Newborns have to be one of the toughest subjects to photograph. I didn't think so, other photographers make it look so easy! It is hard though and I will tell you what you don't see in those precious pictures.
The first thing you don't see is the crying. Newborns cry and cry and cry. They don't want to be awoken. Unfortunately newborns don't fall asleep in the setting they will be photographed in. So once awake, they love being in moms arms. So much so that you try and put them down, they cry. So moms try and feed them. Newborns love that, but no mom wants that picture. They already have a ton and are not paying a pro to take more. So mom spends 15-20 minutes feeding and baby poops and pees everywhere during the feeding. Mom then has to clean herself and baby and try to place baby in position to be photographed. Baby cries again. That starts the cooing and noises. Meanwhile I am moving all over the place because baby moves. One minute you have the shot if they just quit crying and then they move their tiny head away from the camera and you have to move and hope to get the shot again. Lets keep in mind that baby looks terrified. Their little eyes are trying to find the cooing and figure out the flash of the camera. They want to know where mom is plus who this strange person is and they just can't help but look terrified. No photographer wants to hand over a c.d of pictures of a beautiful, terrified baby. You want peaceful, happy baby. Let me tell you it takes time. Lots of time. You can't tell a baby to "look this way" or tell them a story that might make them stop crying, or get them used to you that they don't look terrified in your pictures. You can't tell a baby to look like they are asleep, you have to wait and wait. You can't tell a baby to smile or laugh, you have to hope and work hard at it.
However, when you get that one picture after all the crying, feeding, pooping, running around, the terrified baby expressions and time, it is quite precious.
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