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5 EASY WAYS TO EXPAND YOUR NEWBORN PHOTO GALLERIES

I thought it might be time for a little extra motivation on some ways to expand your client galleries without spending a whole lot of extra time or money. Not only are we looking for ways to help ourselves in sessions but we also want to expand that client gallery so that our clients have more images to choose from, which means more income for us on the flip side of things. We wanna work smarter, not harder, right?

In this post we’ll review:

  1. Maximizing each angle of a prop
  2. Capturing multiple images in each set up
  3. Using newborn digital backdrops
  4. Creating small changes for more images
  5. Adding florals and other natural elements

Maximize Each Angle of a Prop

Make sure to maximize each angle of a prop. For example, if you are shooting a set up of a round basket from above, make sure to turn that basket 90 degrees and photograph the baby from a much lower angle next. Not only will you use the prop in two ways but you will be able to get overall set ups as well as profile images from each angle.

Capturing Multiple Images In Each Setup

Try to capture multiple images in each set up. Get close in, zoom out, change perspectives. I’d love to share with you a previous blog post showing you how you can get NINE images using just ONE pose (using creative angles).

Using Newborn Digital Backdrops

To all of my fellow photographers who have fallen into the same routine with sessions and are looking for something a little more creative, try one of our newborn digital backdrops!! Not only are these backdrops easy to edit (as long as you shoot light and bright) but you can incorporate florals or natural elements when they are not readily available to you locally. 

Create Small Changes For More Images

While photographing a baby in one set up, change out that hair accessory and the color of the wrap. Change the positioning of baby’s hand (example: hand moves from under chin to cheek). This will change the whole look of the set up and give you another opportunity to capture more poses. 

Add Florals and Other Natural Elements

Add fresh florals or natural elements from your backyard. If you don’t’ have a backyard then take a walk to your nearest park. There are always plenty of treasures you can find to add some soft natural elements to your images. You don’t have to go to a florist, just look at what you might have in season that will work for your session.

I hope you’ve found these tips helpful, have fun creating!!

THE BEST TIME TO PHOTOGRAPH A NEWBORN BABY

Do you need some guidelines around booking timelines for parents? Let’s dive in!

Generally I tell parents that photographing a baby in the first two weeks is the most optimal window of time. I ask them to let me know in the first few days once the baby has arrived and then we book a session in. It often takes a few days for them to tell me, then a few days of emails to find the right date and by then we are booking into the second week. My favorite (and I feel most optimal) time is between 10-14 days. Moms often have a bit more of a feeding routine established and parents are already getting to know the diaper changes, carseats etc. The second week is almost always a bit more of a comfortable week for families. Babies are still pretty sleepy-they spend longer periods of time asleep. They will naturally enjoy spending time in the fetal position and are more malleable at this age (can comfortably go into the posing positions). 

For some moms they may miss that first couple weeks window. Some little ones arrive weeks early. If they are more than 3 weeks early then we always wait until the baby is at their corrected age for the photoshoot. If mom and babe have spent extra time in the hospital they may have missed that window also. 

If you can’t schedule a newborn photoshoot in the first 2 weeks then you can book into the 3rd or 4th. Babies will typically start to spend longer periods more awake, they are also less curly and they are starting to stretch out and grow larger. They are less apt to sleep through a full session and they may also not manage some of the poses. You may have a wakeful session but this can still be more of a lifestyle session.  As long as you make sure that parents are aware of the differences with a shoot at this age, you can still capture a beautiful session. In this case we tend to focus on the baby’s little faces, the connection with their family.

If parents have missed the first few weeks I often encourage them to book a 3 or 4 month session (or a 100 days celebration!). In these sessions we capture baby’s expressions, funny faces and their engagement with the camera and with their parents. This is another ideal time for families, especially those who have missed their traditional newborn photo shoot. 

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