If you're a photographer who's also a parent with a newborn, you know what an exciting time of life it is! In the middle of the typical new parent exhaustion, you'll likely want to pick up your camera and start capturing your new baby's life.

You could, of course, hire a professional photographer to do newborn portraits, but why? If you're a photographer, you could do it yourself. Here are some tips on how to navigate being a new parent and a photographer, so you can capture some poignant images you'll cherish for years.

1. Time is on your side!

You can take as much time as you want or need to take your newborn's pictures - whether it's one hour or over several days. You'll have plenty of opportunities.

• Give your family a few days to adjust to having a newborn in the house. 

• Once you're more familiar with your baby's sleeping routines, and you're not too exhausted, it's time to pick up that camera.

• Consider taking pictures on the same set over several days so as not to tire out yourself or your baby.

• Take your time.

• If your baby is particularly fussy one day, wait to take pictures. (That's the advantage of being the Photographer and having your baby as your "client"!

2. A Happy Baby is an Easier Subject

You want your baby to be as happy and comfortable as possible for their photo session. A happy baby means a more productive photo session and better pictures!

• Warm up the room before you bring the baby in and keep it warm throughout the session.

• Make sure the baby is well fed before you start.

• Consider possible distractions in the room, including any noises that could awaken a sleeping baby.

• A white noise machine or phone app can help keep your baby in a deep sleep. Some babies do better with soft music in the background.

3. Safety above all else!

If you're already an experienced photographer, you know that safety is the most important thing when taking pictures of babies and children.

• An additional pair of experienced hands can be useful when you're handling newborns and camera equipment.

• If you're working with props, ensure that they're safe for newborns.

• Be certain that equipment like lights and cables are well-secured, can't topple over, or cause someone to trip.

4. Lighting is Important

Like with all pictures, lighting is critical. It's even more critical when you're doing portraits. Improper lighting can distort the image, change skin tone or color, or emphasise the wrong details.

• Whenever possible, use natural, diffused lighting. Windows are a great source of natural light.

• Try taking your baby outside, if possible, and shoot outdoors using indirect natural light as you'd have on a bright but cloudy day.

• Consider the natural backgrounds when shooting in natural light outdoors. Let nature's beauty be your gorgeous backdrop.

• Consider the angle of the light when setting up artificial lights. (Lighting should angle down from above the baby.

• With babies, a good angle to shoot from is from above the baby's head so that light flows across the baby's body at a 45-degree angle. It casts softer light in the right places.

5. Details matter

Your baby's features are the perfect details you'll want to capture close-up because the day will come when you'll treasure those particular images!

• Details like fingers, toes, hands, nose, and eyes are precious and create memorable photographs. 

• If you have an extra camera body, load a macro lens, and shoot on manual for the best focus. Keep it handy for those future moments when you see something you really want to capture.

• If you don't have a second camera body, keep the macro lens handy to shoot close-up details.

6. Perspectives, Angle, and Composition

Like with any portrait, consider your perspective, angle, and composition carefully before your client arrives! You wouldn't skip that with another subject, so don't skip it just because the "client" is your baby!

• Consider the set carefully.

• Once you've positioned the baby, consider the various perspective and angles from which you'd like to shoot.

• Consider the composition as well.

• Experiment and have some fun with different poses as well as angles.

• Since you can't ask a newborn to look in a particular direction or assume a pose, you'll have to move around to capture the right angle.

7. Bring in the Family

Don't forget to include other members of your family in your newborn's pictures! Some of the most precious images of a new baby include parents and other siblings. You might even include the grandparents!

• You can shoot the various family members over several days whenever it's convenient for all involved.

• Be sure to include yourself in some of the images. After all, the client is related to you!

• Use a timer or have someone else take the picture once you've got the camera set up. 

The most important advice we can offer a photographer who's also a new parent is to take as many pictures you can, as often as you can. These years will go by quickly, and one day they will be nothing but a blur. The photos you take of your baby today will preserve your memories and be priceless to you one day.

Note: All preview images were been edited with BeArt-Presets Newborn Collection.