6 Essential Tips for Photographing Fresh 48 sessions in the Hospital | A Guide for Newborn Lifestyle Photographers
There are many pregnant moms who love to have their photos done few hours after the birth of their baby while everything is new and fresh. They will reach to hire you as your Fresh 48 photographers but you might be hesitant to give them this unique experince as hospital rooms are not really photo pretty and the lighting is not the greatest. However, Lifestyle photography is all about realness and how to adopt yourself with different lighting situation. So I am going to share you some tips on how to photograph a Fresh 48 Newborn Session in a hospital setting.
Use Natural Light
Try to photograph the newborn baby during daytime while still lots of natural light comes to the room. Open up all curtains and turn off all lights in the room.
Place and face the newborn\new parents towards the window for the best light and exposure. If you have to move the furniture around(newborn crib, armchair) and relocate them to be close to the window, don’t be afraid to do so.
2. Newborn Features
The first 48 hours after birth is all about tiny features of your newborn. Try to capture all of those details and freshness. Small toes, tiny hands, hospital ID bands, umbilical cord, yawning and stretching. Pay attention and be ready to capture all of those.
3. Hospital Details
There are some stuff unique to the hospital so try to photograph them. Take photos of your newborn wrapped in hospital blanket in that glass bassinet. When you are still in the hospital, the staff would do some procedures that are worth to be documented, for example: hearing test & first bath.
4. Different Angels
To give your newborn images versatility, take photos form various angles. From sides, or even form above. For example, wrap you baby with blanket and put in the hospital crib beside the window and hold your camera from above and snap the photo (when taking photo from above always make sure your newborn’s safety first)
5. Outfit
Try to keep it simple. No logo or writing!
Newborn
A nice patterned/colored swaddle
Simple colored or white onesie or sleeper.
Don’t worry if the outfit for the new baby is loose and showing big; this can indicate how tiny their body is.
New Parents
Floral/solid color robe for new mom
solid color t-shirt for dad
6. Parenthood photos
I know that both mom and dad might look tired after birth, but parenthood photos are must to have and you can take turn to photograph each other with your baby. Motherhood and nursing photos are also something you may want to consider to be documented, if your client (new mom) is comfortable with.
It is a good idea that new mom have a light make up.
I hope you find these tips helpful.