Of course, you are taking tons of photos of your newborn baby. It doesn’t matter if your snapshots are blurry, overexposed or grainy to you, because each image captures a moment in the life of your precious little one. But whether you choose to send birth announcements with photos, present the grandparents with a framed portrait, or give someone a personalized gift containing the image of their little angel, there comes a time when you want your photos to look great.
What gets in your way of taking wonderful photos of your newborn baby? Here are the top eight mistakes and what you can do to avoid them.
mistake 1 – Use of flashes. A bright flash can not only hurt your newborn’s delicate eyes, but it can also scare your angel into a bad mood.
However – turn off the flash. Find a room where there is plenty of natural light. But don’t place the baby directly in front of a window, because the background will be very bright, but her face will be dark. Check that her face is not covered in shadows. It should appear bathed in soft light.
mistake 2 – Choosing the wrong background. Grandma’s brightly colored patchwork quilt may be a family heirloom, but it’s too stuffy for a newborn portrait.
However – Think soft. A crinkled blanket in a single pastel color makes an ideal backdrop to place your baby on. Position it so that it fills the entire background in your camera’s viewfinder. Alternatively, you can have someone hold your child upright, with the pastel blanket covering part of him as a background.
mistake 3 – Dress your newborn in a distracting outfit. Bright patterns, stripes, checks, checks, and dark colors can overwhelm the photo and take attention away from your baby.
However – Choose comfortable clothes with smooth, simple and soft colors. In this way, your little angel will be the center of the photo, and not what she is wearing.
mistake 4 – Choosing the wrong time to take pictures. If your baby is irritable, cranky, tired, or hungry, she won’t get a good picture, no matter how hard she tries.
However – Wait until after it has been covered and fed. A rested and happy baby is much more cooperative. Alternatively, try taking photos when your baby is sleeping. There is nothing more peaceful or adorable than a newborn who is fast asleep. A sleeping child makes a very cute image and is very easy to photograph.
mistake 5 – Do not do a last minute model review. Bits of food (and worse) can easily end up on your baby’s face, spoiling the perfect photo.
However – Watch your little one carefully just before you start to click, armed with a baby wipe, to make sure they’re ready for the camera.
mistake 6 – Take a photo with the older brother or sister holding the baby in their arms. A bigger, older child can dominate a tiny baby in the picture, making her little one all but disappear.
However – Try to take pictures with the older sibling’s face close to the baby’s face. The older child could rest next to his newborn, both propped up on pillows. Or she could move away from the camera to look at the little one or place a kiss on his cheek. This makes the photo more balanced.
mistake 7 – Rushing to get the perfect photo during the first days after the birth of your baby. If you’ve decided to send photo birth announcements, for example, you may feel pressured to post them right away. But even the most beautiful babies have temporary blemishes right after birth.
However – Wait a week or two. Your child’s appearance will improve dramatically and her personality will begin to show through her face.
mistake 8 – Assuming you just captured the perfect shot, because it looked great on the LCD screen in playback mode on your digital camera. It’s hard to properly determine the clarity and brightness of your photo while it’s still in your camera, even if you zoom in to see the details.
However – Load your memory card into the computer and review the images on your monitor. Or print them as 4×6 snapshots. Before ordering poster-size prints, check the sharpness and exposure. Be sure to take plenty of snapshots, so if this particular one doesn’t live up to your expectations, you’ll have other options.
Taking great baby photos, suitable for more than just framing, is within everyone’s reach. You don’t have to take your newborn to a professional studio to get outstanding results. Just avoid these common mistakes, use a steady hand, and take lots of pictures. And soon you’ll be hearing those oohs and ahhs over the wonderful pictures you’ve taken of your beautiful new child.