Not only do I want to show you some of the highlights from this newborn session, but I also want to explain some of the behind the scenes for the setup. I want to reiterate that the house does not need to be spotless. I typically have not been inside these houses before or, at the very least, I have never been inside the bedrooms.
I’ll be explaining how I choose locations in the home and what I do to “setup” for the shot. You never know exactly what lighting you’ll have or what rooms will work best, but if you know what to look for then it makes it much easier.
These photos were all taken in the living room area next to very large (almost floor to ceiling!) windows. I moved an accent chair to provide the light I wanted on mom, dad, and baby. Also, I removed some distractions from the background by tucking them away or just moving them out of frame. For example, there was a bright orange toy in a decorative bowl on the table in the background. It is much easier for me to take 30 seconds to move the bowl to another countertop than it is to photoshop it out of all the photos I want to use.
I love to use the master bed as a location as it evokes that intimacy of family. It can fit the whole family (usually) and it provides a large soft space for newborn solo portraits. Bedrooms don’t often provide a ton of natural light so I’ll get creative with the windows and the camera settings.
Mollie – thank you for inviting me into your beautiful home and allowing me to capture these precious memories of your family. – Bekah
