Newborn Photography Tips Using Photoshop Retouching Actions

Four months ago, our littlest farm boy made his arrival.  He was smaller than we imagined he would be, but so so so cute.  

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​He has a beautiful disposition, and is already giving us glimpses of his little personality.  I took a couple of weeks off but have gotten back to work in the last few days.  He was born just after Valentine's Day and everything got put on hold these last few weeks.  I'm not putting too much pressure on myself but I promised myself this time that I wouldn't slow down and so far I have been able to strap him into a carrier and carry on with my responsibilities.  It helps that he is such a good baby, he is up for anything as long as he is snuggled up to me.

​I'm not saying that I'm getting things done quickly, it took me 5 weeks to take these pictures, and another week to sit down and edit them.  For me, these are the perfect newborn photos.  While posed newborn photos are beautiful to look at, and seem fun to style- I prefer real life, real moments...real memories.

I love the way he sleeps.  It's the best to me.  I just want to remember those little things, because it's easy to forget.  Really easy. ​

BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS

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Edited using the Portrait Magic Collection:
​Bright & Even, Magic Skin Smoother, Highlight Luminosity, Sharpen

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NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

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1. TIMING MIGHT BE EVERYTHING. Take your photos in the first week, babies are their sleepiest and most malleable in the first few days.
2. KEEP THEM WARM. they will be quieter and sleepier so you can position them as needed.  Turn on a space heater in the room 30 minutes before you start snapping pictures.
3. NAIL DOWN YOUR VISION.  Think about the colors you want ahead of time and gather your supplies.  I wanted these images to be really neutral and creamy with a little texture.  The light in our bedroom is so beautiful in the morning, and everything is already neutral.  I grabbed a woven blanket and folded him up in it.
4. CHOOSE THREE POSES.  Choose a couple of poses and then move around shooting from different angles.  Standing directly above the baby will produce different results than getting down on eye level.  You don't have to move the baby around to get a million pictures.
5. KEEP IT SIMPLE.  The best pictures you will get are not fussy and overly involved.  The point is to capture some real-life memories of your little one.  Difficult posing generally involves compositing in the editing process, which is better left to the pros and always involves helping hands.  
6. DON'T BE INTIMIDATED.  Whether you are a professional photographer or a Momtographer, little tiny baby pictures can be intimidating.  In my professional career, I did newborn portraits two times.  I was shaking the whole time, but I also didn't follow these tips.  There were too many poses, too many outfit changes, it was TOO MUCH.  Slow down.  Calm down.  Keep it simple.
7. PULL UP A CHAIR.  You may have to sit and wait.  I spent about two hours taking these pictures...much of that was waiting for him to fall asleep so that I could get the positions I wanted.  I spent a lot of time just standing there waiting.
8. BE PATIENT.  With yourself.  You may be snapping away and not getting the picture that you want.  Keep snapping.  These images came from the end of the roll (so to speak).  I had taken at least a hundred pictures before I got what I wanted.  The light may change slightly, you may discover a new angle, or think of a new idea.  Snap away, and worry about analyzing them later during the editing process.
9. TURN OFF YOUR FLASH.  Using a flash indoors can create really harsh shadows.  Set up near a window with soft diffused light.  If you need a flash, be sure to attach a Gary Fong Light Sphere, this will  help diffuse any harsh shadows.

Do you have tried and true tricks for newborn photography?  Have you tried the Portrait Magic Collection?  Connect with me in the comments below!