I photograph a lot of newborns and have many photographer friends who also photograph a lot of newborns and, at least once a week, we find ourselves comparing notes, laughing, smiling and learning together from each session.  New tips. New tricks. New composition ideas. So when I came across this post on the GO-{4}-PRO Photography blog, I had to share. (Photographers: If you don’t followthe GO-{4}-PRO blog, I definitely suggest it.) If you search “newborn photography” on YouTube, you’ll find a gazillion videos of actual sessions. This is one of those capturing Seattle photographer Emily Weaver Brown at work during a session with a 7 day old baby.

In pre-session consults and new client inquiries, I get asked a lot about the flow of a newborn session and the length. And it’s often shocking to new parents that it can take anywhere from 2-4 (yes, 4 hours) hours for a typical newborn session incorporating the beautiful, sleeping art-inspired shots of baby curled up, in baskets, on blankets, with hats, in dad’s hands, etc. I craft each session so that there’s at least one or more elements that are unique to that session (besides baby, of course). If you’ve never experienced one first-hand, it’s easy to wonder why it would take so long … I mean, they’re just a week old, how hard could it be?

I LOVE how Emily and GO{4}PRO explain  “it’s a lot more about rocking and waiting then it is shooting and playing, oh so true!! Newborn sessions take the longest (PERIOD).”  Newborn sessions are all about soothing, rocking, waiting, molding, waiting some more, positioning, waiting and ……. then taking a shot. LOL. It’s not uncommon for one “pose” to take half an hour to secure. And the beauty of a great newborn photographer is not only in knowing lighting, composition and camera settings, but also extreme patience. This is also the beauty of custom photography vs. traditional mall/chain store photography. (I can’t imagine a chain/mall studio letting mom nurse multiple times and spending another half hour or more soothing a baby to sleep.)

I’ve wanted to do video during one of my sessions (and eventually will once things slow down a bit), but in the meantime, enjoy this fun peek into one of Emily’s sessions: