Photographing your own baby at home during Covid-19

Well here we are back in lockdown, again! 
I first wrote this blog back in April last year but I thought I would re do it as it might be useful to more people now ( unfortunately) 

Giving birth to your baby during a world wide pandemic is no mean feat! But you are creating history right now, bringing a child into the world at this time is heroic, please do not forget how amazing you are , you can do this!  

Unfortunately, you will not be able to get any professional newborn photographs taken at this time. So I have written a simple guide to help you with taking some photographs of your own baby at home.  

I photograph babies up to 5 months here at Samantha Prewett Photography in Poole in a similar way to newborns, you can read more about this in my baby section. I would love to see you and your baby after this is all over and the world has started to return to a safe place to be.

1. Simple is key

You really do not need any props to take some lovely photographs at home yourself. Just a couple of blankets. Find somewhere in your home with lots of natural light, turn off your flash and any other lights you have in your home. If you have a nice rug you can lay your baby on the floor. If you have a favourite outfit you can dress them in that, or if you want to take their clothes off for some photos make sure that it is nice and warm in your home first. I heat up my home for a few hours before any newborn photography session.
Don't try and attempt any "poses" that you have seen newborn photographers create. We have had lots of training and many years of experience so we know how to safely position your baby without risking their safety. ​

2. Get in nice and close

This is one of my all time favourite newborn photographs. I love taking simple, close up photos of newborns, especially when they are awake. I find the morning is usually when they are most content and happy so if you can try some photos as early as you can, as soon as you have enough daylight. For a natural, uncluttered background, simply lay baby on a light coloured blanket or throw. If you have a special one that you would like to use, all the better for those precious memories.

3. Don't forget the feet!

If you follow me you will know that I love baby feet! There is nothing cuter than tiny little baby toes. So make sure you take some photos of your babies feet and hands. If you have another adult or other children at home, you can get them to hold babies feet or hands in their hands whilst you take a few photos so that you can see how small they are.  

4. Make sure that you get in some photos yourself.

Although you may not feel very photogenic straight after having a baby, trust me you look amazing. The new mum (and Dad) look is something you will definitely want to remember.
I simply love this photo so much, Dad was almost asleep here, you can really feel the closeness in the photograph.
Whilst most parents chose to have parent and baby photos when they come to me for their newborn photography sessions, not all do. The ones that don't still have some photos on their phones of them with their baby. Trust me you will regret it in years to come if you do not. Even if you are on your own with your baby, the wonders of modern technology allow you to take selfies on your phone, just remember to hold the phone so it is looking down on you and your baby not up your noses. 

5. Print your photos!

This is the most important piece of advice that I can offer you.
There is nothing more precious than a printed photo book or a photo album, or even a shoebox full of photographs to look back on over the years. Photographs become so much more valuable over time, trust me , my children are now 9 and 11 and they love looking at all of our photo albums from when they were smaller. 
My professional printing lab was close for a while back in the first lockdown so I have given the FreePrints app a go for our scrapbook photos, I have to say I was impressed. Remember to chose "Matt" finish so your photos are kept free from fingerprint marks.

You can read my Covid-19 statement here, which will let you know what to expect if you are booked in with me and your baby arrives during this pandemic.