This is well-lit, with soft shadows, a background that’s not distracting, and a lovely prop that says “little girl” without the headband being too big. The baby is posed perfectly, with her pretty face lit well and not squashed. Her hands and feet are seen in a pretty relaxed style. She looks comfortable, and it’s technically balanced. She is highlighted most, not the blanket.
How can you tell an excellent newborn photograph from a bad one?
Everyone has a different taste, and as parents, we love even the worst photographs of our children, so it’s not obvious why some images look so much better than others. I don’t want to get too technical here, so you should look for the following things when looking at newborn photographer’s portfolios.
Ask yourself a few questions.
- Does the photograph have flattering lighting, with highlights and shadows that are smoothly and softly blended across the face with no hard lines or hard contrast?
- Are important features sharp and clear or blurry?
- Do the props look beautiful and appropriate? I am not a fan of giant headbands that distract from the baby or large and busy scenes that make you search for the baby in the photograph.
- Does it look cheap or delicate and sophisticated? I love quality handmade props, natural wooden floors, not plastic ones, and custom styling colours that bring sophistication to the image.
- Does the baby look expertly posed and wrapped to look neat, pretty, and comfortable, with relaxed hands and fingers in the poses? Or is it messy-looking, with squished-up, half-hidden faces and tightly clenched hands and bodies?
- Are the angles flattering, and is the shoot-up of the nostril avoided?
- Does the skin look natural and not so over-processed that the baby looks unwell or plastic?
Edits should be clean and straightforward, keeping the colours natural and realistic. Avoiding fads and fashions will help with this. - Does the photographer have a consistent style and look to all their images so you know what your portraits will look like?
My sessions are customised, have vintage vibes, and are baby-focused, with coloured wraps and hats chosen by the parents. My lighting is diffused Rembrandt, with soft transitions between light and dark. It is gentle and interesting. I prefer that to a flat and evenly brightly lit image, as it doesn’t resemble the real world with its beauty in the light and shadow, and that’s present in my work.
I sincerely hope this helps you see more when looking at photographs and help you make better choices wherever you are.
