Newborn photography is an increasingly popular way to preserve memories of a baby’s first two weeks of life. But capturing all that cuteness is more challenging than it seems. Alex Chua of Little Buttercup Studio (@littlebuttercup_studio), who has been photographing newborn babies for six years, shares his insights and tips.
1. Stay calm, take your time
EOS R5/ RF28-70mm f/2L USM @ 70mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec, ISO 100/ WB: Manual
Start the shoot with a sleepy baby
We usually begin with swaddle shots like the potato sack shot above, which requires three wraps to support the baby sufficiently. Being bundled up keeps them warm, cosy, and sleepy.
Shots like this where the baby appears upright require extra caution. We use a unique pillow that keeps the baby snug and safe in position. My wife is always nearby to watch the baby. She also supports their head if necessary—we edit her hands out of the shot in post-processing.
A sleepy, relaxed baby does wonders for the flow of the shoot. We tell the parents when to feed the baby before the shoot so they will be fast asleep when the session starts.
However, babies being babies, things don’t always go as planned. We’ve learned to stay calm and take our time to do what’s necessary when faced with a baby that won’t settle down. Babies are very sensitive to tension and stress, and this can affect their parents too. Staying calm goes a long way in diffusing the anxious energy in the room, soothing the baby, reducing the chances of mistakes, and ensuring that you can end a shoot on time.
Pro tip: Flip out the LCD monitor to get better compositions effortlessly
I avoid shooting too low: when I see the subject’s nostrils clearly, it’s a sign to move the camera up! My EOS R5’s Vari-angle LCD helps me ensure shots are well-composed even when shooting from camera positions where it’s hard to check the viewfinder.
Sibling shoots: with uncooperative older children, don’t force things
EOS R5/ RF28-70mm f/2L USM @31mm, f/8, 1/125 sec, ISO 100/ WB: Manual
While the older child in this shot is clearly delighted to embrace her new baby brother for the camera, not all older siblings are as cooperative. If the child firmly refuses to cooperate, work with what you have and move on—don’t spend too much time forcing it. The parents will usually understand.
2. Baby’s safety is priority
EOS R5/ RF28-70mm f/2L USM @ 50mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec, ISO 100/ WB: Manual
EOS R5/ RF28-70mm f/2L USM @ 40mm, f/2.5, 1/200 sec, ISO 100/ WB: Manual
The image you see may not reflect the way it was taken
Behind the scenes of a hammock shot. The babies may appear to be suspended in the two images above, but in reality, they are lying safely on the ground.
With newborn photography, a fragile new human being’s future is quite literally in your hands! We don’t believe that any beautiful photo is worth a baby’s safety.
To aspiring professional newborn photographers: Go for courses
My wife and I went for newborn photography courses where we learned heaps about how to handle and pose a newborn safely. I strongly recommend aspiring professional newborn photographers to do the same. In-person classes are ideal as you learn a lot that the instructors may not be able to put in an online video.
Safest time to shoot: up to 2 weeks after birth
It’s not just to preserve the “newborn baby” look. Babies older than two weeks old are more often awake and active, which makes posing them riskier.
When in doubt, keep it simple
If you want to photograph your newborn but aren’t trained, the safest way is to photograph them lying down surrounded by toys and pillows. Or take a close-up like the one below: that’s good for the memories, too! Poses like the popular “froggy pose” are potentially dangerous as babies cannot naturally support themselves in that position—we don’t offer it to our clients.
EOS R5/ RF28-70mm f/2L USM @ 50mm, f/8, 1/125 sec, ISO 160/ WB: Manual
Close-ups of tiny hands and feet can tell emotive stories, too!
Get an assistant to help you manage the baby
I have an amazing assistant in the form of my wife and business partner, Sara, who also does the styling, swaddling, and wrapping. She keeps the baby safe and comfortable so I can focus on directing and shooting.
3. Be ready to capture unexpected moments
EOS R5/ RF28-70mm f/2L USM @ 50mm, f/8, 1/125 sec, ISO 100/ WB: Manual
When the baby’s awake, there’s plenty of opportunity for cute expressions!
We leave the “bare baby” shots for towards the end of the session as unwrapping the baby tends to wake him/her up. I love Eye Detection AF for scenes like this: it always snaps onto the eye quickly and accurately so I can concentrate on the composition and capturing the moment.
I love doing newborn and maternity shoots because they capture such joyous occasions. You can sense the enthusiasm and excitement in the air.
I always stay alert for unexpected moments that make a portrait unique. I’ve also learnt not to be too fixated on my own idea of perfection. When I first started, I’d remove images I thought were less than ideal, such as those with the baby sticking out their tongues, from the previews I gave my clients. I’ve since realised that these candid moments are what many parents enjoy the most!
Pro tip: Fire the flash less often when baby’s eyes are open
We usually shoot at our clients’ homes for the comfort and convenience of the new mother and newborn baby. Lighting conditions vary, so using a flash is necessary.
I usually use one studio flash, set to the lowest power and diffused with a large parabolic softbox. It’s compact enough for limited spaces and creates soft, warm lighting that makes the images look like they were shot in a cosy, low-lit room.
It’s a myth that flashes harm a newborn baby’s eyes, as they occur too quickly to harm. However, I do cut down on continuous flashes when the baby’s eyes are open, mainly for their comfort. Adults don’t like being subject to continuous flashes either!
Get to know the pro: Q&A with Alex Chua
How did you get into newborn photography?
Around six years ago, my wife and I saw an ad for a newborn photography workshop while on a family holiday in Australia. We went for it, got inspired, took more courses, and today, we’re running this business together.
What advice do you have for aspiring professional newborn photographers?
1. Get proper training
I’ve stressed the importance of this in Golden Rule #2 about safety.
2. Know your lighting
Newborn photography is ideally done at the client's home, so you must be prepared for any lighting situation.
3. You must love babies
If you don’t like children and babies, you’ll probably find it unsustainable going into it just for the money.
What should photographers do to improve their photography?
1. Go out and shoot
Watching online tutorials and learning theories takes you only so far—you need to know how they apply in real life! To improve my lighting skills, I used to frequently rent a studio where I tried to replicate different lighting styles that I saw in photography magazines. The studio owner helped with advice and tips, and I’m very grateful for that too.
2. Print your photos
Shooting to print builds your awareness of details like colours and lighting.
Besides the newborn photography courses, you also obtained a diploma in photography in 2020. How does a formal photography education help?
I’m not the most technical photographer—I do a lot by intuition. Taking formal classes was like working backward: it taught me the “whys” which helped me understand what I was really doing. I think it’s helped my creativity. After all, to break out of the box, you need to know the box!
What’s your approach to your photography business?
Good photos are important, but a good experience is what creates fond memories.
That’s one reason why we provide home visits for newborn photoshoots at no extra cost. It’s our way of ensuring our clients feel safe and comfortable during the shoot.
We also don’t believe in hard selling tactics such as pressuring clients to purchase packages. We let the experience we provide speak for itself. I’d like to think it works: we have repeat clients who come to us to document various milestones. I’ve basically watched their kids grow up!
What’s in my camera bag
I shoot mainly with the EOS R5 and RF28-70mm f/2L USM. The RF28-70mm f/2L USM is an amazing workhorse that gives excellent, sharp images all the time even at the wider apertures. I love the EOS R5’s Eye Detection AF, the ergonomics, and the vibrant colours straight out of the camera.
The Eye Detection AF is the key reason I switched to Canon. It is out of this world! Even when the baby is asleep, the AF will find the closed eye as the focus point. It gives me the bandwidth to compose the shot better, especially when combined with the fully articulating LCD screen which has revolutionised how I shoot.
The dual card slots are a life saver. I once had a defective SD card and photos got corrupted, but luckily, I had backups in the CFexpress card! I always record to both card slots in my shoots even when I use new cards.
I also love the amazing battery life and the dual card slots. I can do three newborn sessions—that’s about 1000 photos—without changing my battery.
Also see:
5 Basic EOS R5/ EOS R6 Settings to Customise From the Start
About the Author
A military officer for over 30 years, Alex first fell in love with photography nearly 20 years ago. The skills he honed came in handy in 2020 when he was deployed to document the lives of migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. That pivotal experience eventually led him towards an entirely new career, where he seeks to document precious moments and connections and help people tell their stories through the medium of photography.
Newborn and maternity: https://www.littlebuttercupstudio.com/
Portraits: https://www.alexchuaphotography.com/
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