Just a warning… this blog post is far more detailed and scientific than most of mine are: it’s meant for those who are interested in the mechanics of using a large window as a natural light source for a newborn (or really any type of) photography studio. If you are here to view beautiful baby images, please proceed to the next post!
I LOVE natural light. In my opinion, there is something about natural light that simply can’t be reproduced. That’s why as soon as the sun comes up I am opening my blinds and curtains to let in that beautiful sunshine all around my home! And why I nearly jumped for joy when I first saw the GIANT window in the house we were looking at, in which we now are privileged to live!
I recently started my photography business specializing in babies and kids (because let’s face it… they really are the cutest, most fun objects to photograph!), and have set up a small studio in my living room for newborn photography. Some have asked about the setup, so I am sharing here a little about how I have set things up to use 100% natural light in my studio sessions!
First of all, here is my giant window. I don’t have any curtains up so none of the light coming in the sides or top is blocked. (Believe it or not, this makes a HUGE difference in the amount of light that is allowed in!) You will also notice an assortment of odds and ends, all necessary to creating the magic: space heater, various blankets and props, towels and wipes to clean up messes, seating for Mom and Dad who are always my spotters to keep baby safe, my water bottle to keep me hydrated, and my laptop to play calming music and help baby not be startled when my shutter clicks.
I have a portable backdrop support system that is super flexible as far as how wide/tall I need it to be. For the newborn sessions, I keep it pretty small until it’s time to incorporate Mom and Dad into the images, and at that point I adjust for the appropriate size. I place my backdrop at an angle so the light coming in won’t hit my subject square on. I promise it will make your image WAY cooler if the light source does not come directly from the same angle you are shooting! It also allows me to keep the baby as close as possible to my light source while I am shooting at a slight angle.
My backdrop of choice is laid over a bean bag and clamped with an assortment of clamps so it is as wrinkle-free as possible.
sometimes with a single light source I actually get MORE shadow than I want, and so I use this reflector to fill in a little more light on the dark side. {Yes, that is a piano, and yes, I teach piano lessons! I’ve been playing for over 20 years and have a Bachelor of Music degree. Bet you didn’t know that!} 😉
Insert sweet, sleepy newborn baby, and BAM… beautiful images.
I will say there is a LOT more to it than simply having the correct studio set-up. Like knowing your camera and understanding how to use the correct settings to achieve the images you envision, knowing what angles to shoot from, understanding how to finish your images with editing software, learning how to calm and soothe a baby, patience, patience, patience, patience, and educating yourself on newborn safety!