Congratulations on your new bundle of joy! Whether the baby has just arrived or you’re anxiously counting down the days until the due date, now’s the time to make plans for newborn photography. A baby’s first few weeks pass by quickly.

Those adorable sleepy shots—with the baby curled up, and legs tucked up underneath, hands sweetly folded beneath the chin—are only possible during the first two weeks. After that, they’ll be sleeping less and moving more!

Should you hire a Newborn Photographer?

Before deciding which of the cutest newborn baby poses to capture, determine if hiring a newborn photographer is necessary. A professional photographer who consistently works with newborns should have a creative eye and the know-how to keep a newborn safe and happy during a photoshoot.

Newborn photography studio

Newborn photographers often go to a home for a photo shoot. Many of them also have a newborn photography studio already set up with equipment and props. It may be a less stressful alternative than doing a photo shoot at home. Bring props, or use what the photographer has available.

Newborn hospital photography

Many professional photographers visit hospitals to capture newborn hospital photography. It’s an opportunity to showcase the beginning of a baby’s journey from their first appearance.

DIY Newborn Photoshoot

A DIY newborn photoshoot at home may sound intimidating, but it’s certainly doable. Incredible first photos of babies at home and with minimal equipment are easy to capture. 

With a point and shoot camera or a smartphone, use the portrait mode setting to blur the background and smooth skin tone and hair. It gives the baby that angelic look. When using a DSLR camera, set the aperture to the smallest number for that soft, blurred background. Use a tripod (for propping the smartphone) and the camera’s self-timer. 

A sound machine or fan can help keep the little one quiet and content while sleeping. Choose props and outfits that are neutral colors and similar textures. Light colors help with lighting the photos since they reflect light instead of absorbing it. Add visual interest by using a prop with texture, like a knit blanket. Use one as a backdrop since they won’t wrinkle the way sheets and curtains do. Household blankets, nursing pillows, and baskets all work well as props. Remember to place ample padding wherever the baby is, so they’re comfortable! 

Newborn Photography Ideas

A newborn is one of the most cooperative photoshoot subjects ever. Take newborn baby portraits within two weeks after birth. Babies are the smallest (and sleepiest) they’ll ever be during this time. Ready to plan a newborn photoshoot? Try these ten newborn photography ideas to capture special moments.

Start early with a maternity photoshoot

Maternity photoshoots are a fantastic way to capture the feeling of excitement and joy before meeting the newest family member. Choose to document a pregnancy journey from the very beginning through just before giving birth for a full pregnancy timeline effect. Or, choose to do a creative “belly” photoshoot right before the due date to celebrate the end of this significant milestone. If possible, chronicling the entire 9 month journey can really be rewarding.

The first day in the hospital

New mothers shouldn’t worry about how they look in photos. The joy of holding a newborn will overshadow any look of exhaustion. This is a moment to capture—document the baby’s first moments with partners, grandparents, siblings, and other relatives.

Big brother/big sister shots

If this is a second or third child, be sure to photograph the older siblings’ first introduction. A big brother or sister gazing down at a tightly swaddled, peaceful sibling is a sweet, memorable moment. Meeting the new baby is likely to be one of a child’s earliest memories. It makes perfect sense to capture the moment with a camera.

Breastfeeding and other bonding moments

In the beginning, a lot of bonding time is spent rocking and feeding a baby. These quiet moments are precious and priceless. They make for exquisite mother/baby portraits. Enlist a photographer who’s willing to take plenty of candid photos throughout the daily routines associated with a newborn. Or set a tripod and a timer on your camera to capture chosen moments. Ignore the camera, so these images provide a genuinely authentic peek into the first one-on-one newborn interactions. 

Moments shared with your partner

Take photos of these first, special bonding moments shared with partners and a newborn during a bottle feeding or skin-to-skin contact. It’s never too early to start reading to the baby—snap a quick pic of your partner reading a beloved childhood classic such as Love You Forever or Goodnight Moon.

Don’t miss the delicate details

Ten tiny toes, ten tiny fingers, two tiny ears, and a button nose—a baby grows quickly! Preserve the memory of the adorable newborn through photography. It’s easy to grab a few close-ups of wrinkly newborn feet and hands while also taking full-body photographs.

Swaddle up for fun with baskets and bowls

Swaddle a little one in a cotton blanket for a quick photo shoot in a basket, bowl, or other safe containers. Be creative with baby placement. Use an Easter or other holiday gift basket if the baby was born around a particular holiday, or use a pumpkin-themed container to celebrate an autumn baby.

Do a baby portrait

Lighting for newborn baby portraits is important because photos will be close up to the baby’s face. Newborns have very sensitive eyes and should not be exposed to bright light until they’re several months old. Ensure that safe lighting is used during a photo shoot. Ambient light, a soft light that mimics sunlight from a nearby window, is the best option to use for newborn photoshoots. Soft, white studio lights are also helpful and won’t cause the baby’s skin to look red and warm.

Newborn photography props

A photoshoot is a great time to experiment with newborn photography props. These often represent family and introduce the baby to new traditions. For example, if a partner is a baseball fan, consider capturing the baby curled up in a catcher’s mitt. Snuggle the baby with a childhood teddy bear or other family heirlooms. Sentimental outfits, rattles, books, or a special toy are all great ideas for a newborn photoshoot. 

Props for a newborn baby boy photoshoot can include blankets, clothing, or hats to match favorite colors or a family’s favorite sports team. Family heirlooms such as trains, stuffed animals, or other toys passed down generations also make great accompaniments with the brand new family member. Props for a newborn baby girl photoshoot can include headbands, jewelry, blankets, or clothing to match favorite colors and sports teams, too. Tutus also give a dramatic and adorable effect for a sleeping baby girl. Use clothing passed down through the family to celebrate the next generation. 

Newborn poses to try

There are many newborn poses to try during a newborn photo shoot. Depending on how much time and patience the baby has, poses can be kept simple or more trendy and elaborate for maximum “oohs” and “aahs.” There’s a reason babies are called little “bundles of joy”! 

A sleeping baby is the easiest to photograph. Go with what feels natural to position the baby comfortably, and more important, safely. Some babies love being swaddled. Others like to have their arms or legs free to move around. Wrap the baby snugly yet carefully in a simple fabric. Try different fabric textures, including muslin, linen, or cashmere. Baby’s hands can be in or outside the wrap, although the latter can be a bit trickier. A baby on their side while sleeping is also natural and an adorable way to photograph a quiet moment. 

A newborn photo shoot isn’t complete without a family photo. Be sure to include siblings, pets, and even extended family in these precious family photos. A family photo can be either formally posed or taken in a more natural setting at home. Consider taking pictures outside, such as a favorite park or picnic spot, or anywhere families gather. 

Try Them All

These newborn photography ideas will be treasured by family and friends alike. They’ll be perfect to use in a custom photo baby announcement or photo album. The Apple Photos extension Motif makes it easy to create heirloom-quality baby brag books and other custom photo projects to announce and celebrate any newborn baby. Motif takes the guesswork out of getting your project started. Even a new parent can find time to make a unique photo gift.

The post 10 Easy Newborn Photography Ideas appeared first on The Motif Blog.

It’s crazy to think of how quickly photography has advanced. Just 20 years ago, one-use cameras were a novelty, allowing us to photograph on-the-go. Photo prints were costly, but there was nothing quite like the thrill of picking them up and anticipating how they’d turned out.  

Now, we carry quality cameras in our pockets, most outdoing even the best digital cameras from less than a decade ago. We’re photographing more than ever before—and we need ways to enjoy those images! Enter photo books. They’re the perfect solution to encapsulate your best days and memories in a beautiful way you can enjoy over and over. 

Not sure where to start or exactly how to use your photos? We can help! These photo book ideas are sure to get your creative juices flowing.

1. Baby book

Photo albums aren’t quite what they were in the past—no more sticky pages or three-ring photo binders. Instead, you can turn your baby’s first year into art with a custom photo book. Start with photos from your maternity shoot or their birth, then introduce each month with a milestone photo and two-page spread. Use the back to show their growth with a unique spread that shows each of those milestone photos in progression. 

You can include professionally taken photos, their birthday party, documentation of all their first holidays, and developmental firsts. Each year to follow is bound to be special, but that first year, in particular, is so full of new experiences. Showcase every single one in a beautiful book.

2. Wedding album

We remember evaluating wedding photographers, admiring their work and style. Each pitched an album service which, though beautiful, came with a staggering price tag. With Motif, creating your own custom album has never been easier—or more affordable! 

When you get your high-resolution photos, put them right into Photos in macOS, and use Motif’s autoflow feature to have a beautiful, professionally designed book created for you in just moments. Not only is your book in your budget (that you can set up front!), but it’s printed using the highest-quality inks and papers so your wedding day book will stand the test of time.

3. Work portfolio

Many professions rely on work samples to sell their services. Think of a cake bakery, photographer, illustrator or artist, to name just a few. Rather than placing photos of your work into slip sheets, why not turn them into a custom book? 

Your work portfolio will be professional and beautiful, automatically creating a great first impression with potential clients. You can add an introduction upfront if it’s something prospects might peruse independently and even create section pages and/or a table of contents to introduce different types of work.

4. Custom storybooks

We’ve never met a child who didn’t love a good bedtime story! The only way to make bedtime even better is with a custom story that brings them in as a main character. Motif’s flexible tools allows you to create fun photo book ideas with incredible detail. 

Include custom illustrations or stage a photo shoot with your kiddos acting out scenes; then use them as the illustrations throughout the book. Better yet, let your child help illustrate the story you craft. Send the whole thing—images and text—to Motif and encapsulate your special bedtime story forever.

5. Family recipe book

Digital recipes are great, but if you’re like us, you have recipes saved from approximately 5,000 different sources and can’t ever find the one you actually want. Fix this by creating your own recipe book that captures your favorite recipes all in one place.

6. Spruce up your coffee table

Create a coffee table book that truly means something to you! Create a book about your favorite pet. Use the pages to tell the story of your travels. Or, create a color-theme book that unites photos you took and beautifully curated to tie into your living room’s color theme. The options are endless and only you can create your perfect coffee table book.

7. Child artwork album

Kids are constantly crafting, and as much as we’d love to keep every precious doodle, we just can’t—there isn’t enough counter space in the world! But you can photograph those sweet drawings and upload them to Motif to condense and capture for life. You’ll love looking back at this sweet book, especially as the years tick by, and down the road, your little one will love seeing a memento from their past.

8. Mark your milestones

Celebrate your own successes or those of your family with a book dedicated to your personal milestones. Create a spread for your first family camping trip or a book celebrating each of the half marathons you’ve completed. 

Are you a military family? Create a book that tells the story of each of your relocations and the great people you’ve met along the way. Document your swim career—each meet and the ribbons won.

9. Music book

Create a custom playlist that includes the songs you love to play on the piano—rather than digging through countless music books or flipping pages, trying to remember exactly which of Chopin’s nocturnes it is that you love, find it easily in your own custom book. 

Using Motif’s text features, you can even include a table of contents or annotate the title to something you’ll remember more easily.

10. All in a (school) year

Kids are constantly bringing home school work, be it special art projects, an impressive math test score, or particularly notable creative writing piece. We want to keep them all but would quickly fill a storage locker if we did. 

A custom photo book is the perfect way to curate these noteworthy pieces into a collection that condenses space and tells a story of its own. Scan or take a photo of them, and use the Motif app to create a one-of-a-kind journal of the school year’s progress and most memorable moments.

The post 10 Out-of-the-Box Photo Book Ideas appeared first on The Motif Blog.