I took some time (actually quite a lot of time) a couple weeks ago to take some newborn shots of Esther. Here's the final cut that we'll be sending out as announcements.
Then I added some elements to make a sweet little announcement:
(The pixels are not part of the design--that's just info we don't need to share with the whole world...)
I used picnik.com for the editing, since I don't have an editing program on my new computer. I really love this website, and it is very easy to use. You don't even have to sign up for an account if you don't want to. Fun.
A couple tips for taking your own newborn photos--
::Search flickr and etsy for ideas for your poses.
::Set the scene in a place where it can stay up for a long time. And I mean hours or even days. You may need to ditch your first couple attempts if baby just isn't feelin it.
::Make sure she is full and happy.
::Tuck a diaper under her if possible. If not, be ready to clean up some messes.
::Do not use any surface that is not washable. There will be messes--especially if she is full and happy.
::Take a TON of pictures. Even if she is cooperating, take a couple more, change camera position, lighting, etc. You never know which one will be right until you start playing with them.
::Have a friend help.
::Turn off the AC. And keep a blanket over baby when you are not aiming the camera her way. Chilled baby=mad baby. You may also want to keep her pacifier in her mouth until you take the picture. But this time, my baby kept giving me a "fish face" every time I took it out.
::Crop liberally. Sometimes the best shot of baby's face has someone's hand in the background.
::Have a since of humor. So every picture you took shows a screaming newborn? Write a funny caption next to it, and send it anyway. Parenting is about just rolling with it! And people love to see babies.
Any other tips you have for photographing babies? All of my tips are about the setting--not the camera since all I have is a point and shoot. But if you have tips of either kind, share them in the comments!
Anna
p.s. I just found this wonderful list of tips from a real photographer/mom here. Really good stuff.
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