Newborn Photography Safety Guidelines All Professional Photographers Should Adopt by Chi Pritchard

If you are looking at photographing a subject that's has pure natural beauty, delicate, and full of super cuteness. You should look no further than a precious day old newborn. You can't find another subject that will give you so much pleasure while shooting and even more after shooting. This is why photographers should be very mindful of the risks involved when choosing to become a newborn photographer.

There are important safety procedures that should be followed. This will ensure that no accident or injury occurs to the delicate newborn while in your care. That's the part most newborn photographers don't realize. They are in your care during the shoot. If you don't use proper posing techniques during your shoot you could seriously hurt the newborn.

You want to make sure the room is at least 85 degrees during the shoot. You should have the parents feed the baby right before they come to your location. I usually have a space heater that I setup near the shoot to make sure I have that little extra warmth surrounding the baby. This will help keep the baby sleeping and helps keep that baby from getting all fussy during the shoot. Just don't put the space heater directly in front of the newborn. You should never leave a newborn unattended at anytime during your shoot. Babies are just like adults and can have varying mood changes that can make it impossible to get a decent shot. You may have times where you have to reschedule a session due to an uncooperative newborn.

If you have a studio then you may want to provide an area for the mothers who breast feed can have privacy. Once you have the baby nice and sleepy it's time to get your props all nice in order for you newborn. I always like to have a spotter for my shoots. I'm lucky enough to have an assistant at my studio. If you don't have a spotter then you should ask one of the parents or think about hiring a part-time assistant just for these shoots. I only use spotters for the more difficult poses. If you don't plan on having any complex poses then you shouldn't need a spotter. Newborns are prone to quick movements and can easily fall out of or slide out of a prop that you've setup up. You want to make sure you have a bean bag or something to help soften any fall that may occur. There are several products that are designed specifically for this purpose. I like to use a bean bag as it offers what I feel is the most support and is easy to move around during the shoot.

You should also make sure and weight your prop down so it doesn't tip over. You see newborn photographers that use flimsy bucket props that can easily tip over. If you do decide to use a bucket prop then you want to use a very sturdy material for them to prop up against. If you use a plastic bucket or anything that may bend then you could be moments away from a life threatening accident. If you need your assistant to help prop up your newborn then have them use their finger to prop up the newborn. You can go back and edit the finger out of the final shot.

There are also props that should be considered only if you are an experienced newborn photographer. These would include suspending the newborn or using a hanging scale or any other type of hanging prop. You should only try this technique if you thoroughly comfortable with your technique. You can use a baby doll or piece of fruit to simulate and practice your technique before you actually use in a live shoot. You should always have a bean bag underneath the newborn during your shoot. Remember that the goal of any newborn photo session is always the safety of the baby. You should always properly tie any sling that you lay a newborn inside before you suspend the baby.

You should never use any stick or piece of wood that may snap in half during your shoot. There are props you can buy that are made out of roots from trees that are extremely strong and look like an actually tree branch. You should always bring up the sling slowly with either your assistant or the parents hold each side. You should never try to attach the sling to the branch with the newborn suspended in the air. Slowly bringing up the branch will allow for proper height and will allow for a little bending in the branch. You shouldn't bring up the branch more than a few inches above the bean bag that you placed underneath. It's OK if the bean bag shows up in your shot as you can edit that out later.

You should capture as many photos as you can once you have the newborn properly positioned. This will help guarantee that you will at least get one good shot for every twenty or thirty taken. This is a little higher ratio of shots taken to acceptable shots that I would normally follow during a normal portrait session. However, with safety in mind you don't want to leave the newborn in a compromised position any longer than you have to. You can also incorporate lifestyle shots with the parents holding the newborn. This takes the safety of the newborn out of your hands during these types of poses.

Following these steps should ensure that you can eliminate possible hazards that may harm or cause injury to a newborn. The newborn's safety should always be your top concern. You should always test any new props you get before trying on a live subject. Even if you want the perfect shot you shouldn't take chances with the life of a newborn. These aren't baby dolls or toys that you replace if they drop and break. If you don't feel comfortable about the positioning of a newborn then stop and move on to the next shot you feel comfortable taking. A newborns life is too precious to take any chance with during a portrait session.

Chi Photography is one of the top Alpharetta Newborn Photographer located in Atlanta Georgia.

Atlanta Photographer

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Chi_Pritchard/795059

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7217978