We all love those perfectly posed and beautifully styled newborn photos.  Many would say “well, that’s easy.  The baby is sleeping in those photos and you can move and dress them however you wish.”  But that assumption can’t be any further from the truth.  Through this article, I would like to describe the reality of how newborn photo sessions are conducted and some of the challenges we face.  Hopefully this will help parents gain a better understanding and have a much more enjoyable session.

It is almost certain that the baby will cry at some point during the session.  Especially when we are trying for those cute and curvy-posed types of photos.  Ideally, the baby is in deep sleep and we can move and style the little angel freely.  But it normally does not work like that.  Every slight move of the baby wakes them up and each baby behaves differently when they are being disrupted.  Oftentimes, babies cry for a short few seconds while they are being adjusted into a pose.  We usually give them a little massage to help calm them down and they fall right back to sleep quickly.  If crying resumes, we pick the baby up and hold them until they fall back to sleep.  This process can repeat itself many times over and I understand when the parents instinct to protect their baby and may be worried or even concerned the cries becomes more frequent and louder.  However, staying calm and having patience is the best way to calm your baby.   My team has over 5 years of experience handling newborns and small children and we place your baby’s safety and comfort as our top priority.  Let’s try not to be overly worried first; if you really don’t feel comfortable with the process, please let us know and we are more than happy to stop at anytime.  

For each session, we aim to try for at least 3 different styles for the newborn photos and also some family portraits.  Another challenge exists if you have toddlers and/or multiple children.  We have to keep the toddlers engaged and the newborns calm simultaneously for the photos to turn out perfectly.  We’re also mindful that newborns have very frequent feeding and diaper changing schedules and we work accordingly to seize those precious free moments we have in between.  Consequently, a standard newborn session can easily run up to 3 hours.

Each session requires a good team on all sides – we should all stay calm and try to relax.  The best photos are captured when everyone is genuinely having a good time and with minimal stress involved.

I hope by now you have gained a clear idea of the challenges we face during the newborn sessions.  Have a little faith in yourself and us – together we can create the most amazing photos that your family will treasure forever.  Want to know more?  Give me a shout and I’m happy to answer all of your questions.

Stay tuned for more tips on newborn, maternity and baby photography

byJanelle, your hong kong newborn and maternity photographer (previous post)

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Stay tuned for more tips on newborn, maternity and baby photography

byJanelle, your hong kong newborn and maternity photographer

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I’m asked quite often about how I took the leap of faith to become a full time photographer. Hmmm… there is no short answer for that, but I’d say fulfillment plays a big part. I enjoy every single bit of my work. All of your love stories and life stories are fascinating, and your parenting tips will come in handy to me one day ! And the stratification from seeing every one of you having a great time shooting with me and loving the photos is priceless. I do have doubts about myself when work isn’t going the way I want it to. But I always (try to) keep in mind that staying focused and being positive is the way to success!

On a personal note – a lot of new and old faces have walked into / back into my life lately. The last few months haven’t been easy, and I want to say thank you to the ones who have held my hand through this. Some people just completely surprise me, and you all play an important part of my story.  Tyra, your wit and wisdom shocks me! Janice, you always gets my back! <3

The humid spring of Hong Kong has officially arrived but nothing stops us to go outdoors and have some fun. The backdrop of the old street scene of Hong Kong in Central, the beach and the park are just a few options for your stunning outdoor maternity photography session. Share your amazing ideas with me, and we’ll spend a fun afternoon together!

Weekends in April and May are filling up quickly! Book your session now!

Some more maternity photos to share – http://byjanelle.net/myarts/bellies/

Stay tuned for more tips on newborn, maternity and baby photography

byJanelle, your hong kong newborn and maternity photographer (previous post)

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Newborn babies are unpredictable: they can be happy, angry and fussy all at once. Here are 7 tips to enjoy a smooth photo experience with your little angel.

1. A full tummy = a happy baby.

Feed your baby 30 minutes before the photo session. Newborn babies fall into a deep sleep easily with a full tummy and can be posed into many cute and curled positions.

2. Get your clean towels and baby wipes ready to go.

It’s best to swaddle your baby and keep their diaper on while feeding as they wee wee soon after their meal. It’s likely that your baby will wee again after being undressed during the session. Stay calm and have clean towels and wipes ready. Your baby can be cleaned right up.

All props are sterilized and cleaned with organic baby soap before and after each session to ensure your baby stays healthy.

3. Keep the room temperature between 25C and 28C. 

Your baby will be naked for most of the session thus keeping the room temperature between 25C and 28C is essential. If you feel warm, that’s the right temperature. Turn off the air conditioner during summer time and turn on the heat before the session in the winter.

4. Make the bed and clear a space by the window. 

I can set up my “mini studio” in any BRIGHT and naturally lit space at your home for any posey images – near the window is ideal. I also prefer to do some relaxed and natural images in your bedroom. The baby may have turned your place into a disaster but don’t worry – I promise, it won’t show in the photos.

5. The most ideal time to schedule your photo session is between day 7 and day 14

Preferably 2 weeks or younger is the most ideal age to photograph a newborn. At this age, newborns sleep more deeply and are more flexible and can be posed more easily. Newborn acne usually flares up from 2 to 3 weeks of age. Although Photoshop can work its magic, natural is best so try to schedule your session during the ideal timeframe.

Older newborn babies (up to 1 month) also look incrediblely cute. Don’t stress if you can’t manage a time within first 2 weeks.

6. Parents, dress in simple and plain clothing. 

A newborn’s skin tone is soft and creamy. Dress in light to mid tone colors to provide the best contrast, for example, white, ivory, grey and chocolate. Try to avoid logos and stripes.

7. Maternity helper and/or Dad, get ready to help!  

It’s a baby’s instinct that they want to eat when they can smell mommy. This is the perfect time for mom to take a break. Maternity helper / Dad can help in posing the baby and Mom can join in at the end for the family portrait.

Now get ready and have fun in your newborn photo session!

Stay tuned for more tips on newborn,  maternity and baby photography

byJanelle, your hong kong newborn and maternity photographer 

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A new subject for the new year: pet photography

I set up my photography service specializing in maternity, newborn and family portraits because I love being a part of the beginning of a new life. I feel flattered that from time to time I get asked if I would be interested in taking photos outside my area of expertise. Recently, I got invited to shoot Bebe (a cute little cat)! I was quite nervous to say yes since I had very little experience in pet photography, and none at all with cats. I love being around animals, though, and I knew it would be a fun project so here are some great photos of Bebe to share.

The experience of shooting photos of a cat is completely different than taking photos of newborns or babies. I can’t pose Bebe; in fact, I actually had to do chase her around the house (up and down the stairs, trying to catch up with her). Without any disappointment, I think I did a pretty good job and it was a lot of fun. I definitely would consider doing more pet photography.

For me, the perfect family is the one with a pet (ideally a dog or two). For my next project, I’d love to take photos of a baby or young child with their pet. Have a pet and a baby? Contact me now!

Thank you Bebe for trusting me to be your photographer!

 I wish you all a great 2015!

Previously project – helping the bride-to-be to prepare a wedding gift for her husband!

Stay tuned for more tips on newborn,  maternity and baby photography

byJanelle, your hong kong newborn and maternity photographer

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We often hear about “natural light” in newborn photography, but why natural light is better for newborn photography? First, keeping the newborn baby in a deep sleep during the photo session is very important. Studio lighting and camera flashes can interrupt the baby’s sleep, whereas with natural light we don’t have that issue. Second, newborn babies have superbly soft and smooth skin, and natural light gives it a softer feeling in your photos. Third, my goal is to keep my interruptions minimal during my visit to your home, not to set up a Hollywood studio to impress you ;). All I need is a window that brings in a lot of light for me to create beautiful photos of your newborn. Finally, my philosophy in photography is to capture the moment. Natural lighting is different depending on the time of the day, location, and weather, and that’s one of the things that make your newborn photos unique.

Stay tuned for more tips on newborn and maternity photography byJanelle, your hong kong newborn and maternity photographer

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