https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:31:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1408334 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 20:12:13 +0000 littlecasita1122 1408334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did ones for my LO and was pretty happy with them, considering how much money I saved. My tips would be to do them before they turn a week old - at 2 weeks, my son was already becoming much more alert. Turn up the heat so the rooms are nice and cozy. And have an assistant (or two!) helping you! I took pictures over the course of three days and wish my husband or someone else was there to help me, I could have gotten them done in one day instead. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1408283 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 19:31:51 +0000 NorCalWayfarer 1408283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a decent photographer with good equipment, but I am planning on having a professional do it. (1) I don't know how I'll be feeling then and bending down, etc may still be uncomfortable, (2) it'd be nice to have some family photos as well, and (3) I'm not a professional so they just won't turn out as well :-) I'm actually thinking about "registering" for a session or asking one of the great-grandparents if they offer to buy us something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1408256 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 19:09:35 +0000 Raindrop 1408256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got ours done at jcpennys... it's actually quite reasonable. About a 150 dollars to get a CD of the pictures (it seems jcpennys gives you about 26 pictures) with all the rights and than you can just print what you want at costco or something.</p> <p>It was a good compermise to shelling a ton of money for a professional session. I thought I would put it out there. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1408247 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 19:00:20 +0000 cheesetomywhine 1408247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: @lovehoneybee: Such cute pictures! Great job!</p> <p>OP- I am planning on doing this with my second! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1408180 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 18:07:10 +0000 lovehoneybee 1408180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did. Months before D had given me the option to have a newborn photographer or buy a DSLR. I chose the latter. Which in hindsight was the right choice because newborn photography was way more than we though it would be! </p> <p>Anyway, I liked what I ended up with, but I'm not a professional by any means, and they don't look professional AT ALL (also, bad natural lighting in our apartment). If I had had the means I would have preferred professional photos. I was in a total daze, he woke up constantly because boobs, and there are none of me and D. </p> <p>But here are my two favorites: </p> [attach=1866/14/n0new1.600x371.1.jpg] [attach=1866/14/n0new4.400x600.3.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1408166 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 17:51:56 +0000 jedeve 1408166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did. There was no way I could afford a photographer. They definitely aren't fancy, no dslr or anything nd any professional woukd cringe. But I have a few I love. And they are more unique to me than the Pinterest type ones. </p> [attach=2423/14/n0ne6l.600x474.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1408134 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 17:36:16 +0000 illumina 1408134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sure @mrssquirreld: did her own and they were awesome! I'm pretty sure they are shared on here somewhere :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1408071 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 17:03:27 +0000 sunny 1408071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a fairly competent photographer with great equipment and am I'm SO GLAD I went with a pro. Here's why:</p> <p>-At 2 weeks post-partum, I was still figuring out how to feed my LO, rock her, hold her, etc. While we did take some photos at home, I love the pro ones more than the ones I took. My LO was the first baby I'd ever held... ever. I honestly don't know if I could have copied the poses I saw because I was so scared of waking my LO. The photographer we used was a newborn specialist and she knew how to order the shots we wanted (e.g. start with her all cocooned, then progress to her laying naked, etc). She also knew how to get my LO back to sleep between shots. </p> <p>-I was actually IN the pro photos with our LO. These are pretty much the only photos we have of me &amp; her from the early days since my DH is terrible with the camera.</p> <p>-Lots of different backdrops and props to choose from.</p> <p>-She got the photos to me in a timely manner and I was able to get birth announcements out fairly quickly. I know that for me, I have a giant backlog of photos to edit so it would have been months before I had "finished" photos to send out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1408028 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 16:43:09 +0000 mrsbookworm 1408028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH took ours because he assured me he could do it (he's an amateur photographer). They didn't come out the way I wanted and I wish we had just paid someone to do it since it's not like you can just do them later :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1408024 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 16:41:42 +0000 birdofafeather 1408024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i did, but it's my job. :) i'm finally having family photos done next week though and i'm excited!</p> <p>above all, have fun with it and know that it won't be perfect, it will take forever. natural light is your friend and you need way more of it then you think you do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407959 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 16:20:02 +0000 Modern Daisy 1407959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I almost did. I couldn't justify spending $1,000+ for maybe 5 nice stylized airbrushed photos so I almost rented a camera and equipment to do it myself. But at the end of the day I decided that (especially for a boy) those photos aren't really my style. I ended up using some blankets with cool patterns as a backdrop, waiting for the best time of day for lighting and having a couple of 'shoots' with DS in cute outfits. They turned out awesome and I"m so happy with them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407929 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 16:07:28 +0000 MamaPhoenix 1407929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I did a cute scene using hay bails and pumpkins when our lo was a couple weeks old. The Decor was amazing but the photos not so hot. We ended up taking baby girl much later (12weeks) and getting professional ones done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407814 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 15:20:55 +0000 lamariniere 1407814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm something of a photographer myself and we've never done any professional photos of either of our children. I try to remember to use my DSLR as often as possible and not just rely on my phone. It really depends on what you want and if you think you can achieve something similar yourself. As cute as pro newborn photos are, it's not really my thing. I don't miss not having the super stylized baby in a basket type photos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407786 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 15:07:06 +0000 theknest 1407786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did for my first - but it was so stressful. Took me forever to get the shots and forever to edit (perfectionist in me)! Plus everything was so new and I was tired and hormonal. I'm having them done professionally for my second. That way they'll be done quickly and I won't stress over it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407521 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 13:18:27 +0000 autumnlove 1407521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did for LO 2 and they weren't that nice. I used them for birth announcements! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407438 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 12:47:36 +0000 Sapphiresun 1407438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did them professionally. I would only say no because I was so tired and sore that I wouldn't have been wanting to be as nimble as I would have had to be.<br /> I do "photoshoots" with her now though, and they're perfectly adequate so I don't doubt your ability at all with better equipment/talent than I have... </p> <p>If you want to make sure all babies have similar props, my photographer was perfectly willing to work with props we brought. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407333 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 12:20:12 +0000 PurplePeony 1407333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did, but I only had one posed "session" where I put her in a basket. Otherwise, I just took a lot of photos whenever the light seemed right and she was sleeping or in a good mood. They don't look professional, but I don't mind! Also, DH isn't a fan of the type of photos that usually come out of pro sessions so he was happy I didn't insist on it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407279 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 12:07:43 +0000 Navy_Mommy 1407279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is SOOOO much harder to do with your own baby than someone else's. I've done a handful of newborn sessions and I was easily able to "shoosh" them to sleep and re position them, DS2 wakes up as soon as my boobs are within 6 feet and starts rooting. Lol. Luckily he has very alert eyes so the pictures I've gotten of him awake his eyes aren't cross eyed or anything. I just haven't been able to get any cute sleepy pictures. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407256 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 12:00:23 +0000 loveisstrange 1407256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did them for my neighbor when she had her son in December. I think we pulled it off pretty well. </p> <p>I have a DSLR, used my 50mm lens and edited them in Lightroom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407244 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:58:22 +0000 stargal 1407244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do photography as a hobby but take it pretty seriously but I'm no professional! O wanted to do newborn pics with my son but when it came down to it I was just to tired to so it when the time. Ame! Hoping to get some done with this lo! Hopefully I won't be as tired! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407226 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:49:01 +0000 pui 1407226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsTiz: Oh man that sucks!! :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407225 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:48:42 +0000 MrsTiz 1407225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did! They came out decently, I lost the SD card with them on it so now I just have the crappy cell-phone picture of the computer screen left. Blaaahg. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407222 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:47:22 +0000 .twist. 1407222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i did and failed!! i got a few good ones though. but i am by no means a good or even decent photog. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407207 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:39:50 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 1407207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I agree with you it seems the highly posed newborn pic is going out of style which I think is great. If I am able to have a second child I would myself focus more on hospital shots, since we have so few of those. </p> <p>When we did our newborn photos I just put some pillows in his PnP and covered them in a nubby blanket. Then I put the PnP in a spot with good lighting (although my definition of good lighting has become more complicated since then). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407206 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:39:19 +0000 Dandelion 1407206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm gonna try it. I don't feel like shelling out lots of money for it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407191 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:35:24 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 1407191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't, but that was because I didn't have a DSLR at the time. I did try to take a few with my PnS and they turned out well. My cousin is a photog so we had her come and take one or two. Anyway, over the course of the year I got a DSLR and I feel comfortable using it so for any other babes I would DIY no question. Do you have any kids you could practice on? Really any macro photography you can do, even doggy noses or flowers, would help hone your skills. Since you'll be doing lots of close-ups. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407181 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:33:52 +0000 blackbird 1407181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's hard to do your own. You're going to be sore, your baby is going to smell your boobs and maybe not sleep as well....i do newborn photography on the side and it's a whole other ballgame with your own. I'm definitely paying a professional next time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407174 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:31:59 +0000 pui 1407174@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@however briefly: I don't have any plans for doing complicated poses like that. I'd really rather more natural looking poses anyway.</p> <p>I'm actually pretty comfortable with lighting and that is actually the part I am least worried about lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407169 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:30:05 +0000 however briefly 1407169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a newborn photographer myself, if you are comfortable with lighting (the MOST important aspect in my opinion) I say go for it. </p> <p>The main thing I would caution you on is any pose where the baby is resting their head on their hands. Any photographer who knows what they are doing, does it the safe way by supporting the head at the top in one photo and then at the chin in another photo never leaving the baby unsupported. Then they put the two composites together into one image giving the illusion the baby is supporting themselves. If you are unable to do something like that in photoshop, please don't try to emulate it in an unsafe way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-diy-their-newborn-photos#post-1407115 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:15:24 +0000 mlm2934 1407115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I plan to try! been looking at Pinterest tutorials... sure mine will turn into classic Pinterest fail lol :) </p>