Baby Cameron Photo Shoot - Part 2

Baby Cameron was such a great sport that we were able to use many different props for our newborn photo shoot.  Hence, the reason his photo shoot is split into two posts!  Here are the rest of the props that we used.

Wire Basket

 

For this picture we placed a gray rug inside of a wire basket.  We carefully molded the rug so that Cameron's upper body and face would be propped up higher than his lower body.  We used a natural wood floor and black backdrop.  Cameron was very sleepy, so we were able to change his hats and wrap him in cheesecloth without any protesting!  

This was a good opportunity to get some close-up photos of Cameron's tiny features and hands.

Hammock

 

Cameron's mom, Christy, purchased this hammock on Etsy.  We, of course, were very eager to try it out for photographs.  We carefully placed Cameron in the hammock while it was still lying on the ground.  Then Christy took one side and I took the other.  We lifted it just about an inch off of the ground then my mom took the photographs.  For this picture it is essential to have the same color for the background and the flooring.  This gives the illusion that the hammock is higher off of the ground than it actually is.  The next time around, I will use one blanket or piece of material for the backdrop and flooring as opposed to the blanket and rug used in the picture below.

 

Hunting Gear

 

Christy's husband, Rick, is an avid hunter.  He was excited to get some pictures of Cameron with all of his hunting gear.  We started by setting up the scene.  Rick prepared his bag, then we staged his bow, boots, gloves, and antlers.  We placed some blankets in the bag to cushion Cameron.  Rick even had a camouflage hat that I used as a diaper cover for Cameron.  

Rick then switched out his archery gear for his rifle, bag, and some ducks.  We were able to get great photos from a couple of different angles.

Stool

 

I purchased this great shaggy lime green pillow, from which the stuffing is removed, at Home Goods.  I placed the green pillowcase on a stool.  We used a piece of white vinyl flooring as the background and a gray rug as the flooring.  The lime green pillowcase makes a great statement.  Cameron looks adorable sleeping peacefully against the soft green pillowcase.

For more pictures from this photo shoot, please visit Baby Cameron Photo Shoot - Part 1

Baby Cameron Photo Shoot - Part 1

After taking my son's newborn pictures and years and years of informal family photography, my mom and I were approached by a friend to do a photo shoot of her soon-to-be baby boy!  We were extremely excited about this opportunity, but also a bit nervous as now our work needed to be liked by our client, not just us.  Although long, the photo shoot went very well and we learned a lot.  Check out the details below.

 

Cameron's Birth Announcement

 

Cameron's mother, Christy, created the Birth Announcement shown above.  She is a talented graphic designer.  Her invitations, announcements, and other printed products can be found on her website, Baby Bride and Bungalow.  

 

Planning

My friend gave us a lot of props that she wanted to use for the photo shoot.  I got those props in advance and set up and planned out each of the photos.  This helped the session progress smoothly and made us look more professional and like we knew what we were doing! :)  Baby Cameron was so sweet, laid back, and easy to work with.  He had a full feeding just prior to the start of the session to help with his sleepiness.

Bean Bag

 

We started the photo shoot with the bean bag as the first set-up.  We draped a gray and ivory blanket over the bean bag and up the back of the scene.  We got some cute pictures of Cameron lying on the bean bag with his head slightly elevated. 

We attempted to take a picture of Cameron propped on his hands.  This shot is very tricky because the baby's hands need to be placed perfectly, and someone has to support the baby's head.  After some editing to remove my arms, this is the final picture.  You can see the original photograph is taken using a landscape orientation.  I also cropped it to show a closer, portrait orientation.

What we learned from this experience is that we need to save these more difficult positions and photos until later in or at the end of the photo shoot when the baby is truly asleep and more easy to position.  Attempting to place the baby's hands and to prop the baby's face on the hands can be very difficult.  

Baby Doll Bed

 

The backdrop for this photograph is a shower curtain.  Draped across the backdrop is a tassel banner that my friend made for her gender reveal party.  We used a vinyl white wooden floor and a white baby doll bed.  We placed Cameron on the doll bed on his belly then turned his head toward the camera.  Tuck the baby's legs under the belly then place his hand under his cheek.  The important thing to remember is that the baby should be slightly angled so that his behind is pointed away from the camera so that his "crack" is not visible.  We placed a large letter "C" as a prop in a few of the pictures.

Use this opportunity when the baby is sleeping peacefully to get some close-ups or other creative shots, as shown below.

 

Bucket

We placed a shaggy white rug in a large tin bucket then placed Cameron on top.  Cameron was sleeping so pleasantly that we were able to do some of the photos with a hat and some without.  For some variety we used a chalkboard, a tractor, and/or a string of pennants as props in a few of the photos.  When the baby is sleeping it is easy to change setups to create a totally different look for a photograph.  Additionally, we were able to slide a brown stable door in for the backdrop on some of the pictures.

 

Low Basket

This picture is taken using a low basket.  I found this really cool shaggy lime green pillow at Home Goods, from which I removed the pillow and was left with only the case.  I placed the green pillowcase in the basket.  I wrapped Cameron in a piece of white cheesecloth than laid him in the basket.  It is best to take this picture by shooting directly down on the baby.  

For more pictures from this photo shoot, please visit Baby Cameron Photo Shoot - Part 2

My First EVER Newborn Photo Shoot!

My mom is photographer of our family.  Although it is not her profession, she loves to take pictures as her hobby.  She has taken photography classes and even had a dark room when film was still used.  After looking into newborn photography sessions while I was pregnant with my son and realizing the high prices charged, my mom and I decided that we could do our own photography session.  About one month before my son was born we started gathering props and preparing our setups.  Once my son was born we took all of his newborn photos before he was two weeks old.

Being that we did the photos at my parents home, we were able to work around my son's schedule.  We took the pictures over a period of days.  The key is to take the pictures when the baby is sleepy.  You need to be able to position the baby's hands, legs, and face; a task which can only be done with a sleepy baby!

For all of the pictures, it is important to keep the baby warm and comfy between setups.  Keeping the baby undressed, but covering him with a soft blanket keeps him warm and comfortable in between photographs or setup changes.

Stool

 

Place the baby on his belly on a stool.  The stool we used has sentimental value because it is my grandma's and has been in her home as long as I can remember.  I used a piece of fabric as a background and a vinyl white wood floor.  I also used a piece of molding to make the fabric look like a wall.  When taking this picture, turn the baby's face toward the camera.  I used a piece of cheesecloth on the stool, which I draped down the left side of the stool.  I also placed a hat on the baby, which was purchased on Etsy.

Doll Bed

 

My mom had this doll bed from when I was a child.  It is a great newborn photography prop!  Behind the doll bed I placed a string of pennants which were originally created for a baby shower.  The doll bed setup can be a little tricky to photograph because it may be wider than the backdrop.  Take some practice shots to make sure everything fits into the scene or you may need to do some editing using Photoshop to fix any problems with the backdrop or flooring.

The doll bed is also really cute for twins.  As shown in the picture above, a second bed is made out of a pillow, and each baby is facing a different direction. 

Bucket

 

I had a large tin bucket, which I thought would be a cool prop for the photos.  I filled it with blankets then placed a lime green rug (purchased at HomeGoods) in the bucket.  I placed the baby on the rug.  Once he was settled and sleeping I tucked his legs under and placed his hand under his face.  He was content and sleeping so I quickly changed the background so that I had some variety from which to choose.  I used a small chalkboard in front of the bucket as a prop.

Bean Bag

 

For the bean bag setup, we cover a bean bag with a white blanket.  The white blanket also serves as the background.  The baby is positioned on his belly or side.  If on the belly, make sure that the baby's legs are tucked under the belly.  Attempt to place the hands near the face.  If the baby is on his side, pull his legs up towards his belly/chest in order to hide the umbilical cord and make the baby look comfy in the photos.

You can place something under the blanket or mold the bean bag so that the baby's head is propped up.  This setup is great for close-ups of the baby.

Close-ups

 

Take any opportunity that you have during the photo shoot to snap close-ups of the sweet sleeping baby.  You can capture facial features, hands, feet, or the whole face.