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Written by Jemma Pollari

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Family prompts, New baby moments

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25 Feb 2022

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Documentary, Newborn, Photo prompt

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Prompt number: 068

The fine details of baby’s appearance are so important for a newborn shoot because they not only look beautiful, they often involve such fine and tiny detail that it’s only visible with a professional camera. When you can capture something beyond what a smartphone can do, you give a real gift. Let’s get into some newborn detail photo ideas!

Capturing fine detail with your lens at your newborn photoshoot is hard for parents to do themselves with smartphones. Photo by me, Jemma Pollari.

Ideas for newborn photos to capture close-up and macro details

If you’ve never photographed a newborn baby before, then don’t forget to first check out Safety First With Newborns, and do an online (or in person) course on photographing newborns to perfect the general principles. Newborn Photography Bootcamp with Kelly Brown and Lifestyle Newborn Photography – In the Home with Emily Lucarz are great options to start with.

Secondly, when planning for your shoot, add these other prompts that work well for newborns: Newborn Essentials and New Parent Feelings.

How to use this photo pose prompt

Shooting with a macro lens is perfect for these tiny details. I use a Canon 35mm f2.8 Macro with my crop sensor Canon 7D Mark II, or my Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 with my Canon 5D Mark III. Because you’re likely to be indoors in a tight space, a short lens is the way to go.

newborn baby girl — After swaddling, bring out the little hands (slowly, without triggering the startle reflex!). Photo by me, Jemma Pollari.

Capturing the details of the nursery helps parents remember how they made the space special for baby.

First, grab a laundry basket and clear distractions from the space before shooting (tissue boxes, nappies, rubbish bins, anything that adds clutter).
Then, replace everything after finishing (don’t make extra work for tired parents).
Photograph the details as well as the space being used e.g. with Mum nursing in chair or playing with baby on change table.

baby breastfeeding — Close-ups of parents interacting with baby are just as important as bub herself. Photo by me, Jemma Pollari.

Don’t over-edit wrinkles, creases and birthmarks away (save skin retouching for baby acne and scratches from tiny fingernails).

After the photoshoot, add your detail shots to album spreads to build up the whole scene around the baby’s arrival. Tell a story with the photos, to take parents back to those first days with their new baby.

baby keepsakes photo ideas — The nursery and special keepsakes may be messy and forgotten most of the time, but your photos will bring back the excitement of those first days and how they made the space special for baby’s arrival. Photo by me, Jemma Pollari.

Prompt: Newborn baby details

Start at the top and capture baby’s hair: whorls on the scalp, fine curls, hair on body or ears.

newborn detail photo ideas — Some babies have hair everywhere and others are bald little potatoes: capture that in your photos! Photo by me, Jemma Pollari.

Fingers and hands: fingers gripping a parent’s finger or thumb in that reflex monkey grip, tiny fingernails, sucking thumb.

newborn detail photo ideas fingers — Classic newborn baby moment to remember: how tiny those little hands were. Photo by me, Jemma Pollari.

Next, head for the toes and feet: feet cupped in parent’s hands, toes poking from blanket, tiny jellybean toes fanning out after being tickled underneath. Did you know toes have the same monkey grip reflex? They’re just too short and jellybeany to do anything.

baby toes tickled — Tickle under the toes to get the adorable toe stretch for this newborn detail photo idea. Photo by me, Jemma Pollari.

Lips and nose: profile and front-on of little lips, milk blisters, pouts, pseudo-smiles.

baby mouth pouting — Why are baby mouths so pouty? I just can’t even cope. Photo by me, Jemma Pollari.

Eyes and eyelashes: close up front-on and in profile (profile shows long lashes better).
Wrinkles and birthmarks: look for chubby creases on arms, legs, upper buttocks, skin that’s not the right size yet, birthmarks, stork bites.
Close-ups of special parenting moments: breastfeeding, hands patting to sleep, parents’ hands holding baby.
Clear distractions before photographing the space: collect clutter in a washing basket and return after photoshoot.
Capture details of the nursery: decorations, special toys, handmade blankets or outfits, heirlooms, nursing chair, whole nursery (shoot square and user perspective tool in post to make sure lines are level and perpendicular).

newborn girl nursery detail — Detail photos of the nursery are a great way to fill out a newborn album: think backgrounds and covers! Photos by me, Jemma Pollari.

newborn girl detail — For example, in an album, this would make a great full page spread with photos of bub overlaid. Photo by me, Jemma Pollari.

Newborn detail photo ideas: Creative extension

Newborn photos are often bright or high key. Experiment with darker tones and a low-key look, remembering to use soft lights to illuminate baby rather that direct flash.
If using flash in your newborn shoot, bounce it off the ceiling or a wall rather than directly at baby.