Rhode Island Newborn PHotographer | Safety First in Newborn PHotography
5 Tips for Newborn Photography Safety
Photographing newborns can be tricky, both logistically and emotionally, but it doesn’t have to be risky as well. Whether you’re photographing your own baby or someone else’s, you need to practice safe newborn photography techniques and make sure that both you and the newborn are comfortable throughout the process. In this guide, we’ll show you how to photograph newborns safely while still capturing amazing images with minimal hassle. Let’s get started!
1) Proper Breathing
Before you take pictures of your newborn, make sure he or she is breathing correctly. To see if a baby is breathing well, pay attention to his or her belly: it should rise and fall consistently. If it’s not moving enough, there could be an issue with circulation, so check again after a few minutes to see if it has improved. If not, call 911 immediately. Your photo shoot can wait—your baby’s health comes first!
2) Support the Head- Always!
It can be tempting to pose a newborn in any number of positions, but you must always keep baby’s head supported. If a newborn is awake, support his head with your hand. If he’s sleeping, prop him up against your arm or a rolled towel. As you can see here, in both photos his head is properly supported by pillows and blankets, but it's something photographers need to keep an eye on at all times while they're shooting!
3) Protect Baby’s Skin
The skin of a newborn baby is incredibly sensitive, which means that any extra fabric can be uncomfortable for them to wear. You should only use soft, comfortable wraps for newborn photos to protect baby's skin from damage. Don’t use anything that could irritate or cause a rash—and make sure to pick something sturdy and not too tight, so it won’t restrict baby’s movement.
4) Check Your Camera Equipment
This may seem silly, but it is SO important to use a camera strap so you don’t drop camera on baby! (Even if you're not directly above baby because accidents can happen.)
5) Monitor Babies Temperature
Even when it’s a sweltering summer day, you don’t want to overheat your baby. If you are using a heater—and I recommend it—make sure there is enough space between your heater and baby so they aren’t sitting in a hot pocket, which can become dangerous when temperatures start to soar. Always monitor babys temperature especially when using a heater so they don't overheat!
