Welcoming a newborn into the world is a magical experience. As parents cherish those precious moments, it becomes imperative to capture them with utmost care and creativity.
This is where a great newborn photographer comes into play.
Being a newborn photographer is an incredibly rewarding profession. The part I love most about being a newborn photographer in London is all the baby snuggles! However, my love for newborn photography comes from the ability to freeze that moment in time for parents. To capture your beautiful new bundle of joy and encapsulate that newborn stage that seems to be over in the blink of an eye.
But beyond just owning a camera, it takes a unique set of skills and qualities to be a newborn photographer. From understanding newborn safety concerns to mastering editing techniques, here are some of the skills I’ve had to acquire, learn or perfect to become one of London’s leading newborn and baby photographers.
Patience and Empathy
Newborns are unpredictable, and photo sessions can be challenging. A great newborn photographer possesses immense patience and empathy. They understand that each baby has their own rhythm and temperament, and they are willing to adapt accordingly. Patience allows them to wait for the perfect shot, even if it takes a while, and empathy helps them connect with both the baby and the parents, creating a relaxed environment.
Safety and Comfort
Safety is paramount when working with newborns. A great photographer prioritizes the well-being of the baby throughout the session. They are knowledgeable about safe posing techniques and ensure that the baby is comfortable at all times. Even using props requires knowledge and awareness. Being a newborn photographer isn’t for the faint-hearted, you need to be alert at all times, and with over a decade of experience in newborn photography, I’m more than alert to everything during your session.
Related article: Is Newborn Photography Safe?
Technical Photography Skills
I need to have great technical skills with my camera for sure. But understanding lighting, composition, and exposure are also all vital to be skilled in newborn portraiture. To be sure I’m always doing my best, I do training every couple of years to refresh and stay current. Not just as a newborn photographer but in other fields of photography. When I first started I only trained specifically with newborn photographers, not that I’m confident with my skills I like to add some different ones as well.
Artistic Vision and Attention to Detail
Creating stunning newborn photographs requires an artistic eye and meticulous attention to detail. A great photographer has a vision for each session, incorporating unique poses to capture timeless images but needs to be flexible at the same time. I am a baby-led photographer, so of course I have a workflow in mind, but the baby is the one telling me what to do next. If a baby is fussy or awake is fine for me. I’ll work around that and will do more photos with parents, and more photos with the baby wrapped. I know awake babies is one of the biggest concern for parents, but you can still have beautiful photos of your baby regardless.
Related article: The Tiny Details that Reveal Big Stories – Newborn Macro Photography
Editing skills
In addition to taking great photos, an excellent newborn photographer should also be skilled in post-processing techniques to enhance and refine the images. This includes the ability to remove temporary blemishes caused by nappies or clothing, correct colours, and retouch photos. Being a good editor won’t make terrible portraits brilliant but it can make brilliant portraits more beautiful. Editing is also a skill required when doing composite images, the merging of two or more images together for example when swapping little people’s heads as they don’t all look the same way together very often!
Professionalism
I take pride in my professionalism and in treating all my clients the same way. From the moment you get in touch to the delivery of your product. I’m reliable and will always answer your emails and calls as soon as I can. I strive to create a wonderful experience in my studio so you can feel comfortable and loved. I’ll deliver your final portraits in a timely manner: digitals are downloadable from your online gallery upon payment while your beautiful prints and gorgeous artwork will be ordered to the lab and you will be able to collect them when they arrive at the studio.
So being a great newborn photographer is not just about clicking a button; it’s about capturing the essence of a fleeting moment and preserving it for a lifetime. It requires a combination of technical expertise, creativity, patience, and a deep understanding of newborns and their families. I love being skilled in all of these different areas. They each play their part in allowing me to create beautiful, high-quality portraits of your newborn baby that will be treasured for generations to come.
If you would like to see my Newborn photography work, visit my website or if you would like to have a chat fill out the form below and I’ll get back to you shortly.
This is a fantastic post for those that are already newborn photographers or are looking to become one as it encompasses what it entails and the qualities you need to have.
Thanks for reading this and stopping by!
I’d never stopped to think about photography of new borns, this was a really interesting read. I love your point that the baby doesn’t need to be awake for you to capture a lovely photo!
Yeah newborn photography is a “thing” of the past 10 years, at least in the UK. Such a lovely memory to have and yes sleepy or awake they will be either adorable. Thanks for reading.