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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Of course, you could go for a zoom lens instead – something like a 24-70mm will give you a great focal range.  I tend to prefer primes – they are usually sharper (unless you are getting a high end zoom) and because they can open up to a wider aperture, much more useful for shooting indoors when light is low.

If you would like a little more help choosing which lenses are suitable for different situations and shots, be sure to download my “Which Lens Kickstarter Guide” – you’ll get example images from different lenses, and details which focal lengths you should use for different types of lifestyle, portrait and documentary photos, so you know exactly which lenses might suit the job!

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One of my favourite lenses that is a great all rounder is the 50mm focal length. On a full frame camera, this gives you roughly the same view as the naked eye (it’s not exact, but close enough for our purposes!)

Due to the fact that there is no distortion with this focal length, and you don’t have to back up too far to get everything you want in the frame, it is endlessly versatile.

Something like a Canon or Nikon 50mm F1.4 lens, or the Sigma 50mm F1.4 (which is rumoured to be sublime) You could even use the trusty 50mm F1.8.

The other option you have is a wider angle lens – something like a 35mm lens is another lens that can be ideal for newborn photography.  If you find yourself often shooting in small spaces, the 35mm may more useful, because you can back up a little bit more. It’s also a better focal length if you like to fit in more of the environment, (for example wide shots where you see the whole room along with your subject) perhaps if you are more of a lifestyle newborn photographer.

Do be wary of the fact that the wider angle lens produce distortion if you are up close, so this lens is better for when you are stepped back a bit.

(You can find more general differences, and advice about whether the 35mm or 50mm lens is better for you in this recent post. You’ll get a breakdown of what to use when, along with loads of example images)

Some suggestions for the 35mm lens would be the Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art Lens, or the Canon or Nikon 35mm F1.4 lens.

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We love a bit of lens talk here on the blog, so today we are going to be answering this question: what’s the best lens for newborn photography?

If you are just getting started with newborn photography, you might be wondering what lenses you need to get started, and which you can do without! Let’s face it, lenses aren’t cheap, so knowing exactly what you need – and what you can do without – will help make sure you get the best images possible, without spending your life savings.

In this post we are going to cover: WHICH types of lenses you should have, and most importantly, how to choose the best newborn photography lens for YOU!

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The last thing you should consider when choosing your go-to lens is lens distortion. If you are going to be shooting up-close to your subject, then keep in mind that using a 35mm lens can really start to distort your subject. So for newborn sessions, for example, if you are shooting very close to the baby with a 35mm lens, some of baby’s features may appear too large or just disproportionate. And that’s not something we want. So the best option would be an 85mm, or a 50mm. Just something else to keep in mind while you are thinking about which lens is best for you.

Ok, so that’s it for now you you guys – I know I’ve given you a lot to think about when it comes to lenses and newborn photography. But just to wrap it up, here’s what you need: First, choose your go-to lens – I recommend either a 50mm, 85mm, or 35mm… and second, you will definitely want to use a macro lens for close-up detail shots of those sweet newborn babies.

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First, if you have a full-frame camera, you can definitely go with either the 50 or 85mm. However, if you know your camera has a crop sensor, you might find it a bit difficult to shoot with the 50 or 85 – and it might be easier on you to try the 35mm, so that’s what I would recommend. Read more about Full Frame vs. Crop Sensor cameras here!

Next, you really need to consider how much space you’re working with. If you have a lot of space or are working in your own studio, then an 85mm might be a great option for you. If you’re a little more limited on space, or will be shooting in your clients homes that don’t have a lot of room to back up, then the 50mm would probably be better. And of course, the 35mm would give you the most flexibility when you’re working in small spaces.

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So those are the 2 lenses that I use on a regular basis with my newborn portraits. You definitely need a go-to lens, and a macro lens. The macro lens is pretty straight-forward…  but as far as your go-to lens, there is definitely a little wiggle room here, and a lot of different opinions on which one is best. So let’s talk for a minute about how to choose a go-to lens that would be best for you. The 3 most common go-to lenses that a lot of newborn photographers like to use are: a 50mm, 85mm, or 35mm lens. These are all prime lenses, and the number I’m referring to is the focal length of the lens. Be sure to check out Betsy’s post on focal length basics to get more information about what these numbers mean.

All 3 of these lenses are GREAT – and each have their own pros and cons. As I already mentioned, my favorite go-to is the 50mm, but a lot of other newborn photographers also love using either the 85 or the 35mm. Now, a lot of this simply depends on personal preference, like which lens you love the most and what you’re most comfortable with. But there are also a few other factors to consider when you’re choosing your go-to newborn lens that we should mention.

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First is what I call your ‘go-to’ lens. This is the lens that you’ll be using a majority of the time for your newborn sessions. Now, this will be different for each of you, depending on a few factors – which I’ll talk about more in a minute. But for me, my go-to lens for newborns is the 50mm 1.2. I use my 50mm lens for standard portraits of baby alone, as well as for images of families together, and lifestyle images.

The next lens that is really essential for newborn photography is a macro lens. This is the lens that will allow you to capture all of those teeny tiny details that are so important in newborn photography. I love the 100mm 2.8 lens – it is a really wonderful lens. Now, if you don’t have a macro lens, you can try to get these types of details with another lens – but honestly it is just NOT the same. A macro lens will give you the sharpness and show details that you really can’t capture with other lenses.

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This is one of the number one questions we hear when it comes to newborn photography.  If you’re just getting started in the newborn niche, you’ll no doubt be wondering if you have the right lenses to capture those precious little babies. Or if you’re already an established newborn photographer, maybe you’ve been thinking that it might be time to invest in a new lens because you feel your newborn images are lacking a little bit. So here are some tips for you, and what I’ve discovered are the best lenses for newborn photography.

Ok, so let’s start by talking about how overwhelming this can seem for those of you who are just starting out. For example, if you search online for the top lenses you need for newborn photography, you’re going to be hit with a dozen articles all saying different things. Not only that, but some photographers will tell you that you absolutely NEED to have 4 or 5 lenses for newborn sessions. But I have found that that is simply not the case. For those of you beginners out there, here is some good news for you: I’m not going to tell you that you need to spend thousands of dollars and buy all of these lenses right now. When you’re just getting started, you really only need TWO good lenses for newborn photography. Yep, I said just two. These are the essential lenses that you need to get started. Number one is your go-to lens, and number 2 is a macro lens.

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