Natural Newborn Baby Photography: A Guide to Posing, Shooting, and Business

Natural Newborn Baby Photography: A Guide to Posing, Shooting, and Business

by Robin Long
Released June 2013
Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
ISBN: 9780133366075

Read it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Book description

Little toes, pursed lips, and tiny hands—newborn photography is a rapidly growing market and professional photographers are eager to jump in. To work with and pose a 5- to 10-day-old infant demands special skills, keeping the child safe and the new parents comfortable, while capturing the subject’s raw and natural beauty.

This guide by pro photographer Robin Long provides the inspiration and instruction, practical tips, and equipment advice you need to get started. You will learn about:

  • Establishing trust with clients and working with newborns and parents

  • Using natural lighting sources and selecting simple wraps and materials

  • Posing styles and transition advice to ensure the session goes smoothly

  • Calming techniques and understanding the physical requirements of newborns

  • Post-processing workflows with Adobe Camera Raw and Adobe Photoshop to create breathtaking images


    • This beautifully illustrated guide will not only assist you through a complete newborn session, but will help you start  your own newborn photography business, including creating a business plan, building a client base, and selling your images to clients.

    Table of contents

    1. Title Page
    2. Copyright Page
    3. Dedication
    4. Acknowledgments
    5. Contents
    6. Introduction
    7. Chapter 1. Inspiration
      1. My Inspirations
      2. Create an Inspiration Board
      3. Define, Develop, and Deliver
      4. The Storyteller
      5. The Unwritten Word
    8. Chapter 2. Beautiful Light
      1. Quality of Light and Time of Day
      2. Tools to Direct Light
      3. Working with Natural Light
      4. The Importance of Proper Exposure
      5. Understanding Aperture, ISO, and Shutter Speed
      6. Histograms
      7. White Balance
      8. Customize the Playback Menu
      9. My Settings
      10. Raw vs. JPEG
      11. What’s in My Camera Bag
    9. Chapter 3. The Planning Stage
      1. Prepping the Parents
      2. Planning the Session
      3. Shoot to Sell
      4. Simple Setup
      5. Baby Tools Every Newborn Photographer Should Have
      6. Age Matters
    10. Chapter 4. Newborn Posing
      1. Posing Insights
      2. The Four Basic Poses
      3. Smooth Transitional Techniques
      4. Choosing Your Props
      5. Captivating Connections with Families
      6. Completing the Session
    11. Chapter 5. The Anatomy of a Newborn
      1. Circulatory System
      2. Newborn Skin
      3. Premature Babies
      4. Baby Cues
      5. Soothing Techniques
      6. More Soothing Techniques
    12. Chapter 6. Natural Imagery Through Storytelling
      1. Capturing the Details
      2. Wrapping the Baby
      3. The Beauty of Black and White
      4. The Power of Natural Imagery
    13. Chapter 7. The Digital Darkroom
      1. Calibrating Your Monitor
      2. Using Adobe Camera Raw and Adobe Photoshop
      3. Post-processing Efficiency
      4. Consistency
    14. Chapter 8. The Newborn Niche
      1. Define, Create, and Implement
      2. Setting Yourself Apart
      3. Creating Value
      4. Your Client Base
      5. Marketing Your Business
      6. Social Media
      7. Creating a Business Plan
      8. Pricing and Products
    15. Index

    Product information

    • Title: Natural Newborn Baby Photography: A Guide to Posing, Shooting, and Business
    • Author(s): Robin Long
    • Release date: June 2013
    • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
    • ISBN: 9780133366075