The newborn portrait session is pretty much the best part of my job and I truly believe it's the most important portrait session for your baby will ever have. It's the only time to photograph those uniquely newborn characteristics like wrinkles and worried looks, tiny hands and feet, downy soft newborn hair, and screaming like only newborns can do! Try getting artistic portraits, or simply in focus portraits, while holding your baby in one arm, your iPhone in the other and walking around in your sleep-deprived emotional state and you'll never be so happy to see me walk through the door!
Many clients love the look of newborns in the studio and are comfortable packing baby into the car and coming to me. But, many feel more comfortable staying home where they and their baby are still getting used to each other and, frankly, everyone can be in pyjamas! At home, you can be relaxed and not worry about having a "guest" over with a week old baby, piles of baby laundry, scattered bottles, and unwashed hair. I understand what my clients are going through so I am happy to come to your home and do a newborn portrait session in the most low-pressure environment possible.
This week I went to the home of Will, who is 7 weeks old but has only been at home for three days after being born at 30 weeks. He is doing great and weighs a little over 7 pounds now. While I was photographing Will, his Dad turned the tables on me and pointed his lens in my direction! I'm not one to like being in front of the camera but I realized this was a great opportunity to blog to all of you about what it's like to do a newborn shoot in a client's home.
You do not have to clean or shower or put on anything better than sweatpants and t-shirts (a nice t-shirt if you're planning on appearing in the photos!) You do not have to pick up baby laundry that you're folding on the coffee table or the rock band drum kit (Rock!).
You do not need a lot of space. I did Will's photographs in the small nook of space in front of their sliding glass door.
You need a window that gets some light and I will make a mini-studio. Here we used a large reflector that I brought and a baby vibrating chair covered in a solid cream baby blanket. Pillows or a boppy can also work.
Here I am hard at work:
And finally, I get my reward!
Many, many thanks to Graham, Sarah, and Will for welcoming me into their home three days after coming home from the hospital. Also, thanks for letting me share your photographs and your home on the web!
Stayed tuned for a sneak peek of Will's portraits from his newborn session!
