choice for a photoshoot. Regardless of the photographic genre - wedding, engagement, maternity, newborn, family, or content imagery - photographs taken at home are unique! This week, we are discussing six tips to keep in mind for newborn & baby photo sessions that occur at home.
1 — TIME — 1
Given the nature of photoshoots at home, we recommend starting out with a 90-minute session for family portraits. This will allow for enough time to capture photos both outside and inside the house. In many situations, I may also opt to move furniture or items on tops of tables around to avoid clutter and/or to ensure a nice colour scheme in the shot. If you have a large group of people, a 2-hour session may also be recommended. If you are planning to book a newborn session, these start at 2 hours to allow time to take photos but also to allow time for the inevitable “nappy change” and feeding that will likely be needed.
2 — ACTIVITY — 2
When working with young children, it’s always a great idea to engage in an activity that will be enjoyed. Not only does this help to keep the kids engaged but it also helps me - your photographer - capture images that are more realistic; more candid! You may opt to read a book, to complete a drawing, or to play peek-a-boo! This tip relates back to our first one - that of “Time”; be sure to allow time for a fun activity!
3 — COLOUR — 3
Consider the main colours that are in your home. Do you have yellow walls? Blue throw pillows? Do you notice any “pops” of colour around your house? For example, a flash of red found on a Paddington Bear stuffed animal. How about the colours that are found just outside the house; in the yard or on the patio. Now consider the colour of the outfit you and others will be wearing during the shoot. Ensure that colours match and avoid clashing patterns.
4 — WINDOW LIGHT — 4
There are many ways to use light coming through a window. In one of the photo example above, we see the window light used to create a silhouette. In the other photo example, we see window light used to create soft light. Both ways of using window light can leave very different artistic results. When selecting a room for your indoor photos, ensure that the room has large windows. It’s also a good idea to take note of what time of day the most light comes through that window. For example, does that room get a lot of light in the morning or in the afternoon?
5 — ACTION — 5
Any parent will tell you that their kids move at the pace of lightening. We spoke about the importance of allowing enough time to photograph activities with newborns and babies. These moments will likely lead to us also capturing “action”; whether it is jumping on a bed, shuffling around the room during an “off moment”, or shared kisses. For babies, running outdoors makes for a great shot but it also allows little ones to “burn off some steam”! I usually suggest waiting until the end of the photoshoot for the “action” moments, although they may occur naturally during the session.
6 — COMFORT — 6
Utilize a room in your home where your little one will feel comfortable. This will inevitably allow for the newborn and/or baby to feel relaxed and for photos to be captured more easily. The temperature of the room will also be important, particularly for newborns. Ensure the room is warm enough - or in the summer months, cool enough - for the baby to be comfortable. For certain newborn photos, we’ll want him or her to sleep soundly to allow time to capture close-ups of tiny hands and feet. If you have a White Noise Sound Machine, this is the perfect time to use it! A little white noise goes a long way to help baby sleep right through his or her newborn session!
Do you have any tips you’d like to submit? Or are you interested in booking a session? If so, feel free to reach out:
