Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in the life of a newborn photographer? While the images captured during a photoshoot often steal the spotlight, there’s a lot more that happens before, during, and after those precious moments with newborns. Today, I’m pulling back the curtain and giving you a glimpse into my world as a newborn photographer.
Morning Preparation:
My day typically starts early. I arrive at the studio about 8:40 am to get a jump start on preparations. I like to review my schedule for the day ahead, confirm appointments with clients, and make sure I have all the necessary props and equipment ready. It’s crucial to maintain a calm and organized environment for the sessions, so I double-check my camera gear, lighting equipment, and any props I plan to use.
I always start by putting a card in my camera, and swapping the battery on my light. One of my newest purchases for the studio was a cordless light. Which is great, because I grew tired of untangling cords around me. But the battery doesn’t last a full session typically, so I like to have one fully charged battery on my light, and one on the charger ready to go when it’s needed.
I stock my cart with session necessities. Wipes, wash clothes, posing beans, nursing pads, hand sanitizer, and my camera lenses. I use mostly a 50mm lens on my camera, but will occasionally use a 35mm and my macro lens.
Then I give the floor a quick mop and the furniture a spray down with some furniture sanitizer to keep everyone healthy.
Once the studio is ready, I pull props and table drops and have everything together and setup for my client’s arrival. Doing this part ahead of time keeps the studio calm and relaxed for everyone once parents get here. It also keeps my brain happy to have a workflow laid out in front of me, so I can do what’s most important. Snuggle that baby!
Meeting the Little Ones:
When my clients arrive at the studio, I hope they are met with a sense of anticipation and excitement. For me, meeting the newborns is one of my favorite parts. I’ve met their parents at least once at our consultation. I get a sense of who they are, and what they enjoy. But now I get to chat briefly about how the first couple of weeks have gone, what baby’s growing personality is like, and of course, which parent they resemble!
I take a few minutes to go over where clients can find water, snacks, and coffee. I’ll also make sure they find the pastries I purchased for them, napkins and silverware. Then we go over the setups I’ve chosen and make sure the parents are happy with the colors I pulled. We also go over what they’re wearing for parent photos, and answer any questions they may have. Building trust is essential to ensure everyone is comfortable during the session.
Setting the Scene:
Creating a safe and comfortable environment for the baby is my top priority. I carefully select props, blankets, and wraps to complement the baby’s features and the family’s preferences. Colors are something we already discussed at their consultation. The morning of the session is really just confirming those choices, and then tones I’ve selected. If a parent doesn’t like something as much as they thought they would, I do a quick swap to something different and we’re on our way.
Post-Session Editing:
Once the session is over, the work continues. Post-production editing is where the magic happens.
I get my images uploading to the computer while I gather up laundry to wash. I give the floor a quick mop, and put away props and items that don’t need washing. Once everything is uploaded I head home to cull your session, selecting the best images and get them ready for you to view at your ordering appointment. I don’t do full edits, but I do color correct, and I composite any images that need it. Compositing is when I bring together two images for baby’s safety.
Once your final selections have been made at that ordering appointment, I use Lightroom and Photoshop to enhance and perfect each one. Skin touchups are the most time consuming part, babies can tend to have flakes, acne and scratches that need fixing. This step allows me to create those timeless keepsakes for the families I work with.
I hope you enjoyed this glimpse behind the scenes, a day in the life of a newborn photographer. It’s a privilege to be a part of those early moments in your family’s life, and I cherish every smile, yawn, and tiny hand grasp that I get to capture. Behind the scenes, it’s a world of preparation, patience, and passion, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.
