Sarah Rennie
Who can resist fawning over photos of tiny newborns curled in precious poses when posted by proud new parents? Professional photographer Natalie Wattie, who specializes in newborn portraiture, laments how COVID-19 has made this type of photography even more challenging.
With the present lockdown, her in-home studio is closed, and the pandemic has rendered the intimacy required for this type of photography ill-advised at best. And, as the window for capturing those adorable photos is limited to around the first 10 days after birth, she worries that parents will miss out on capturing these first moments in their baby’s life.
“It’s such an important stage to document,” she says. But she is quick to caution that parents looking to take their own newborn photos should be aware of the hard work and patience that is invested in this type of photograph. “It is definitely something that people think is fast,” says Wattie. Most shoots last for at least two hours, she says, noting how “the baby is the little boss.”
It is important to use props that are safe, such as flat-bottomed baskets that won’t tip suddenly, a soft blanket, or swaddle. Wattie suggests looking for as much natural light as possible when scouting a location in the home for a photo and to make sure the room is well heated, so the baby remains comfortable.
The most important thing for parents to realize is that while adorable, some of the most popular poses for newborns can be quite dangerous. “Most of the time, there is a parent’s hand holding or touching the baby that I Photoshop out,” she says.
Which is not to say that parents’ hands should never be seen: sometimes, she points out, having an adult hand in the shot can help to emphasize just how small the baby really is.
Wattie encourages all parents to make sure they are photographed with the baby, and to remember that, even without Photoshop, “It is still possible to capture that memory.”