Here’s how to create beautiful photographs of your baby that you’ll treasure for years to come
Your newborn will change and grow more quickly than you’d expect, so you’ll never regret capturing photographs to mark their special moments. There’s no need to budget for a professional, though. By putting a little bit of extra thought and adding a prop (or two), you can transform a humble phone photo into something truly special. Here’s how…
Photo shoot tips
While you don’t need a snazzy camera to achieve stunning photos, getting the basics right will give you pictures that you’ll be proud to display.
Make sure baby is content
You want your little one to look calm and serene, so make sure they’re warm, have a clean nappy and have been fed beforehand. Gentle background noise or soft music will also help soothe your newborn to achieve the best shots.
Put safety first
Baby shouldn’t be put in danger to achieve an Insta-worthy image. If possible, ask another adult to help you and keep an extra eye on your tot. Don’t place your little one on a high surface they could fall from, and ensure that the poses you’re putting them in won’t compromise their safety. Avoid shots where baby is having to hold themselves up or lying on their front.
Pick the right time
For your first shoot, your best bet is to take snaps when your tot is just one to two weeks old. They’ll be spending lots of time sleeping and are less sensitive to their environment, making the experience good for you both.
Get your lighting right
Daylight is your best friend for a baby shoot. Avoid using the flash, which will hurt your little one’s eyes, wash out the image and create harsh shadows. Try shooting close to a window, avoiding harsh midday sunlight.
Wipe your lens before shooting
We touch our phone lens more than we realise, so wiping it down with a microfibre cloth before you shoot – and in between shots – will prevent your photos from coming out blurry. Simple but an instant way to elevate your imagery.
Use a white background
Avoid a busy or distracting background. A white bed sheet, towel or white wall can make the world of difference to your images, helping to absorb excess sunlight and help with the colour balance of your images.
Play with your phone’s settings
Your phone will likely have a whole host of settings that you can play with for different effects, so don’t be afraid to experiment. For example, Portrait Mode on an iPhone allows you to focus in on baby, and blur the background, giving an entirely different feel to the default mode.
Prop ideas
Including a textured item such as a soft toy or furry rug adds interest and even more cuteness!
Baby blankets
If you find yourself cooing over your sleeping newborn, why not shoot them during naptime snuggled in a baby blanket? Keep your photographs timeless by picking neutral colours, fabrics, and textures. Our gorgeous cellular cotton baby blankets come in a variety of photo-worthy, muted shades.
With a teddy bear
Is there anything more adorable than spotting your little one cuddling their soft toy? Invest in a new teddy ahead of your shoot so it’s in great condition and capture baby on camera all snuggled up with it.
Next to their baby scans
Now that your little one has arrived, what better way to capture their journey into the world than by shooting them next to their baby scans? It’s a brilliant way to mark their arrival and they’ll love looking at the photos when they’re older.
On a furry rug
The secret to a successful baby shoot is to plump for props with soft textures that cue cosiness. Having baby in their nappy on a plush, furry rug or throw will add instant interest and depth to your picture.
Marking their milestones
With baby changing on a nearly daily basis, mark their monthly milestones with these fun shoots.
Foot and handprints
Either photograph their feet each month or dip their hands and feet into baby-safe ink or washable paint and stamp it on paper. Use a different colour each month and then frame the prints to create fun, rainbow artwork fit for their nursery.
Soft toy
Shooting baby with a large soft toy can be a really great way to capture your little one’s growth at every stage. Photograph them once a month next to it for scale so you can look back and see how tiny they once were and how much they changed.
Chalk or message board
Photographing your newborn next to a chalk or message board that states how old they are is an inexpensive way to achieve beautiful results. You can also include their height or weight as an extra touch.
In mum or dad’s arms
What better prop than mum or dad’s arms? Shoot once a month in the same pose, lighting and set-up, and then at the end of a year once you have 12 images, create your very own calendar.
Nappies as numbers
You’ve likely got loads of them on hand, so for an inexpensive and eye-catching prop, make the number of baby’s age out of nappies and shoot baby next to the nappy number.
ASDA Photo
With ASDA Photo you can create personalised gifts and memories from your special moments with baby. Choose your favourite newborn photos and transfer them to beautiful canvas prints, photo books, mugs and more.
