Let’s start at the very beginning, with newborns. Keep in mind my earlier analogy: You’re really a sculptor working with raw clay. You’ve got a baby, who has absolutely no idea what’s going on, and two new parents. If this is their first child, the parents likely aren’t any more adept than the baby at a photo shoot. Everyone is confused and a little apprehensive—which means there’s no room for you, as the photographer, to add your own hesitancy to the mix. You have to go into the session with confidence.

First, assemble all the tools you’re going to need, and decide on the location. Are you shooting in the home, the studio, or for that matter at the hospital? It’s especially important to use a quiet location. Don’t underestimate the importance of a few toys. In the case of newborns, that really means a few distracting props.

Second, allow plenty of time. This way, even if the baby is fussy, you can relax because you’ve left room in your schedule to get the images. The only predictable thing about working with babies is that they’re unpredictable. If the baby is fussing or crying, it’s going to take a quiet atmosphere with soothing tones or squeaky sounds—things that distract babies and awaken their curiosity—to capture the best images.

If you’re a little reserved and think interacting with the parents and baby isn’t in your repertoire, you’ll be finished before you get your first shot. You’ve got to just relax, overcome your hesitancy, and treat photographing each newborn baby with the same enthusiasm you’d feel for photographing your own newborn child.

Our first preference is always working with natural light, and you want it all on the face. For obvious reasons, try to stay away from flash photography if you can help it. Also, you’re going to be looking for nice tight shots with a narrow depth of field. The lenses of choice are the 85mm, 28–70mm, and 70–200mm IS zoom. The advantage of the zoom is in its ability to compress the background, allowing you to concentrate on the face and expressions of the subject without distractions.

Newborn Toolbox
•    Canon EOS 1D Mark II
•    70–200mm IS lens
•    28–70mm lens
•    Beanbag
•    Studio lighting, if needed. (While natural lighting is always preferable, there are days when window light just isn’t up to par—rainy days, for example—and the quality of natural light isn’t there. In those cases, the lighting setup for newborns would be pretty much the same as with any subject. It’s just good to have as a backup if the natural light is less than ideal.)
•    Radio slaves
•    Props (toys, twinkling lights, feather dusters, even cat toys that squeak)

A Few Easy Tips
•   Work fast!
•   Work with an assistant, if possible—it helps to have somebody assist you in drawing the baby’s attention to the camera.
•   Go for tight close-ups. Don’t pull back too far—this is all about the baby. The baby is tiny compared to the parents, and you don’t want to lose the baby in a family portrait.
•    Don’t worry about how many images you’re taking.
•    Plan for the unexpected (anything from a cranky baby to a diaper that needs changing).
•    Work in short segments, and don’t drag out the session.

Bambi Cantrell is a well-known wedding and portrait photographer, and on of the  most sought-after in the San Francisco Bay area. In addition, s he is a skilled instructor whose classes are always standing room only. Her images have appeared in the New York Times and in American Photo, Ebony and Rangfinder magazines. She has received the lifetime achievement award from Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI); numerous print awards from Eastman Kodak, Fujifilm, and WPPI; and the 2004 International Photographic Council's Professional Photographer Award.

Skip Cohen is a president of Rangefinder Publishing Inc. and former president of Hasselblad USA. Instrumental in a variety of fund-raising and educational photographic projects, he is a regular presenter at various photography schools and conventions around the country. He has served on the boards of PMDA, PPA, Photographer + Friends United Against AIDS, and the P.H.O.T.O. Foundation. He is a coauthor of Body  Parts: Don Blair's Guide to Lighting and Posing, and has coauthored two best-selling books with Bambi Cantrell: The Art of Digital Wedding Photography and The Art of Wedding Photography.

The book, The Art of People Photography, is available at Watson-Guptill Publications as well as other retailers.