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

A Guide to Posing, Shooting, and Business

Robin Long

Natural Newborn Baby Photography

A Guide to Posing, Shooting, and Business

Robin Long

Peachpit Press
www.peachpit.com

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Peachpit is a division of Pearson Education.

Copyright 2013 by Robin Long

Acquisitions Editor: Ted Waitt
Project Editor: Susan Rimerman
Production Editor: Lisa Brazieal
Development/Copy Editor: Anne Marie Walker
Proofreader: Bethany Stough
Indexer: Karin Arrigoni
Composition: WolfsonDesign
Cover and Interior Design: Mimi Heft
Cover Photograph: Robin Long

Notice of Rights

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. For information on getting permission for reprints and excerpts, contact .

Notice of Liability

The information in this book is distributed on an As Is basis, without warranty. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of the book, neither the author nor Peachpit shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained in this book or by the computer software and hardware products described in it.

Trademarks

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and Peachpit was aware of a trademark claim, the designations appear as requested by the owner of the trademark. All other product names and services identified throughout this book are used in editorial fashion only and for the benefit of such companies with no intention of infringement of the trademark. No such use, or the use of any trade name, is intended to convey endorsement or other affiliation with this book.

ISBN-13: 978-0-321-90361-7
ISBN-10: 0-321-90361-7

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed and bound in the United States of America

For my husband and our three beautiful daughters. Youre the loves of my life.

I would first like to thank God for giving me the gift of my art and being able to share it with the world. The passion and perseverance He has blessed me with has enabled me to continue on a journey I never expected to fulfill.

A special thank you to the love of my life, my husband, Dennis, for his love and continued support. My career and this book would not have been possible without him by my side through this entire journey.

My deepest appreciation goes to my three daughters, Heather, Nichole, and Rebecca, along with my five granddaughters, Emelie, Ashlie, Abbie, Katie, and Nora, as well as our dog Toto too. Their willingness to put up with me dragging them into the light as my captured subjects and sitting patiently while I practiced, even though sometimes I had to resort to bribery, has brought me to where I am today. Without them, I never would have been able to follow my dreams.

A special thank you to my mom, my forever friend, for showing me her love and encouraging me in everything throughout my life. No matter what Ive accomplished or didnt, she has guided and cheered me along the way.

Id like to thank all my clients who graciously allowed me the honor of photographing their beautiful babies portrayed in this book.

Many thanks to the fine team at Peachpit Press, especially to Susan Rimerman my Project Editor and Anne Marie Walker my Development and Copy Editor, who pushed me to go above and beyond, and have been extremely patient throughout this project. Thank you to Lisa Brazieal my Production Editor for her expertise and always being there for me every time I needed her; to Mimi Heft my Designer for her expertise in designing a beautiful layout; and to Sara Todd my Marketing Manager for her extreme dedication. I couldnt have asked for a better team. They have all made this a wonderful and exciting experience.

When I first started in photography, I remember looking at how peaceful the babies seemed in those squishy little poses and thinking it was quite simple to accomplish. With a little milk and a warm room, there didnt seem to be much else to posing a newborn. After all, I had three babies, so I knew how to comfort them and get them to sleep. But could I move them from one pose to another without disturbing them? I soon realized there was a lot I needed to learn about newborn photography before I could master this specialized niche.

The main focus of this book is about posing newborns in a pure and natural way while keeping them safe and maintaining a thermo neutral environment. Ill also provide you with the key principles of what you need to start a newborn photography business. This book is not about the props or the next best pose, or trying to compete with all the other photographers in the industry. This book wont show you how to accomplish composite shots with the trendy poses, such as froggie or the hanging sling shots. Instead, youll find instruction on basic posing, storytelling, and the joy of timeless natural imagery to build a lasting foundation for your own work.

Well start with basic posing and learn how to move babies from pose to pose, keeping them calm and asleep while doing so. This can be a difficult task to perform, so Ill explain the best ways to accomplish posing. Ill describe the specific poses for newborns less than two weeks of age and those that are best for babies up to six weeks of age. I will not discuss photographing older babies or children in this book, because it is strictly centered on newborn imagery.

In addition, well examine the tools necessary for every newborn photographer. Ill show you how to start with basic equipment and which products you can purchase at a later time after your business progresses. Its OK to start off simple using just a few blankets and wraps. You shouldnt feel obligated to keep up with everyone else and spend thousands of dollars just to start your business. In addition, Ill share suggestions on how to prep the parents for a smooth session and specifics they should be aware of beforehand. Youll also learn how to set up a complete session by starting with a shooting plan to maximize your time more efficiently.

I started my business in my garage on a hot summer day with a beanbag and a fleece blanket I purchased from Wal-Mart. Spending hours researching on the Internet to learn about lighting and camera techniques was a typical day for me. It wasnt until four years later that we were able to build a studio onto our home. Building a business does not happen overnight; it sometimes takes years to get to where you want to be. Most businesses start out at the kitchen table with a few basic tools. Its about building and growing as you go, not putting yourself in debt before you even begin.

Although a hobbyist photographer may love this book, its really geared toward those seeking a newborn photography career and yearning to learn the craft to sustain a profitable business. Photography is about capturing and telling a story. Its not about merely taking a picture. You can easily do that with your cell phones. If you are serious about newborns as your niche and are willing to start from the beginning and learn safe, natural posing using natural light, youll find this book to be a great resource.