How to take Birth Photos with your smartphone
Covid-19 has put a damper on our ability to take your birth photos but it can’t stop us from making some memorable slideshows, videos, or albums for you!
Here are some handy tips to take the best possible photos. You can contact send over a message or text when you have your files ready and we’ll do all the editing, sorting and creating for you!
1. Find the light!
Look around your space... find some good, soft, light.
If you are taking a photo outdoors, make sure you're under some shade to avoid direct light and harsh shadows.
If you are indoors, find some beautiful window light to brighten up your subject's face.
Here's a cell phone photo of one of my doula clients. We didn’t have window light but the light above the sink worked beautifully for us. With some editing, this image pops and is album ready!
2. Focus
Smartphones are so wonderful these days with their new and improved megapixels and video capabilities.
When you are ready to take your shot, make sure you tap your screen to focus on your subject.
This can be a little tricky when you have a fast moving scene like the birth of your baby.
Practice a few times when you have a stationary subject and you'll be a pro in no time.
3. Forget the zoom.
Forget the zoom option in your phone... get close!
When you zoom with your smart phone's camera, you mess with the quality of your photo.
So get closer, get down to the level of your subject, and snap away!
Your cell phone photos will print so much crisper if you skip that zoom.
4. Skip the Flash!
Your smartphone convinentily has a flash built in but the brightness of this flash can wash out your photos.
Sometimes it comes in handy if you are in an extremely dark situation but if you have the option to skip using flash, take it.
You will avoid this squinty faces and newborn babies don’t want a bright flash on their first day on earth.
5. Editing!
You've done all the hard work! Woo hoo! Pat yourself on the back.
You found the light, you focused, and now you want to take that photograph and move to the editing part.
Send me a text (956) 369-5777 or an email when you are ready and I will create a DropBox folder for you to share your photo & video files. I will send over a quote for our services and you can pick a package.
Service will be prompt and you’ll recieve a finished product within 2-3 weeks (depending on the package selected.)
For video: You can apply all of the above tips and try your best to keep a steady hold. The steadier the video, the more pleasant your video will turn out!
I hope you found these tips handy! If any of this is unclear, message me. I’m home practicing social distancing and have time to guide you through this mini photography lesson.
Here's a bonus tip, print & back up those photos. I can't tell you how many times my friends (and myself included) have lost photos due to a phone malfunction or hard drive crash. Keeping albums or prints at home guarantees you'll be able to see those precious photos anytime. (My kiddos love flipping through their baby photo albums!) If you have the option to store files in the Cloud. Do it. You won't regret having them safely stored in case of a technology error.
Finally, when all of this Covid-19 business is cleared up and we have more social freedoms back, contact me for a documentary session. Your babies will always treasure the photos with you in them. Together, we will create a wonderful set of photographs for you and your family to enjoy for generations to come.
~Norma Hess