We all wish every newborn we photograph would be smiley and cheerful. But let’s face it: it doesn’t always go that way. Regardless the reason, fussy newborns are a fact of life. Having a number of tricks up your sleeve when baby starts getting upset can make all the difference between a session dud and a successful shoot. Keep your calm and carry on. You’ve got this!
Preparation
The first step to a smooth newborn session is to make sure that everyone is prepared and that you take a preventative approach. Newborn sessions can cause parents to be stressed or overwhelmed as they are still getting the hang of the whole parenthood thing. This is likely the first time they have had to get ready with nice clothes, hair and makeup. Because of this, it is important to help the parents as much as possible beforehand. Upon booking a client, I immediately send a newborn welcome packet (I got mine from Design Aglow). This packet includes what to expect, how to dress, what to bring, and some information on my albums and wall art.
In the preparation guide, I suggest that the mother feed the baby upon arrival. I also tell mom to be prepared to have to feed baby in the middle of the session. Not all parents use pacifiers or gas drops, but I always ask that they keep those around if that is something they do use. I also request that parents have diapers and wipes readily available (it happens).
All the pacifiers and feeding breaks in the world are no substitute for a calm and soothing environment. The environment of the session is a key factor to a happy baby – particularly the temperature. Invest in a safe, electric space heater for your studio so that you can turn the heat up if you choose to shoot a baby nude. If you are a lifestyle photographer, like myself, you can request that the parents turn their thermostat up or, if you are mainly shooting in one room, bring your own space heater to keep the baby warm enough. In between poses or setups, I also like to keep the baby cozy and just place blankets loosely over them to make sure they are comfortable.
My secret weapon is my white noise app on my iPhone. The one I have is called “Sleep Baby,” which makes a constant heartbeat noise (mimicking what the baby heard in the womb) that I keep close to the baby. You can even hide it under blankets so it’s not visible in your images. I used it religiously when I was shooting in a studio, and I still use it for more intimate lifestyle shoots. It’s been a lifesaver for me, and the parents will think you are a superhero when they see it in use.
Keep in mind that the scheduling of a newborn session plays a major role in the ease of your session. I typically like to shoot my newborns around 12-14 days old. As a lifestyle photographer, I can push that boundary a little more than a posed newborn photographer. I tend to find that around the 10 day mark is when a growth spurt hits and they are ravenous (hence the mid-session feedings). It is important to make sure you are mindful of circumcisions and immunizations. Both of those factors can cause baby to be fussy, sensitive and unhappy. Because I shoot newborn sessions in the home, I ask the mother to pay attention to the light in the rooms of her house where we will be shooting and base the time of the session around the best available light. About 3 days before the session, I check back in with mom and see if the baby has developed any kind of routine. If so, I like to schedule the session around naptime if lighting is a non-issue.
During the session
Whether or not there are other children that will be in the pictures determines what “poses” I do first. If this is their first child or if the other children are older, I will always shoot baby individually first. That way, if baby starts getting tired near the end, the parents can hold the baby and we don’t have to worry about the baby being able to be laid down by himself for the shots. However, if there are other younger children that will be in the photos, I usually get the shots with the whole family before shooting the baby alone. Children tend to have shorter attention spans, and oftentimes the honeymoon phase of the new baby has worn off already, leaving them disinterested. As soon as the sibling and full family shots are done, I usually let the kids and dad go play. I then will shoot the individual shots, occasionally bringing mom and/or dad in for a few shots in between.
No matter how much you prepare for your session, there will always be the times when you have a restless baby. It’s easiest to try to soothe the uneasy baby as much as possible before a total meltdown happens. A great solution for a lot of restless babes is to be swaddled/wrapped. Sometimes that alone can be a trick to getting them to sleep. If you have a baby that is still not sleeping, try turning him where his eyes are facing the light. This will make him squint and close his eyes. Stroking the baby’s head from the top of the forehead down to the tip of the nose is another classic that helps them close their eyes.
Sometimes, however, babies just need to be held. My first go to is the sway and bounce. I rock baby in a bouncing motion while swaying back and forth simultaneously and “shushing.” Sometimes it takes 30 seconds, other times it takes several minutes. At this time, I use a pacifier (if that is something the parents use) and check to see if a diaper change is needed. If the baby is still restless, you might ask mom to take over at this point. Sometimes the baby just needs to smell and feel their mother. If there is still no luck past this point, you might consider asking mom to nurse the baby for a regular feeding or even just a little for comfort or a snack. After soothing an unsettled baby, I usually wait until the baby is fully calm and comforted before I put the baby down for shooting again.
When Crying Occurs
You may eventually get to the point where you are faced with the decision to continue shooting or reschedule the session, which I rarely do myself and do not recommend unless you absolutely cannot get a good final product with the shots available on that day. In nearly five years of photographing newborns, I have only rescheduled two sessions.
When the baby first starts crying, I usually step back and ask mom and/or dad to soothe the baby, but I never put the camera down. I think there is something beautifully intimate about capturing mom and dad learning to soothe their baby. I will generally get 1-2 wide shots of baby crying and, when possible, 1-2 shots up close.
After you get the obvious shots of babe crying, you then have to start getting technical with your angles and positioning if you want to get shots without obvious crying. One option is to use a macro lens and get the up close details like the hair on the head, belly button, ears, toes, fingers, etc. Those shots alone will give you an added 5 frames to your gallery. I will also use this time to photograph the nursery and any special or sentimental gifts (like a handmade quilt from a grandparent). You can add another 5 or so frames here. Next, I will ask mom and/or dad to hold baby close to them. You can get creative with your composition in these shots and only shoot partial body. Try shooting from a lower angle or have mom pull babe’s head the other direction while holding the baby. By carefully doing so, you will never know the baby is crying!
If you feel you did not get enough images from the session to provide a full gallery, then you might consider rescheduling if baby still seems inconsolable. Sometimes the babe just needs a new day to try out their session, and you can quickly wrap up the remaining images needed for the gallery. Everyone approaches rescheduling differently, but I personally never charge for coming back or shooting more if it is because the baby wasn’t cooperating.
How to keep parents happy
Make sure not to forget the parents! After all, they are your clients, are probably new to parenting, and are running on very little sleep. If you have a baby that is fussy or proving to be difficult, the first step is to reassure parents that it is okay, and that their baby isn’t “bad.” You would be surprised how many parents, especially first time parents, feel that their newborn is proving to be difficult/frustrating and feel the need to apologize. Don’t ever let your parents have the time to even think that. Let them know before the session that babies will respond to photo sessions differently, and there is no need to worry if their baby cries.
If you notice mom or dad is having a difficult time keeping their cool while the baby is crying, let them know that it’s okay if they want to let you try your “tricks” while they go get something to drink or watch TV for a bit. New moms and dads are typically sleep deprived, experiencing hormonal changes and may feel a little more sensitive with the chaos of everything. Sometimes taking control of the situation, especially if you have kids of your own and have some great secret mommy tips, is a welcome comfort for new moms. They often just need that extra set of hands that is experienced with babies, and you can keep parents less stressed by offering to take control.
If you end up having to reschedule your session, let the parents know that it is not a big deal and you are happy to come back to finish. Assure them that they will have the same quality of images reflected in your portfolio even if it takes two tries.
With proper preparation and soothing techniques, you can often stop problems before they happen and end up with a very successful newborn session. But this is the real world, and these are babies. If an unsettled or crying baby becomes a challenge, try to keep shooting for wide angles of the real situation at hand and close ups that make the tears unnoticeable before you rush to reschedule. Keeping a professional mindset and a positive attitude will go a long way toward making sure your clients remain stress-free and satisfied with their experience.
