7 Tips for Better Hospital Baby Photos

Well, this was not exactly what I was planning for my first blog post to be about. I was hoping to have a few more posts done before sharing this one, giving me the chance to introduce myself and get my feet wet so to say with this whole blogging thing first. And to give you more of a chance to get to know me a little better and what I am all about before diving right in.

But with all the craziness going on in the world right now, I was just starting to feel helpless and useless having to stay at home and be trapped in my little bubble. I want to do what I can to help, but I am just a mom and a photographer, and there is only so much I can do from my computer at home. So I started racking my brain for any little thing I could do that might offer a little bit of help or comfort in these crazy times.

One thing I have noticed in many of the Facebook groups that I am a part of is the change in visitor policies for new babies and mothers at the hospital. If you've been following my business Facebook page, or glanced at my website at all, you may have notice a trend....I loooove babies! Newborn, Fresh 48 hospital sessions, and Birth sessions are my absolute favorite type of sessions to shoot! But with the new change in policy, a lot of expectant mothers are now only allowed one support person with them in the hospital the whole time they are there for delivery. Some mothers I have seen online have been debating and seeking advice on whether or not they should choose to have their husband with them or their birth photographer. What a horrible decision to have to make!

I don't think any father should have to miss the birth of their child, but I know how important those first photos of baby can be. So I've decided to offer some simple tips that anyone can do to take better photos of your precious new little one while in the hospital. You don't have to have a fancy camera or any crazy equipment for these tips to apply. All you need is your phone! I hope these tips help you and give you some peace as you prepare for such a special time!

1. Let as much light into your room as possible

Hospital rooms are notorious for being small and dark. If you are just going to be using a camera phone to take pictures, you are going to want to have as much light in the room as possible. This will help to eliminate grainy and blurry photos. Open the blinds and move the bassinet or a chair close toward the window. You can turn on the florescent lights in a pinch, but that can cause the colors in your photos to be thrown off and become too blue or too yellow-orange, so natural light is best!

2. Keep it simple

Before you start, take a quick minute to sweep the room for any sign of clutter. Tuck all your things back into your hospital bag and place it somewhere out of sight. Put it in a closet, hide it on the other side of the bed, or even put it in the bathroom temporarily and shut the door. If you can, when taking portraits, take photos against a plain wall or by the window to avoid a bunch of distracting medical equipment in the background. Or raise the bed up as far as it will go and use the white sheet as your backdrop. Get in nice and close to crop out all the distractions in the background.

3. Simple goes for clothing too

I often tell people to keep the outfits they choose for baby simple as well. Pink ruffles and huge bows or a sports team logo may look cute, but keeping things simple and classic ensure that your photos will look timeless years down the road. Try to stay away from lettering or too many patterns (monograms or the baby's name are usually ok). White onesies or solid colors are perfectly fine. If you want to add a little color, bring a simple muslin blanket or receiving blanket to line the bassinet or wrap baby in while you take your photos.

4. Switch it up

Keep things interesting by moving around and shooting a bunch of different angles. No one needs 200 pictures that are practically identical. Switch it up! Don't be afraid to move yourself. Shoot from the head down, or shoot from the feet up. Stand on a chair (dad, not mom!) and get a birds eye view. Or get down low on the baby's eye level. Don't forget mom's point of view too! Stand behind mom while she holds baby and shoot over her shoulder to capture what she sees. Variety will keep things fresh and give you a whole lot more photos to choose from for your albums. I was able to capture the variety of photos below by keeping baby in one spot, and just moving myself and my angle.

5. Try not to shoot up the baby's nose

Angle is everything! Ever forget to switch your camera around, and then turn your phone on and get a nice shot right up your nose? Not very flattering is it? Same rule applies to baby! Try to position yourself so that your not looking straight up the baby's nose. Shoot from the top of the head down, from the side, or straight above.

(She's mad I didn't get her good side, haha!)

6. Don't forget the tiny details

Those adorable tiny little features won't stay that way for long! Make sure to get nice close up shots of those tiny little fingernails, those little wisps of hair, and those wrinkly little toes. Those first few days go by in such a blur, so don't forget to take detail shots of your room as well. What room number are you in? Was is sunny or rainy outside? What was your nurse's name? What sort of things did you bring for baby? (diapers? hat? pacifier?).

7. Get in the photos!

Please, please, please, if you remember nothing else, get in the photos with your little one. Pass the camera off to a nurse if you have to! Of course we want to include Dad too, but Moms, this one is especially for you. I know, having your picture taken after you've just given birth is the LAST thing you want to do. But trust me, years from now you will wish you had those photos of you and your baby. My biggest regret is not taking the time to slow down, hand the camera off to someone else, and get in the photo. Remember, not every photo needs to be shared on social media. Some photos are just for you and your memories. If you think you look like you've been hit by a bus, that's ok. You don't need to have your makeup done or your hair fixed up. Years from now when your child is all grown up and looking back on the first photos of themselves with their mother, they will think you look beautiful.

Bonus Tip: These also apply to video!

Don't forget to take some video too! You will get very well acquainted with your baby's cry over the next few months, and it may drive you up the walls now, but those little cries will soon go away and you forget just how cute and small they were. Some of my favorite videos are of my children meeting their sibling for the fist time. Is the baby crying? Yes, the WHOLE time. But now I think it is the sweetest sound in the world!

I hope you find these tips helpful, and can re leave some anxiety you may be having as you go into delivery. If you have any questions or would like any more tips, please let me know, I would love to hear from you!