Newborn Checklist - Lorna Kirkby Photography

Newborn Photography STARTUP GUIDE Session Checklist By Lorna Kirkby

© Lorna Kirkby 2013, 2016. All Rights Reserved.

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This guide is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this material with another person, please refer them to Lorna Kirkby Photography where they can download their own copy here: Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.


Welcome! Hi, I’m Lorna, a newborn photographer serving Melbourne, Australia. I have been a photographer for over ten years now and have photographed families, children, babies and events. Several years ago, I stumbled upon an image on the Internet, an image of a beautiful newborn. It was like I was looking at a work of art. That moment took my breath away and I literally gasped (I’m not kidding!), as I realized that THIS is what I wanted to capture, this is what I could see myself doing for many years to come. It’s been a long road since that first ‘awakening’ and I’ve had my ups and downs. I quickly learnt that newborn photography requires a great deal of skill and understanding. I had my “not so good sessions”, ending in tears (my tears that is), and sessions where I felt I could fly. I would search for hours on the Internet, YouTube and forums trying to find the simplest answers like, what on earth the newborn photographers were using under their blankets that had baby looking just right? I learnt a lot that way, but eventually decided I needed to “see” it for myself. So I attended mentoring and workshops to develop my skills and reassure myself that I was on the right track. My aim in putting together this information is to aid those who are perhaps very new and just starting out in the newborn photography industry. In this PDF, I outline a session checklist so that you can start collecting your “stash” and know what is important to have to make your session run smoothly. This may be basic information for some, but I hope that some of you will benefit from reading this. I would love your feedback, so please feel free to contact me. Enjoy Lorna x


The Session It’s important to have certain things on hand during your session to ensure it runs smoothly and allows you to concentrate on photographing the baby and keeping the newborn happy (and sleepy!). I am going to go through what I use at my sessions and also include some links to find the items if applicable. You will find your own system and what works for you in time.

Beanbag/Posing Pod I would recommend a PVC-style beanbag filled quite firmly with polystyrene beans. Beans can be purchased all over, e.g. K-Mart. This is a round, flat-topped beanbag that you can buy from many places who sell directly to newborn photographers. You can get your posing pod from my own Brand New Babe outlet here: Facebook: www.facebook.com/brandnewbabe Website: bit.ly/NewbornPosingPod


Backdrop Stand This is used to clamp your blankets/fabrics to when draped over your posing pod for beanbag posing. I bought mine (just a regular one) many years ago and it still works perfectly fine for me. You can get them anywhere. If you are unable to afford one right now, simply clamp your blankets to chair backs.

Shoot Baby has a brilliant stand especially designed for newborn photographers. This is definitely on my “I must have it” list. Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/SHOOT-BABY/127056753398 Website: www.shootbaby.com

Heavy Blankets for Layering It is advisable to layer around 3-4 firm, heavy blankets/towels/material on top of your posing pod before you add and clamp the blanket/fabric you are using under baby. This is to ensure that when you are stuffing things under baby in order to pose them, you will not be left with a big, unsightly lumps, but rather you will achieve smooth lines where you have used blankets for propping. Mine are truly hideous and old. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, no one is going to see it!

Waterproof Layer Great for layering under your posing blanket so that if baby has an accident it will not seep through to all your layers. Less washing for you! Shoot Baby supply perfect round ones that fit over your posing pod. Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/SHOOT-BABY/127056753398 Website: www.shootbaby.com


Clamps I wish I could say I have bought “pro” clamps to attach my fabric to my backdrop stand, but sadly I have not yet! I walked myself down to the $2 store and bought myself a fine set of plastic clamps that work too good to be true! But if you are looking for something a little more civilized, head on over to Shoot Baby and grab some there. I would say get three to attach your blanket to the stand and then a few more for each side, to pull your blanket nice and tight. Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/SHOOT-BABY/127056753398 Website: www.shootbaby.com

Heater We all know that having the room nice and hot is essential to keeping a baby asleep. I have central heating in my home-based studio as well as a fan heater which stays near to the baby. I put these both on about half an hour before the parents arrive to get the room nice and toasty. It should be hot enough that you’re sweating! If it is a particularly hot day, I may just use the fan heater or maybe nothing at all, as I have direct sunlight in the morning which heats up things rather quickly. Just be sure that the fan heater is not too close to the baby and that you check it regularly to ensure that baby is not getting too hot. © Lorna Kirkby 2013, 2016. All Rights Reserved.

Propping/Stuffing Blankets You will need something to use to help “pose” baby, whether on the pod or in a prop. I use toweling nappies. I bought a pack of 20 from K-Mart. Some people use receiving/swaddle blankets. As long as it’s firm as you don’t want it to “sink” when baby is on top of it. It needs to provide support, that’s why you stuffed it there in the first place. I keep mine in a bag close at hand during my session because I ALWAYS need one somewhere.

TIP: Sometimes you just need a little piece to fill in a spot somewhere. Grab a small wrap from your stash or anything else nearby. Otherwise cut your blankets in half/quarters for those smaller fits.

White Noise A must for your session. White noise has been proven to work very effectively to get a baby to sleep and keep them dreaming. I have this playing LOUD during the entire session. It may seem noisy in the first 5 minutes, but after that you don’t seem to notice it anymore, until you switch it off again and realize how loud it actually was by the encompassing silence that follows. I use an app on my phone (I have an Android but you get apps for iPhone too). Mine was a free download and you can find heaps of them if you search in your app store for white noise. There are different sounds you can set it on too, for instance, water, fan, rain, hairdryer (oh yes!) and lots more. Just pick one that you like. If baby is unsettled, try a different one.

Sanitizer and Wipes Yep, this is a must have. Make sure you sanitize your hands before a session and let the parents SEE you do it. You will score brownie points for that! I have wet wipes on hand to wipe up those little “accidents” (which are usually on me!). I try not to use a cold wet wipe on baby when they are sleeping as I don’t want to wake them up. I will in that case use a toweling nappy. Or if it’s not too noticeable and baby is happy, I let them sit in it (oh yes I do!) for a few shots until I’m ready to move on. Then I take that opportunity to clean them up a little. I also keep a small bin nearby to throw all dirty wipes and nappies into so they are not lying around during the session.


Weights As safety is number one priority in a newborn session, I do advise that you purchase a weight or two (K-Mart, Big W) to place in props such as baskets. This helps to secure the prop as baby can be top heavy. Place the weight near the back of the prop to even out and balance the weight of the baby. Cover with a blanket/stuffer. You can also simply use rice bags as weights.

Equipment I’m not going to cover cameras and lenses here as everyone will have something different. What I will say here is that you need something to set your custom white balance. This helps to get colours spot on in different lighting situations and cut down your post production time. I have recently been introduced to the Digital Calibration Target (say that fast 10 times!) and it has worked so well for me. I purchased mine from Adorama in the United States (I couldn’t find a supplier in Australia). It takes a little getting used to, but it’s pretty simple once you know what you’re doing. Also don’t forget extra SD/CF cards. Website: www.adorama.com/PVOS14.html


Props This is a huge one to cover. Everyone has their own unique style and look that they like. So their props will reflect that. However, I do have some tips on choosing the right props. TIPS: Buy well-fitting props. Hats, pants and headbands should fit baby properly, without gaping and looking too big (or too small!). Baskets, buckets and bowls should be large enough to comfortably fit baby in. I have seen too many “squished” babies and they look horribly uncomfortable. They should also be secure with a firm base and not on the verge of toppling over. Look around at Op Shops and garage sales to see what you can find for a steal. You can often find treasures that will not break the bank. A lot of photographers have a de-stash and sell some of their gently-used props for reasonable prices. Over time you will develop the style you like and your prop choices will probably evolve and change. Just remember that it’s not the prop that makes the image, but the beautiful baby. Some of the most amazing images I have seen have had no props at all, just a simple baby on a blanket. With that being said, with the right choice of prop and the right colour combinations, you can take an ordinary image and make it spectacular. Start off small and develop over time. You don’t need everything all at once (although that’s tempting). I have see a lot of photographers (myself included) “over-buy” and never use half the stuff because their taste has changed in just a few short months.


Vendors I love... Here are a few of my favorite vendors. These are the ones I feel compliment my style. There are many more I’ve bought from, but I’ll just share a few.

Love That Prop Facebook: www.facebook.com/lovethatprop Shop: www.lovethatprop.bigcartel.com

Little Doe Facebook: www.facebook.com/LittleDoeDesigns

Monkey Moo Moo Facebook: www.facebook.com/monkeymoomoo33 Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/monkeymoomoo33

Drops and Props Facebook: www.facebook.com/DropsAndProps Shop: www.dropsandprops.bigcartel.com

Camera Chick (had to add this one in for gorgeous camera bags and straps) Facebook: www.facebook.com/camerachickau Website: www.camerachick.com.au


Newborn Session Checklist  BEANBAG/POSING POD  BACKDROP STAND  CLAMPS  HEAVY LAYERING BLANKETS  WATERPROOF LAYER  POSING BLANKETS FOR STUFFING  HEATER  WHITE NOISE  SANITIZER & WET WIPES  BIN  WEIGHTS  WHITE BALANCE DEVICE  SD/CF CARDS  CLIENT CONTRACT  PROPS (Posing fabric/blankets, hats, headbands, pants, wraps, mini blankets, layering blankets/flokati rugs, furs, floors, baskets, bowls and anything else you want!)


7 Tips for Posing a Newborn Posing a newborn infant requires both thought and skill. While certainly not an exhaustive list, here are seven pointers that have served me well.

1. Get organised. Artists don’t tend to make great administrators, but getting organised is not really an option for a newborn photographer. With a little thought and planning, even an artist can be sufficiently organised. You don’t want to be short of wipes when baby poops, for instance.

2. Practice patience Patience might be a virtue, but it’s also a necessity when it comes to photographing newborn infants. Gently coaxing the baby to sleep and allowing time for feeding and soothing involves chunks of time, and to rush would just work against you. A stressed, restless baby makes posing a newborn hard and capturing those beautiful, serene images very difficult.

3. Think safety. This is worth underlining often. And repeatedly. As a newborn photographer, it is important to always remember that you're working with a very fragile little life, and nothing is to be over-looked when comes to assuring his or her safety. Always make sure there is someone spotting the baby and use composite images when necessary for those more difficult poses. It goes without saying, experimenting on a doll outside of client sessions is a good idea!

4. Pose compactly. The newborn infant is most relaxed when posed compactly, mimicking their time in the womb. Most babies LOVE to be wrapped as it makes them feel secure and adds to the warmth factor. To do this, tuck their little arms and legs gently against their body and secure them in a beautiful wrap. Images with the newborn stretched-out offer variety, and when the baby happens to pose themselves this way, I'm more than eager to get the shot. And at all times, protect the modesty of the child when posing a newborn. © Lorna Kirkby 2013, 2016. All Rights Reserved.

5. Target face. My goal is to focus my shots on the newborn’s face. Certainly, at this young age, the beauty and uniqueness of the child is best captured in his or her face. Use the baby’s hands to support and frame the face, let the face be the first thing you see through your viewfinder by using different angles. Of course, a picture of just of their hands or feet is adorable and offers variety to the collection, but the face is where you should predominantly focus.

6. Selective props. Props are widely used in newborn sessions but should never be the star attraction. Our goal in newborn photography is to capture the beauty and uniqueness of each baby. Using props selectively when posing a newborn can achieve this goal. Props used willy-nilly can detract from it. It takes some careful thought and planning to allow the props to work for you and achieve a balanced image. While some parents might request certain less-than-subtle props—such as the hubby’s favourite football team—or a holiday season might require a little more frills than usual, as a general rule less is more.

7. Maximise set-ups. An organised photographer still has to be flexible. Even though you might have five or six set-ups planned, you’ll still need to go with the flow. If the newborn settles down into a deep sleep during the second set-up, for example, don’t be in a rush to move onto the next one. Rather, maximise the current set-up by taking as many photographs from as many different angles as possible. Swap hats or headbands, make slight adjustments of hands and leg positions or change the wrap.

Hope you found that helpful 


About… Lorna Kirkby is a newborn and baby photographer living in Melbourne, Australia. She has been photographing families, children and babies for over ten years. In the last two years her focus has shifted to capturing newborn babies as this is where her true passion lies. Knowing the challenges of those new in the industry, she aims to develop tools to share for those just starting out. She also takes on mentoring for those who would like hands on experience and further in-depth training in newborn photography. Contact Lorna if you are interested in furthering your skills and require information on mentoring. Email: [email protected] Website: www.lornakirkbyphotography.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/Lorna-Kirkby-Photography-161231603926360

