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Do you want great, professional looking photos of your newborn to share with your friends and family but don’t want to pay big bucks to a professional?  Check out these tips for photographing your baby and you too can have beautiful, professional looking portraits of your precious little one!

Lighting 
Natural lighting is the best for capturing a breathtaking photo of your newborn.  Find the brightest room in your home, usually a room with a north facing window or with large windows.   You want lots of natural light but not direct sunlight.  Direct sunlight will create unwanted shadows.  Position your baby next to the window laying parallel to it.

Background
You do not want a busy, printed, colorful background.  This will look distracting in the photo, and you want the picture to focus on your beautiful baby!  Use a solid color sheet or blanket. Or you could purchase a couple yards of cotton, velvet, or fleece material in a solid color like black, white, pink or blue.

Pose 
Position baby on the floor, on a bed or couch in a laying position either on their back or their tummy.  Or drape your background sheet over their infant seat and place your baby in the infant seat.  Place one of his tiny hands by his cheek or mouth, a precious little hand next to baby’s cheek will produce a breathtaking photo!

Clothing 
Like the background, stick with solid, soft colors.  You want to notice your baby in the photo, not his clothes. Forget the elaborate outfits or dresses, they will only bunch up on your baby’s tiny body and cover all those adorable little baby parts.  Dress him in a simple outfit, sleeper, or even better just his diaper!  What is cuter than a naked baby?!?  If you don’t want to photograph your baby naked, use a special blanket to softly drape over him.

The Baby 
Timing is everything.  Start your “session” when baby is rested, alert and has a full tummy.  If he falls asleep mid-shoot, keep snapping pictures.  Sleeping baby shots are simply precious!  If baby is unhappy and crying during your session, don’t stress; just try again tomorrow.

Camera 
If you have a digital camera, be sure to set it to the highest resolution possible.  Turn the flash OFF.  The natural lighting in a bright room will be all you need to take beautiful shots.  Get to know your camera and its settings (consult your owners manual).  Most cameras will have settings for shooting without flash and for close-ups.  If you have a 35mm camera, use 200 speed film and set it for low light and close-ups.  This will capture the best detail.

Take LOTS of pictures 
Start snapping away!  This is where a digital camera will come in handy, so take tons of shots…you are sure to get some perfect ones in the bunch.  Take shots from every angle.  Take some full body shots, and take some close-ups of just your baby’s face.  Get down on baby’s level and shoot straight at him.  Don’t forget to get some shots of those tiny little hands and feet.  If baby has siblings, get photos of his siblings kissing the top of his head.  Take a picture of big sister holding baby’s hand too.  This is a sure way to make your older child feel special too.  It is very simple really!  Just try my tips and you will see that you CAN take great shots of your baby!

Now that you have that perfect photo of your newborn baby, check out Alley and Company's complete line of Photo Birth Announcements, Photo Baptism or Christening Invitations and more!  Our photo cards are a wonderful way to show off your new bundle of joy to your family and friends.
Article written by Susan S., a WAHM with 2 children. Susan is the owner and creator of Sweet-Pea-Creations, specializing in custom and handmade birth and adoption announcements, baby shower invitations, baptism or christening invitations, and matching note cards.