Chiiz – Volume 2 2017

the photographer and they should make
acquaintances beforehand.
As a photographer, there are certain things
that a person should keep in mind.
Be very open and communicate extensively
with your client. She is already going
through a very exhausting phase so respect
her decisions and comply with every
detail. There may be a point when she
feels uncomfortable with you around her
especially if a medical procedure is going
on. You may not get the shots of the baby’s
birth but you can always take pictures of
the baby right after it has been born.

Being a birth photographer is not a 9 to 5
job. Be ready for a call in the middle of the
night. Labour can go on for hours as well.
Ensure that you wear comfortable clothes
and be prepared to stay for the entire haul.
You need to be committed until the end.
Never post pictures of the woman or the
photographs you took, on the internet
without her permission. During birth, a
woman may expose more of her body than
what she would otherwise be comfortable
with. Be sensitive to her privacy and make
sure that she is comfortable.

Births can take place in a dark room with
very dim light. Do not ask to switch on the
lights or use flash. It can be very disturbing
for the mother if there is a constant flash
of light around her especially when she is
working so hard on her body. Ensure that
you can work in low light and are not in any
way, creating any disturbance or getting in

the way of anybody just to take that perfect

shot.

Once the baby is born, you get the chance

to capture some amazing newborn shots.

Capturing the expressions of the mother

and the father when the baby is born is very

much recommended. It is a surreal journey

to bring a child into this world.

Newborns are an amazing subject for

any photographer. A tiny little being all

bundled up in a blanket can give you the

most adorable expressions.

Babies change appearance very rapidly. So

photographing a newborn when he or she

is just 3 hours old would be very different

from what you would get after three days.

Ideally, newborn babies are photographed

within the first 2 weeks of them being

born. That is primarily because during this

time they sleep more and can curl up in a

‘womb-like’ position.

Although babies are considered newborn

for the first three months after birth, the

older they get, the lesser they sleep and their

feeding schedule gets more frequent which

could end up in a longer photo shoot.

While photographing newborns, the

following points can be considered helpful:

Capture details. Yawning or crying babies

can give you amazing shots. Macro shots

of their hands and feet are also a very

important part in capturing the details.

Try and use more of natural light. Babies

are sensitive to light and it can potentially

harm them. Ensure that the studio or the

location where the photo shoot takes place

is warm and comfortable for the baby.

Ensure that you are well equipped to take

care of a baby. Babies can be fussy and need

lots of attention. Ensure that you stay calm

and the baby is always comfortable and well

fed. A cranky baby is not what you want.

Try and incorporate a personal touch to

the photographs. Props are amazing, but

try and get something that the family feels

more connected to.

Be gentle and understand that the parents

of the baby are probably sleep-deprived

and high on adrenaline rush. Ensure that

they are active at all times and keep them

involved in the entire process.

A baby can be of the fourth generation in

a family. Try and get as creative as you can

while photographing babies, keeping it’s

family background in mind.

A baby is worth everything in this world,

and after a few years, when you want to

look back at the moments from his/her

childhood, make sure you don’t regret that

chance.

Expert Opinion: Take instructions from

the midwives, they are incredibly helpful,

and will let you know where you can move.

Place yourself in one position and take

several shots from there. Using a zoom lens

can give you more variety in images. Then

after a while move to another position in

the room, that way you are not moving

a lot, but also covering the birth from

different angles.

Have Patience, Love

Nikon D800 14mm F/2.8 25s ISO2500

Nicole Hoschke

Sunshine Coast, Australia