Our Guide to Newborn Photography From an Expert
Today we’re talking to Erielle Bakkum, a Chicago photographer and mom of 3 kids. Eriella shared her favorite tips for nailing your newborn shoot or family photos, what you need to take better pics at home, and how to ensure you get photos you’ll love and cherish forever.
Read on to take your best family photos yet.
Q: Tell us a little about your business?
I photograph all types of people - mostly newborns, children, and families. My work has been described as honest, joyful, and natural, and I would say that I agree! I really do try to squeeze all the beauty I can from the moment and put it into an image. Whether I’m photographing an infant just home from the hospital, an exuberant kindergartener’s grin, or a high school senior almost off to college, I am so lucky that my job is to bring out the best in humans.
Q: Give us a few tips for how moms can get the most out of a professional newborn photoshoot?
Do Your Research: Choose a photographer whose work you love. Use the photographer’s website, social media sites, and blog to decide if her style matches yours. Do you want studio photos of your baby, sleeping peacefully, swaddled in a basket? Or would you prefer a more documentary approach done in your home, capturing all the realities and emotions of having a newborn at home?
Get in the Photo: Even if you aren’t feeling your best after giving birth, getting into at least a few photos is so important. You don’t even need to look at the camera! Hold your baby, smile at your baby, talk to him, smell him, let him be your world, and the photographer will do the rest. You’ll never regret it.
Deep Breaths: Let go of expectations and go with the flow. Newborns are the best at teaching you to be flexible. Expect a little bit of chaos, a little bit of reality, and just focus on loving this little human that you just brought into the world.
Print Them: Print your photos! Even with the best intentions, sometimes life is just too busy! High quality prints will look beautiful and last years. Take the time to print and store your favorites.
Q: What are your best tips for DIY’ing a shoot at home?
Get the light right: Turn off the flash and overhead lights, and use natural light from your windows. North-facing windows often have really nice light for babies. If the sunlight is directly on you, put a white sheet over the window to diffuse the light. If you’re outside, stay in the shade, as bright sunlight is generally too harsh for newborn and family photography.
Create a set up: Lay some blankets down and put your baby on top of them. If she won’t settle, try swaddling her. Try having a space heater nearby to keep her warm and to create white noise. Make sure her face is turned towards the light, and snap away! Pro tip: I love portrait mode on your phone, just focus on babies eyes for a beautiful shot.
Create a candid moment: Candids can be set-up ahead of time and then go in their own direction. Maybe you want a really amazing photo of your baby’s expression the first time he tries a banana. Position your baby so he’s facing the window and take a few test shots. Make sure you like the way the light hits his face, and catches his eyes. After you get pictures of his expressions, you can photograph the details. Get his little hands squishing the banana…get his little tooth poking through…all the little things you might forget someday. You can also hand your camera to your partner and ask him to get a few photos of you feeding your baby from different angles.
Try a self-portrait: These are a fun and creative way to get you in the photos before your maternity leave ends and life gets crazy(er). Bonus - your partner doesn’t need to be home/available/willing, and you can get as many chances as you want to get it right. Set the timer on your phone, or even better, the time-lapse function, which will take a photo every few seconds. (You can always delete a bunch later.) Prop up your phone, press the shutter, snuggle your baby, and take all the photos you want. It’s fun to set up different activities of the two of you at home together: nursing, cuddling on the sofa, learning how to wrap your baby, cooking with your baby strapped on to you, or even just sitting next to a window and catching that beautiful natural light on your faces.
Q: Moms take so many photos. What’s your best recommendation for storage, saving, printing, etc.?
I love iPhoto for keeping photos organized. You can add your favorites to folders so that your best photos are easy to access throughout the years. I label my folders of favorites in the YYYY-MM-DD format, so that everything stays in chronological order. I also add a brief description, so it looks something like this: 2021-03-28 Owen, 7 Months - Sitting up, Visiting Grandma.
Also, print your photos. I know I already said this, but gosh, it’s so important. Make a folder or album on your phone/computer called “Printing,” and add your favorites to it. Every once in a while, do a photo dump and order 4x6 or 5x7 prints. Store them in a photo box where they won’t take up much space, and they’ll be protected from sunlight and dust. Yes, this takes time, and yes, it sounds so old-fashioned to have shoeboxes of prints in your closet! But there is nothing like taking out a box of photos and going through them years later.
Q: Can you share a few maternity photoshoot tips?
Most importantly, do one! Your body is doing something absolutely amazing and beautiful. Your future old self will look back upon your younger self and be in awe of the feat that you accomplished. If you don’t want a professional photo shoot, get photos somehow! Stand by a window and ask your partner to take a few photos of yourself looking down at your belly, or looking out of the window, with your arms cradling your belly. Set up the time-lapse on your camera and do a few of you and your partner talking, hugging, or cuddling. Another fun idea is to do a monthly series of you with your current food craving. Use the same background every time (the same wall, the same sofa, etc.), pull your shirt up over your belly, and make silly faces at the food or the camera. You don’t have to look great; the fun part will be watching how your body changes over time, and your kids will get a kick out of it when they are older!
Q: How can I take the stress out of dressing my family for a photoshoot?
I always suggest that moms start with themselves. Babies, kids and dads are generally easy to find clothes for. But us moms tend to put ourselves last, and then we are scrambling to find the right thing while also getting everyone else out the door!
Infants are the cutest in simple, neutral, well-fitting clothes. A short-sleeved onesie is perfect, as it is the epitome of ‘baby-ness’ and it shows so much of their soft skin and rolls. Honestly, my favorite way to photograph babies is just in their diapers. Wrap them in a soft blanket and voila, you have the most adorable photos without any wardrobe decisions to make.
New moms, if you want to treat yourself, Milkmaid Goods has gorgeous dresses, wraps, and robes that are designed for postpartum wear and photograph well. The floral prints are gorgeous!
Q: Any tips or things to stay away from when it comes to dressing for family shoots?
Avoid athletic wear at all costs. Don’t wear shirts with text or graphics on them. Prints, patterns, and stripes are great, because they add visual interest, but with texts and pictures, the eye goes right to them, and photos end up looking like an advertisement for Nike or The Gap, etc.
Dear Dads, don’t wear shorts. Kids, you’re okay in shorts. :)
For newborns, try to avoid collars or ruffles - anything that could partially cover their face or chin. We’ll be fussing with it constantly, I promise. Make sure the clothes fit well before the shoot, as clothes that are too loose or too snug look awkward.
For families, don’t try to play it safe by matching! Photos are much more interesting when there is a variety of colors and textures.
If in doubt, put a few of you in neutrals, and then add a pop of color here and there!
Have more questions for Erielle? Email her at erielle@eriellebakkumphotography.com