Honestly saying, the camera equipment you use doesn’t define how much success you’ll achieve as Newborn Photography. Actually, it’s the camera or lens, it’s the photographer and the skills. All and all, we are trying to say that buying the best lens isn’t enough to get the best result. Until you show up your skills and do proper justice with the equipment.

We begin our review by introducing the best lens for Newborn Photography and mentioned its effectiveness and advantages. Later on, we’ve picked some best lenses out of many being available in the market. We’ve reviewed all the items individually and also provided pros and cons for the same. Finally, we’ve prepared a buying guide with complete details for the buyers who are new in the industry.

Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM is our top priority when it comes to best lens for newborn photography as it has 85 mm of focal length with f1.2 aperture. The lens has all those features that are demanding for any newborn photographer. Although, the lens is very well built and is a great choice for the buyers.

On the other side, if you’re looking for an affordable lens then we’ve got one for you, called Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art DG HSM. This lens comes with some great offerings and is another perfect choice for all the interested buyers.

So we’re done with our job and now it’s upon you to match your needs and choose a perfect lens for your camera.

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In this article, we have reviewed the 10 of the best lenses for newborn photography including Canon, Nikon, Sigma and a Sony lens along with a comparison table and a detailed buyer’s guide to help you choose the best lens possible.

“Cutie”, “So Cute” – These are some common expressions that one emits out while seeing a photograph of any newborn baby. And no doubt, babies are sky high cute that every individual thinks of capturing their photos.

Even many people opt for this activity as their profession and earn some really good bucks. So if you’re also dreaming to choose this a career option, then you will be requiring a camera lens to make it true. So if you’re interested in knowing more about Best Lens For Newborn Photography, then stay connected with us.

No doubt, photography is an art and one of the most fascinating profession for all the people out there. But in order to become a perfect photographer, you must be filled with all the useful and necessary photography equipment. One such important equipment for photography is the camera lens.

This is one of the crucial element for any photography and you can easily spend your money over this. Any camera with the best lens is capable of taking high quality and beautiful pictures. That’s why you must be smart and very well aware while buying a new camera lens.

Here in this article, we’ll be looking at 10 Best Lens For Newborn Photography and will also provide an individual review for all of them. So without making any more delay, let us get started.

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Photographing newborns has to be one of my all time favourites. I absolutely love seeing a family in its first weeks, the complete adoration the parents feel and their amazement that they’ve created a tiny little human.

Capturing these moments is a great privilege, and if any kind of portrait session deserves to be nailed, it’s the newborn photography session!

Over the years, I’ve developed a set of tricks that help me get the most out of a newborn portrait session, and here they are.

I learnt many of these tips for photographing newborns the hard way – on the job! I’ve photographed over a thousand children now and am very in tune with babies’ moods and habits, which really helps keep a session calm.

I’d recommend that you get as much experience with newborns as you can to increase your understanding of how a newborn might react to certain situations. There’s also reams of information on newborn development available online – spending time absorbing these articles is time very well spent.

I hope you find these newborn photography tips helpful – see what works for you and don’t be afraid to experiment.

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Tip #21

A more economical option for a portrait lens is the Canon 85mm f/1.8, or if you’re a Nikon shooter, the Nikon 85mm f/1.8.

[Editor: if you’re using a crop sensor camera, a 50mm lens will give you a similar focal length to an 85mm lens on full frame. Affordable options here include the Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM or Nikon 50mm f/1.8G.]

Tip #22

For group shots with a newborn, a 50mm lens such as the affordable Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM (or Nikon 50mm f/1.8G) is a good choice, as even if the family’s home is small you’ll usually manage to fit the whole family in.

[Editor: if you’re using a crop sensor camera, a 35mm lens will give you a similar focal length to a 50mm lens on full frame. Affordable options here include the Canon 35mm f/2 IS or the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G]

Tip #23

If you’re leaning towards more lifestyle photography, a wider lens like a 35mm is great as you’ll get more of the interior in without too much distortion – just don’t photograph people at the edges of the shot or they’ll look enormous.

[Editor: affordable 35mm lens options for full frame cameras include the excellent Canon 35mm f/2 IS or the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G ED, reviewed by me here. If you shoot Fuji, check out these Fuji lenses to find the equivalent one for you.]

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Tip #18

When selecting a camera for newborn photography, choose as quiet a shutter as you can – a noisy shutter close to a newborn’s face is likely to wake and startle them.

I use a Canon 5D mark iii which has an almost silent shutter – the difference between that and the noise of the Canon 5D markk ii‘s shutter is quite remarkable.

[Editor: Whilst newer dSLRs like the Canon 6d mark ii offer a silent shutter mode, using one of these mirrorless cameras with a completely inaudible electronic shutter is a much better option.]

Tip #19

My favourite lens for newborns is the Canon EF 100m f/2.8L – the close-up details from this lens are beautiful (and it’s also great as a portrait lens).

[Editor: whilst Nikon doesn’t have an equivalent 100mm macro lens, the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 DI SP does a fine job – they also do a version for Canon here too.]

Tip #20

A cheaper option for close-up shots is using an extension tube like this one with a 50mm lens – the results aren’t as gorgeous, but it does the job pretty well.

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Tip #12

Certain shots are easiest when the baby is asleep: close-ups of their tiny toes, for example, are much easier when a baby is sound asleep than when their little legs are wriggling around.

Tip #13

Try to keep speaking around the newborn, so they get used to your voice and it doesn’t startle them to hear a stranger so close to them. Keep your voice low and calm, newborns are very sensitive to noise.

Tip #14

If a baby is starting to fall asleep, wait a minute or two so they fall asleep properly – even on silent mode, a clicking shutter can be enough to disturb that snooze.

Don’t try to move the baby until they’re in a deep sleep – when their bodies have become very still and their breathing is deeper. If you move a newborn in a light sleep, they’ll wake up!

Tip #15

If a newborn is irritated by hunger, you’ll never get them settled – let the baby feed till they’ve had enough, and you’ll have a much easier job on your hands.

Tip #16

Bear in mind that some newborns have a natural tendency to turn their heads more to one side than the other – it’s easier to move the baby around if you find they keep ending up looking away from you.

Tip #17

Newborns are also sensitive to touch, and temperature – make sure your hands are warm before you touch a newborn, or you’ll startle them and quite likely make them cry.

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Tip #9

Get some experience with newborns first before photographing one – they’re quite different to young babies, and need a lot more attention!

If you’ve spent time around a new baby, the constant nappy changes and feeds won’t come as a surprise – and you won’t be panicking that all the time is being used up with bodily needs, you’ll have seen how there’s a window of calm after all the excitement – that’s the moment you’re waiting for to really start photographing in.

Tip #10

First things first – always, always, always wash your hands before handling a newborn – they’re so vulnerable to germs and illness, you want to be as clean as possible just in case.

And of course, if you have an illness, postpone the session – the baby’s health is the top priority here.

Tip #11

I follow the newborn’s lead – if they’re awake and settled, that’s when I suggest taking a family portrait. Different photographers approach this differently – many studio photographers, for example, request that the baby has an enormous feed beforehand to induce a big long sleep, for example.

The more you photograph newborns, the more you’ll get a sense of how you want to go about this.

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Tip #6

Make some suggestions as to what the parents might wear. New mums might prefer a loose T-shirt as it’s more flattering for baby weight than tight breastfeeding tops – word this suggestion carefully though, as no one’s more sensitive than a new mum!

I ask parents to take their watches off beforehand, as it’s so distracting having a big watch in the shot if you go for a close-up of a newborn lying in the parents’ arms. You don’t want to do this in the moment as a watch will usually leave a mark for a good few minutes till the skin settles.

Tip #7

Ask the parents what time of day would suit their emerging routine best. Newborns tend to be happier in the morning, so that’s usually a good time for their portrait session. Avoid their witching hour at all costs, towards the late afternoon – it can take hours to settle even the calmest newborn at the end of the day.

Tip #8

Spend a few minutes chatting with the parents before you get started on the day, to help them relax and feel comfortable around you – calming any of their nerves will really help you take the best photographs.

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Parent prep before the newborn portrait session

Tip #4

Cover the essentials – is there anything the parents are particularly looking for from their newborn portraits? Have they seen any photographs that they particularly liked?

Parents vary wildly as to whether they’d like more photographs of them all together as a new family, or mostly photographs of their newborn – some parents don’t even want to be photographed at all.

I encourage all parents to feature in one way or another, even if it’s just their arms being in shot holding their baby. When that little newborn is an adult, it’ll mean so much to them to have photographs which also show their parents.

Tip #5

Consider how old the newborn will be at the time of the newborn portrait session. Studio photographers often want the baby in the first week, but for home sessions the first two weeks is generally fine.

Bear in mind the hormone crash that mums will go through on day 4 or 5 after the baby is born, and the fact that newborns will often suffer from baby acne and digestive issues from week 2 for a couple of weeks, and will often launch into cluster feeding from days 11 onward as they prepare for a growth spurt.

I prefer to photograph newborns 7 to 10 days after they’re born, when parents have had a chance to settle into their new life but the baby is still definitely in the newborn stage.

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As with any portrait session, the most important element is preparation – feeling comfortable with your game plan and with your clients will go a long way to making sure you capture those precious moments beautifully.

Game plan prep for a newborn photography session

Tip #1

Have in mind a loose shot list of the photographs you plan to take. Will you approach the newborn portrait session as a lifestyle session, or will you give the parents guidance and suggest certain poses or set-ups?

Are you planning to photograph the parents as well as the newborn, and any siblings? Will there be any other family members present – grandparents are often in the wings, for example.

Tip #2

You’ll likely end up in all sorts of strange positions getting just the right angle for a tiny newborn, so wear clothing that you’ll feel comfortable moving around in and stretching.

Tip #3

New parents can be completely consumed with amazement at their newborn – you may not be offered a drink for hours! Take a bottle of water with you just in case as your concentration levels will start to dip if you get thirsty.

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