DIY Newborn Photography: Capturing Teddy’s Sweet Beginnings

When Teddy was just a week old, we decided to put our phones aside and bring out our good camera to capture some casual yet professional-looking newborn photos. We wanted to immortalize his sweet, squishy newborn stage before it passed too quickly. The result was this favorite shot, which proudly graced the cover of his birth announcement. For the announcement itself, we utilized a user-friendly template from TinyPrints, seamlessly integrating our chosen picture, and ordered a few dozen to share our joy with loved ones.

As is often the case with many photoshoots, the glamour tends to dissipate when you zoom out. Our “studio” setup for the photo above was far from elaborate; John was candidly positioned between a large box and a plant in our office! This behind-the-scenes reality highlights that you don’t need a fancy studio to create beautiful, heartfelt images.

We opted for this photoshoot when Teddy was only seven days old, specifically to capture that precious, fleeting newborn stage. The tiny details, the delicate features, and the sleepy innocence are truly unique to those very first days. Adding to our comfort, my amazing brother-in-law, Todd, a professional photographer himself, had also offered to take some family and baby photos for us. Knowing that these wouldn’t be our only professional-quality pictures significantly reduced the pressure on our DIY session, making it a truly enjoyable and fun experience. John and I both actively participated in the shooting, and we even managed to capture some incredibly sweet moments of Clara and Teddy together.

Essential Tools for a Successful DIY Newborn Photoshoot

For our casual home photoshoot – keeping in mind we are not professionals, but enthusiasts – we relied on a few key tools that proved incredibly helpful. These included the diffuser I had given John for Christmas, a soft and cozy surface we improvised using a pile of blankets and a Boppy pillow on our office desk, and a simple step stool, which allowed us to capture various shots from elevated angles, adding depth and variety to our images.

The impact of the diffuser was quite remarkable, showcasing a dramatic difference in lighting quality. The shot on the left, taken without the diffuser, illustrates harsh shadows and uneven light. In contrast, by simply holding up the diffuser, we were able to soften and even out the light, producing a much more flattering image on the right. While we experimented with some “baby-in-a-basket” shots, which admittedly made Teddy look quite womb-like and gave us a good laugh, we found that true professional photographers excel at these complex setups. After a few attempts, we quickly moved on to simpler, more natural shots of him sleeping, John holding him gently, and Clara gazing at her new brother.

Our Camera Gear: Nikon D3200 and the “Nifty Fifty”

Our go-to camera for these precious moments was our trusty Nikon D3200, paired with our beloved “nifty fifty” lens. This AF-S Nikkor 50mm lens, which we’ve owned for several years, is exceptional for capturing intricate detail shots and achieving that beautiful, softly blurred background (bokeh) that gives photos a professional touch. While it’s perfect for portraits and close-ups, we reserve the stock lens that came with our camera for broader, full-room shots when we need a wider perspective.

Beyond just technical equipment, we also made a conscious effort to include items with special meaning to us within the photos, adding a layer of personal history and sentiment to Teddy’s first portraits.

A perfect example is this sweet knitted blanket, a truly special creation by my brother’s wife, Ali. What makes it even more remarkable is that it was the very first blanket she ever made, and it turned out absolutely awesome! Incorporating such handmade, meaningful items not only adds warmth to the photos but also creates beautiful storytelling elements.

A quick baby foot intermission! I still firmly believe there is nothing cuter than tiny newborn feet, and capturing them is a must for any new parent.

I absolutely adore this particular photo, which beautifully highlights Teddy’s adorable head of hair alongside John’s wedding ring, all against a simple, soft background. It still amazes me how much hair he had at birth, especially considering Clara had very little for quite some time!

Capturing a shot with his eyes open was a significant achievement for us, as Teddy was still quite sleepy and squinty at just seven days old. These fleeting moments of alertness are truly precious and worth the patience.

Big Sister Love: Clara & Teddy’s First Photos Together

It was equally important for us to capture some sweet shots of Clara interacting with her new baby brother. For these, we kept the setup simple and natural, using our bed as a comfortable and inviting background. This allowed for genuine interactions and authentic expressions of sibling love.

This particular image truly melts my heart. Clara absolutely adores her brother, and her love for him shines through so purely in this photograph.

We were so thrilled with these sibling shots that we decided to feature a series of them prominently on the back of Teddy’s birth announcement, showcasing the beautiful new bond between them.

These next photos were taken the very next day, spontaneously, when Clara and Teddy were simply lying together in our bed. These unposed, candid moments often turn out to be the most cherished and authentic.

They truly are a hilarious and endearing pair, these two. Their dynamic is already so evident and a joy to capture.

Clara’s Milestone Photos: The Four-Year Tradition

This brings us to Clara’s latest photo project picture, marking her fourth year. After we shared her birthday party details, many of you thoughtfully reminded us about her four-year shot – a detail that had completely slipped our minds amidst party preparations and the general beautiful chaos of newborn life. We are so grateful for your keen memory!

It’s truly incredible to witness how much she has grown and changed since we first embarked on this project. One of our favorite new traditions is taking Teddy’s weekly photo and then comparing it side-by-side with Clara’s photo from the same week in her project. Clara absolutely loves studying his photos next to hers, and it’s a delightful activity for us to point out similarities and differences in their growth and expressions.

We also ended up with some pretty fantastic outtakes from Clara’s four-year photo session. The one on the right truly cracks me up; when she saw it, she declared, “I look like a flamingo!” These unscripted, humorous moments are often just as valuable as the perfectly posed shots, capturing the true essence of their personalities.

A Sentimental Mother’s Day Gift: Clara Conversations

Now, for my Mother’s Day gift, which quite frankly, made me cry full-on ugly tears of joy. John secretly compiled a heartwarming photo book titled “Clara Conversations” for me. It was an absolute surprise and one of the most thoughtful presents I’ve ever received.

Every single page had me doing that smiling-through-tears thing. It truly is one of my most treasured possessions and such an enormous surprise. I still have no idea when John managed to sneak in the time to create it, making it even more special and impressive.

John’s thoughtfulness extended to even leaving the very last page blank, specifically for Clara to draw our family. Look at us, all holding hands – it’s just perfect. I also find it quite amusing how Daddy is depicted as smaller than Teddy, and the addition of the Easter stickers is a charming little touch from Clara. It’s these kinds of personal, unscripted contributions that make such gifts truly irreplaceable.

Update: For those interested, John created and purchased this wonderful book through MyPublisher. This is also the platform we use for ordering our annual family yearbooks, although this particular “Clara Conversations” book is a bit smaller and thinner than those, perfect for a dedicated collection of quotes.

Your Turn: How Do You Document Your Family’s Story?

We’ve shared our family’s enthusiastic approach to capturing memories, from DIY newborn photoshoots to yearly milestone projects and sentimental gifts that celebrate the unique personalities of our children. Now, we’re curious to hear from you!

How are you currently documenting your family’s precious moments these days? Is your phone a treasure trove overflowing with countless photos and videos? Have you ventured into creating dynamic family videos, perhaps compiling clips and pictures set to music, like our guide on how we make ours? These multimedia compilations are a fantastic way to bring memories to life and share them with a broader audience.

Are you sending out birth announcements for new arrivals, or perhaps creating custom cards for other special occasions? On a personal note, I have a confession: is it considered odd that I keep every single birth announcement we receive? I have dozens of them, from every friend and relative who has ever sent one our way, meticulously stacked in a large pile right next to our cookbooks in a kitchen cabinet. Each one is a tiny piece of shared joy and a wonderful memento of loved ones expanding their own families. We believe every family has its unique traditions for remembering and celebrating, and we’d love to learn about yours. Sharing these ideas not only inspires others but also reinforces the beautiful, universal desire to cherish and preserve the journey of family life.