ooh baby!

It's true, sisters! My baby girl is finally here and I am completely in love! But let's be honest: I am also more than ready to kiss her with my brand new 50mm 1.4 lens :) I cannot tell you how long I've dreamed of taking baby photos with shallow depth of field and loads of softness...

But lens aside, since I know so many of you are total pros when it comes to photographing babies and children in general, I'd love for you to share with me some of your favorite kiddo shots, as well as tips for photographing them. I need loads of inspiration to get through these nursing days, so don't be shy now. Share your most delicious baby shots and tricks with us today.

Comments

[blue elephant photography]

awww my! she looks so sweet and so content ♥ i've done baby shots before but not as little as her, more like 7 months old squiggly and squirmy baby of my friend =) i just had to do long continuous shot since he wouldn't stay still! lol
http://www.blueelephantphotography.com/griswoldgallery.html

[sarah]

She's so lovely! Congratulations and many blessings to your family.

[Maria Corafel Thomas]

how precious.... she is so beautiful would love to see more pictures soon

[Rebeca]

Congratulations!!! Yes, this lens is sooo great for baby shots!! you are going to love it!!
My kids are no longer babies, but I had the oportunity to photographs a newborn just yesterday, hope you like it! It was hard since she wouldn't sleep at all... but I'm quite happy with it!

http://rebecalagos.blogspot.com/2010/09/naroa-246365.html

[Jen at Cabin Fever]

I have yet to photograph a baby that tiny, but I do have several friends who are pregnant! I think I'll be able to persuade them to donate their little one for my lens. I'd love to know more about lenses and settings for baby portraits!

http://www.cabinfeververmont.com

http://www.nekphotography.blogspot.com

[Julie]

Love the photo! She looks perfectly pretty and seems so dainty and sweet. Here are photos from one of my favorite newborn sessions with a girl:

http://julierollinsphotography.com/blog/?p=1066

I also posted a shot that I was able to grab where she was smiling and you can see that here:

http://julierollinsphotography.com/blog/?p=971

I am always posting the newborn sessions on my blog/FB, they are my favorite! I also have a good selection of them on my website.

My tips are very very warm room - heater nearby - baby btwn 5-10 days old and make sure baby has a full tummy. 98% of the newborns I shoot are 5-8 days old and I do them all in my studio so I can have everything right there. A newborn session after 2wks of age is not a "newborn session" - my clients will then just be booking a regular session. The newborn session typically last about 3-4 hours but the baby literally sleeps almost the entire time and only wakes to eat.

You will have so much fun - shooting with your 50 1.4 is the way to go! Find the setting you love the most, mine is at a
1.8 or a 2 with shutter speed at at least 200. Can't wait to see the images :)

[Valerie]

Congratulations! I was a still life photographer and even though my son is 20 months now, I still feel like I'm fumbling to learn a whole new way of being at home behind the camera. Teeny newborns are life still life tableaus, but soon kids get so wiggly! I can't afford a stellar camera, so I have to keep my Canon Rebel on auto and put my energy into finding backgrounds that don't distract. My strategy is to take dozens of shots and narrow down to two or three that may not be stunning photos but capture sweet life. I've learned to be at peace with baby blur. Learning to be a baby photographer is so much like being a mom -- finding peace and focus and balance in the middle of happy chaos you can't control! :o)

http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2010/04/walkin-in-sunshine.html

And I've learned to be a little more goofy...
http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2010/09/pig-it.html

[jen]

I just want to say congratulations! she is beautiful!

[georgia]

i wish i had a photo to share.
i've taken a few of friends' babies,
but nothing to write home about.
i'm far from a pro, but i definitely want to learn.
that's why i'm excited for my sis-in-law and one of my best friends
to be having babies very soon... so i can practice.

and i wish i had my own little bundle to photograph.
still waiting for that day.

but though i have no photo to share,
i wanted to say congratulations on a wonderful blessing
and gift that has been delivered to you.
she is so so beautiful, and she looks like a precious joy.

[Ashley]

Congrats, She is beautiful!!! Very exciting,

This is one of my favorite pics of my son, I took it when he was 5 days old, I wasn't going for any fancy props just wanted a pic of him sleeping, I put a blanket on the rocking chair kept him warm and snapped away
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40383774@N07/4663365182/

But the key to taking pics of babies I hear is keeping them warm even putting a heating pad under the blanket helps
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40383774@N07/4680874862/

[brittany]

wonderful news! nothing like a sweet new baby to get your camera moving!
for me, it has always been about taking lots of shots. eventually, you will get exactly what you were looking for.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivyerfamily/4296053928/

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

This couldn't have come at a more perfect time. I'll be doing a newborn shoot for the first time in about a week! EEEEEEEEEEEE, I'm so giddy :D

~WW

[Vanessa]

ooooh congratulations. she is so perfectly dreamy! i have no baby pics to share right now. but if you ever need to know anything about capturing antsy little boys, call me ;)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/sets/72157607454214429/

[Catherine]

Aw, sweetness. I'm afraid I did a poor job with photographing those newborn days... I was so smitten and preoccupied (and sleep deprived). They are tons of fun when they a bit older though... especially with that lens wide open!

http://whiteapples.typepad.com/blog/2009/06/junipers-life-lesson-no-1.html

[Kelly]

Since I will not be having my own children, I live vicariously through the beauty of others' children. My friend Christy had a gorgeous, 11 pound boy almost two months ago, and I am lucky to be his official photographer! Here's the set of my favorites of him so far.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellysoji/sets/72157624365483141/

[Breanne]

Aww, congratulations!!

Here's an idea for you... this little sweetie curled up in daddy's beanie (taken w/ a LensBaby).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bleach226/4557181346/in/set-72157623761208373/

[Melissa M.]

Congrats! Here's one from most recent baby girl shoot: http://melissamillerphotos.com/2010/09/photo-of-the-day/

[corey (giggletwig)]

Congratulations! She's beautiful! Here are a few I took of my youngest son when he was about a week old:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/giggletwig/3368372764/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/giggletwig/3368367204/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/giggletwig/3367548087/

I do children's photography on the side (www.redballmoon.com), and the few newborn shoots I've done have been the hardest. A sleepy baby is always easiest to work with, but I seem to have better luck with little ones once they're more active.

[Kat]

Congratulations! Oh, to have had a digital camera in the days my son was a baby... Enjoy every click of the shutter!

[Andrea, Long Island NY]

Ohhhh. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my 50mm 1.4 lens. The softness and shallow dof is very eye catching, love the bokeh. I have a newborn girl as well. I'm just starting to feel like shooting her pics, the best thing is a warm room
and tons of natural light. Congrats to you and your family, and wishing you the best nursing experience! We are struggling with it!!! Will share pics when done.

[Tracy]

oh my, she is so precious. congratulations! i'm so happy for you!

i'm sure you will do an amazing job of photographing her. for some reason it didn't occur to me to position my daughter in a variety of ways. i just always shot her laying on her back, so my advice (which i'm sure you already realize) is be sure to move her around on her side, tummy etc. also get lots of shots of the adorable details of her hands, feet, ears even. your 50 mm will be the perfect lens!

if you use a sling/wrap, try to grab a shot of her peeking through. here's mine: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31417716@N00/2838817802/in/set-72157606988830396/

[Julia]

YAY for you! What a gorgeous little love you have there.

Congratulations.

You inspired me to go through my archives. Almost six years ago... my boy was just that tiny.

In terms of taking photos of new little ones, I am a big fan of full body shots. So that you can drink in every inch of their tiny-ness years down the line.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/julesinsearch/4958270719/in/photostream/

BUT, I am also a fan of close ups of gorgeous self-fingernail-scratched faces. ( To see that yes, his eyes, truly were NEVER blue.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/julesinsearch/4958269765/

Natural light is a given.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/julesinsearch/2962913390/in/set-72157622578432770/


And bath...baths are always a fun place to take a shot of a happy babe.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/julesinsearch/2963090242/in/set-72157622578432770/

The best advice that I can give is to just keep taking the pictures. Tons and tons of pictures of that gorgeous happy baby.

You will be so happy that you did.

XO, jules

[Pam]

Congratulations! She is beautiful! I expect to see loads of loads of adorable baby pictures!

[thea]

Congratulations!!!!! She is gorgeous. I second what Julie said. I find that having room at least 80 degrees with heater near by is hands down most important. Be wary of touching feet...giggle...many babies seem to stir when feet are touched. Be concious of arms and hands,I find careful adjustments hre make a world of difference in final image. If you have baby on belly propped on arm watch for purple hands if they are in one position for more than few minutes hands can get purple,need to redistribute weight. Also if you move them and they semi wake you can hold there head in position and wait for them to fall asleep. These sessions just take time and patience:) xoxoxo

[thea]

On new phone sorry for typos and misuse of there instead of their:)

[Julie Alvarez]

I don't have technical advices here... I just set the focus and the light at some point, and then follow baby's movements until I like something and click.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3930872208/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/4321697237/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3930866108/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/4100275763/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3800112779/

[kristin]

such a blessing! congratulations alex (mama!) :)
i just love to get different pov's on the kids and babies. get on their level, see how they see their big new world.

[claudia]

Congrats!! No advice except keep shooting, especially when they start crawling and walking!!! ;)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/4892803682/in/set-72157623117088660/

[Hope]

I have the 1.8 but would LOVE the 1.4!!
Here are a few of my favorites taken with my 1.8!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justplainhope/4918901073/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justplainhope/4257148373/in/set-72157623150454998/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justplainhope/4588710296/in/set-72157623055132326/

[amanda]

i'm still dreaming of a 50mm of any sort, here is what i got with my basic kit lense when my daughter was 4 days old

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amandaleee/4958610259/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amandaleee/4627699911/

[Jenny]

Congratulations! How exciting! I'm linking to a photo of a sweet new baby. I shot this with a 50 1.4, wide open, in natural light (window light to be exact). The baby was in her mother's arms, no place warmer or more comforting.

http://www.jenniferblaauw.com/2010/06/sneak-peek-amelia.html

[Meg]

I am so so happy for you!!!

Tricks for beautiful baby shots? Heat and white noise machines. You'll get the peace you need for all the sleepy dreamy baby shots you'd ever want :) I LOVE shooting newborns and those two things gave given me the most success. And a full baby belly. And live and cuddles too, of course.

Oh. And have everything (props,etc) set up before you feed so that when she's full and snoozing you are ready to go!!

[Aia]

congrats!!! she is adorable!

[marina]

congratulations!!! and lots of wishes of happiness to all of you!!!

[Gail]

Congratulations! She is beautiful!! the only advice I have to give is to have the camera set on continuous shots!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22733432@N08/4860200482/

[Suzanne]

Congrats!
My nursing advice is just know for the first three months that is all you will do. Literally. They eats so slowly and fall asleep so easily so don't be discouraged. And it's just as well, because all they want to do is be held anyways so you might as well feed them too. After three long months something magical happens- they start feeding in 20 minutes instead of an hour and it only gets better and quicker. I think it is just as important for the mom's body as the baby's- your homones get readjusted too. Best of luck and get a stack of books to enjoy or cuddle up to some netflicks and just nurture that little doll of yours!

[mama-pan | mary frances]

congratulations! and thanks for the excuse to look back at some early photos of my now two-year-old son.

it is always fun to play with backgrounds at this age, since their "poses" are relatively static (or infinitely flexible, depending how you look at it!)--using different colors and patterns.

here's one pastel-y (just looking down at him on my knee against a tea towel):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98076237@N00/2564681686/in/set-72157607382053494/

and one brighter/busier (looking down at him on a quilt in our yard.)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98076237@N00/2563860337/in/set-72157607382053494/

thanks to all the other commenters for the great ideas in these posts!

[rebecca]

I take newborn photos for a living, but it never gets old. Make sure you get the details!!! I like these from a little while back, such a sweet little dreamer...

http://www.rebeccamurphyphotoblog.com/?p=726

[melody]

Oh Alex, honey, I just want to say inhale every precious inch of her...every second...every glimpse...every smoochee smoochee...it never gets better than the moment you're in...
*squeeeee*

Congrats!

[victoria willaims]

Congratulations, you must be very proud, she is beautiful.

I took some pics of my niece recently with the nifty fifty, I'm not pro but my sis loved them.

http://victoriawilliamsphotography.blogspot.com/2010/07/ellie.html

[Marga Marion]

Congrats Alex! I remember when my baby girl was born I would take a deep breath and I swear i'd smell the color pink! They grow so fast! I don't have to tell you, take millions and millions of pictures!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53277568@N02/4969595155/

[Faith]

Adorable! Here are two;

One from December when my daughter was only 8 days old: http://www.flickr.com/photos/faither81/4211880758/in/set-72157623063932356/

And one from last week at 8.5 months: http://www.flickr.com/photos/faither81/4947429920/

Enjoy every minute! It really does go by so fast.