the photographer and they should make acquaintances beforehand. As a photographer, there are certain things that a person should keep in mind. Be very open and communicate extensively with your client. She is already going through a very exhausting phase so respect her decisions and comply with every detail. There may be a point when she feels uncomfortable with you around her especially if a medical procedure is going on. You may not get the shots of the baby’ s birth but you can always take pictures of the baby right after it has been born.
Being a birth photographer is not a 9 to 5 job. Be ready for a call in the middle of the night. Labour can go on for hours as well. Ensure that you wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to stay for the entire haul. You need to be committed until the end. Never post pictures of the woman or the photographs you took, on the internet without her permission. During birth, a woman may expose more of her body than what she would otherwise be comfortable with. Be sensitive to her privacy and make sure that she is comfortable.
Births can take place in a dark room with very dim light. Do not ask to switch on the lights or use flash. It can be very disturbing for the mother if there is a constant flash of light around her especially when she is working so hard on her body. Ensure that you can work in low light and are not in any way, creating any disturbance or getting in the way of anybody just to take that perfect shot. Once the baby is born, you get the chance to capture some amazing newborn shots. Capturing the expressions of the mother and the father when the baby is born is very much recommended. It is a surreal journey to bring a child into this world. Newborns are an amazing subject for any photographer. A tiny little being all bundled up in a blanket can give you the most adorable expressions.
Babies change appearance very rapidly. So photographing a newborn when he or she is just 3 hours old would be very different from what you would get after three days. Ideally, newborn babies are photographed within the first 2 weeks of them being born. That is primarily because during this time they sleep more and can curl up in a‘ womb-like’ position.
Although babies are considered newborn for the first three months after birth, the older they get, the lesser they sleep and their feeding schedule gets more frequent which could end up in a longer photo shoot. While photographing newborns, the following points can be considered helpful: Capture details. Yawning or crying babies can give you amazing shots. Macro shots of their hands and feet are also a very important part in capturing the details.
Try and use more of natural light. Babies are sensitive to light and it can potentially harm them. Ensure that the studio or the location where the photo shoot takes place is warm and comfortable for the baby. Ensure that you are well equipped to take care of a baby. Babies can be fussy and need lots of attention. Ensure that you stay calm and the baby is always comfortable and well fed. A cranky baby is not what you want. Try and incorporate a personal touch to the photographs. Props are amazing, but try and get something that the family feels more connected to. Be gentle and understand that the parents of the baby are probably sleep-deprived and high on adrenaline rush. Ensure that they are active at all times and keep them involved in the entire process. A baby can be of the fourth generation in a family. Try and get as creative as you can while photographing babies, keeping it’ s family background in mind. A baby is worth everything in this world, and after a few years, when you want to look back at the moments from his / her childhood, make sure you don’ t regret that chance.
Expert Opinion: Take instructions from the midwives, they are incredibly helpful, and will let you know where you can move. Place yourself in one position and take several shots from there. Using a zoom lens can give you more variety in images. Then after a while move to another position in the room, that way you are not moving a lot, but also covering the birth from different angles.
Nicole Hoschke Sunshine Coast, Australia
Have Patience, Love Nikon D800 14mm F / 2.8 25s ISO2500