This week on the blog we're going to discuss some important questions that I think every parent needs to ask the photographer that will be creating portrait photos of their precious baby. I will list the questions and then my answers, but even if you don't choose me to photograph your baby I would highly recommend these questions be asked of any newborn photographer to make sure you get the best and safest person to work with your family. First the questions: 1. Are you a registered business and are you insured? 2. How is safety a priority for your business? 3. Do you have a studio or will you come to our home? 4. What is your background? 5. Do you use an assistant? 6. What age do you consider "newborn"? Now my answers and why I think it is important to ask each question: 1. Are you a registered business and are you insured? Yes Jessica Esplin Photography is registered as a business with the State of California and Santa Clara County. Yes I am insured through PPA. Yes I have general liability insurance. I think this is important to differentiate those who will take photography seriously and those who are just doing this as a hobby. The very first thing I did before I started accepting money from clients was to make sure to register for a business license complete with tax number and all fees associated paid up front. Having a business license means I have permission to run my business here in Santa Clara County. I also make sure to get any appropriate permits that are required in order to be allowed to photograph professionally at the outdoor locations where I take my clients. According to the Law Tog, "(Liability) insurance is especially critical for photographers working in sensitive specializations (wedding, newborn, extreme sports, etc.) This insurance works as an umbrella to provide protection against legal actions arising from injuries, accidents and other claims." When it comes to the client's perspective this is the most important insurance for their photographer to have because it deals with the client directly if there is ever an accident or related issue. We all hope we never need to make a claim on our insurance but it is there "just in case". Better safe than sorry. 2. How is safety a priority for your business? Safety is SOOOO important for me and my business. I have had ongoing training from a newborn physiologist and a one time online training conference hosted by SIB that featured a registered neonatal nurse (who specializes in neonatal guidelines as a consultant for the government). I have also had training online specifically for safety from one of the best newborn photographer around the world Kelly Brown. Kelly Brown is one of the top advocates for newborn safety and has taught it often. The training I have had covered newborn physiology, reflexes and safety as well as the best practices when handling a newborn baby in a variety of photographic poses that are used in my business. I make sure to sanitize my props before every session (which is one reason I limit my newborn sessions to one per day). I wash my hands before touching any baby. I am vaccinated and get my yearly flu shot. I move newborns very gently and follow their cues. I use Photoshop to create composite images of any pose that requires more support. Let me know if you have any questions about what any of these precautions mean. 3. Do you have a studio or will you come to our home? I am exclusively an on location photographer. My family and maternity sessions take place outdoors in a variety of locations around the Bay Area. My newborn sessions take place in my client's home. For me it is important to visit my clients' homes because becoming a new parent is a huge challenge. I want you to be comfortable in your own environment. I don't want you to have to worry about getting stuck in traffic. I don't want you to worry about going outside your home where you might encounter a variety of germs that exist there. I don't want you to worry about forgetting something at home. If you need an outfit change (in case the baby pees or poos on you!) I want you to have options and to be able to change in the comfort of you own space. I think having a session in your own home makes the session easier for you. I could go on and on, but let me just say that I think it is important to feel safe and secure and what better place than your own home. In my newborn prep guide I let you know how to prepare your home for your session (what you do and what you don't need to do to get ready). 4. What is your background? I have studied newborn photography since 2013. I have learned from many newborn photography instructors including: Kelly Brown, Julia Kelleher, Ana Brandt, Luisa Dunn, and many more. I attend an annual online newborn photography conference hosted by Lisa DiGeso with The Milky Way. I am a mom of three kids. I also am in charge of caring for the older babies in my church's nursery. Which means I know all of the best toddler songs that are popular these days to help get the attention of your older baby! Ha ha! 5. Do you use an assistant?
I do not use an assistant at this point. If there is ever a pose that I use that needs an extra pair of hands I will ask baby's mom or dad or other adult available at the session. I most closely follow the methodology of Kelly Brown in my newborn photography business; she also uses her clients as her newborn assistant as needed. This is a good question to ask to make sure that someone whether it is you or a dedicated assistant is helping the photographer out with difficult poses. There really are certain poses that should absolutely not be created solely by the photographer; it takes a team to create certain poses. Some of these poses are called: froggy pose, potato sack pose, and occasionally the chin on hands pose. And while I'm talking about poses I want to point out that some poses are created with Photoshop Magic: a good example of this is the hanging/stork pose. Baby should never be held suspended over anything because there is a greater risk of falling. Someone should be near the baby at all times just in case the baby startles and moves rapidly into an unsafe position. 6. What age do you consider "newborn"? For most of the newborn photography world the best time to photograph a newborn baby is when they are under 14 days old (sometimes younger than 10 days old is recommended). After two weeks babies are generally more awake and a little harder to settle into the iconic curly newborn poses. Additionally, things like colic and baby acne often start to manifest after about two weeks of age. However I as a mother understand that having a baby often turns your life upside down and so I will gladly accept a baby for a newborn session up to six weeks of age (after that they can still be photographed in a non-newborn Portrait session). If this is the case with your baby please just let me know when you book so we can discuss the limitations and manage expectations of your older newborn's photography experience. Some photographers draw a firm line when it comes to the age that they will photograph a newborn. If your baby is "too old" you are out of luck with those photographers. And I don't think that is very fair. And I love all of the babies, so I will be happy to photograph them!
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April is a month full of awareness topics. One issue that I find especially important to me as I work with babies and small children is preventing abuse. This month is National Child Abuse Prevention month.
About a year ago I shared a post about "Purple Crying". In that post I talked about what to do when your baby is crying and won't stop. It was about managing your own emotions because sometimes babies just cry and it can be very hard to deal with. This month I would like to talk about bonding with your baby which is one of the tips from childwelfare.gov's National Child Abuse Prevention month for Strong and Thriving Families: "Here are some ways to promote bonding: • Respond when your baby cries. Try to understand what he or she is saying to you. You can’t “spoil” babies with too much attention—they need and benefit from a parent’s loving care even when they seem inconsolable. • Hold and touch your baby as much as possible. You can keep him or her close with baby slings, pouches, or backpacks (for older babies). • Use feeding, bathing, and diapering times to look into your baby’s eyes, smile, and talk to your baby. • Read, sing, and play peek-a-boo. Babies love to hear human voices and will try to imitate your voice and the sounds you make. • As your baby gets a little older, try simple games and toys. Once your baby can sit up, plan on spending lots of time on the floor with toys, puzzles, and books. • If you feel you are having trouble bonding with your infant, don’t wait to get help. Talk to your doctor or your baby’s pediatrician as soon as you can." How to get clearer photos using your I-Phone
The biggest mistakes I see people make when it comes to taking pics with their I-Phones (or similar handheld point and shoot cameras) is just a matter of awkward handling. Are your pictures fuzzy? Foggy or Hazy? How do you fix that? 1. When shooting, hold your camera as still as you can. Especially in low light conditions. Your camera is designed to slow its shutter speed in low-light scenarios which means you gotta hold REALLY still to get a clean shot. So practice bracing your elbows to your sides while hold the camera up. Or, find a solid surface that works almost as good as a tripod. This will support the camera and hold it still much better. One more funny tip is to try holding your breath for a moment when you click the shutter! Kinda weird but sometimes that's what it takes! 2. Speaking of low light, the best way to get a clear shot is to light your subject properly. Back light is horrible for today's I-Phones. The phones just can't handle it. Place your subject closer to a window, or shoot outside in full shade. Just getting good light on the subject alone, will help the camera itself perform better. Check out my post on taking photos of your kids for more low light tips. 3. It may seem silly, but WIPE YOUR LENS! LOL. I can't tell you the number of times I've offered to help someone get a family shot on some travel adventure, and I look at the back of their phone at the actual lens. Surprise! It's grimy! A simple trick, but an effective one, and one we don't think about all the time- simply wiping off your lens will make your pics clearer. After all, we store that thing in our purses, and heaven knows what kid-size drama made it into my bag this week! (we can exchange stories on toddler messes when you next see me around!) HAPPY SHOOTING! ![]() It's Hanukkah this week and the Christmas season is already in full swing! We've already visited our annual Nativity exhibitions this week both at the Creche of Palo Alto and at A Night In Bethlehem in Santa Clara. We are also planning on visiting the Holiday Train at Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos. We might even brave the crowds to see Christmas in the Park at Downtown San Jose this year (we'll see if the introverts in my family can handle it!). We are still new to the Bay Area so we're still learning about all of the most fun holiday events so feel free to tell me your favorite activity that your family does every year in the comments (especially celebrating Hanukkah, I have know idea where those events might be held, but I'd love to visit!!)! Anyways. On to today's topic. With all of these holiday happenings I think it's important to take photos when you can to capture the magic on your child's face so you can remember it in the years to come. Here's my top tips for taking a better photo! 1. Watch your light! The biggest photo mistake (especially with babies) I see on my Instagram and Facebook feeds happen when the child has been lit from the bottom of their face. It's called up-lighting or ghoul lighting (yikes!) and it's a big no no. The best light should come from top of the face ideally from about a 45 degree angle and either from the front or either side (the light from behind is called back-lighting and can be tricky but doable with practice). (see my... quirky... stick figure guide for what I mean) 2. Don’t ask them to smile. There's nothing more cheesy than a child that's told to say "cheese!" (pun intended!). Just let them be kids and have fun. Let them enjoy the moment. If you do want them to look at the camera (and at you!) ask them questions, sing a song or do something silly! Make it fun! Start a tickle fight. If they have siblings have them do bear hugs. And if all else fails... bribe! No punishments though, those will just inspire resentment for future photos. :( 3. Focus and expose (balance the light on the subject) on the face (eyes or mouth area). If you're using a phone camera this can sometimes be tricky but click on the screen for where you want to focus (and expose at the same time). If you're using a DSLR try shooting in Program mode and use selective focus. (I wish I had time to share more DSLR tips, but that would take a lot more time than I have now in one post!) 4. Avoid flash if you can. A camera flash can be useful for freezing moments but most flashes that are attached to the camera are too close to the lens so the flash's light is quite harsh and flat on your subject. If you need more light in your photo get creative. Use a lamp or even a flashlight pointed towards the face (light needs to be above as in the diagram indicates). Use window light (open those blinds and curtains!). Turn on all the lights! 5. Know when to put your camera down. This might sound crazy but sometimes your kids just need you to have fun with them without something between you. It's okay to let go of capturing the perfect moment. Sometimes the moment even becomes more memorable. Trust your instincts and your children's instincts to let you know when to join them instead of photographing them. Bonus tip: And the most important bonus tip this holiday season: absolutely do NOT wrap your child (or anyone!) in Christmas lights. While cute and "pinterest worthy" it is dangerous. Wires can fray. Bulbs can break. Glass + electricity = very dangerous. Add in possible baby drool and it's a recipe for disaster. Please don't do it. Just say no. ![]() This week I'll be sharing a fun post about some great gifts to get for your baby or new mom in your life. I have scoured the internet for you keeping in mind (as a mom of three) as to what I think would actually be useful and/or fun! (no affiliate links, just honest opinions!) 1. Toys Oball Rattle: or similar. Great for young babies that are learning motor movements. Some varieties of the Oball rattle are great teethers too. WubbaNub Stuffed Animal Pacifier: A multi tasker: snuggle with a stuffie and keep that binky where it needs to be! Cuddle Blankie: or similar. Each of my kids had their own stuffie blankie. They each loved them and would snuggle in bed with them or take them around. And look how cute they are! Infantino GaGa Spiral Car Seat Activity Toy: Easy fun on the go! It's very easy to take this in the car seat, stroller or even just for baby to hold. Infantino Gaga Balls, Blocks & Buddies: Great for building fine motor skills. Just make sure if you decide to use these or other similar plastic toys in the bath that you first plug up the hole (a dap of hot glue works great!) to prevent mold from getting inside. 2. Sleeping: Rock n' Sleep: Great for baby to have a (supervised) nap! (But remember the safest place for baby to sleep is on a firm flat surface!!) Graco Pack n' Play: Great for sleeping on the go or in a tight space! 3. Breastfeeding: Check with your insurance first to see if you could get a breast pump covered by them! Medela Breast Pump in Style Advanced: a must for first time moms to make sure your supply comes in fast and strong! Lansinoh Hand Breast Pump: great for pumping on the go! Believe it or not I actually took all three of my babies on road trips and this saved us loads of time as I could pump and then feed the baby while we were still in the car! Boppy: an easy to use nursing pillow to help prop up baby while you feed them. If you happen come to my home for a session you can borrow mine to see if you like it! It's also useful for tummy time. 4. Eating: Ikea Antilop High chair with tray: a no nonsense simple high chair that is super easy to use and clean. Fisher Price Space Saver High Chair: my preferred high chair, it is very versatile and saves space in your dining room. Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat: great for on the go meals. We keep our in our trunk so when we visit someone and baby is hungry we can just pull it out for a feed. ![]() 5. Carriers: Ergo 360 All Carry Positions: highly recommended. This carrier has an advantage over other carriers as to be more ergonomic on baby's pelvic area: no straining! Moby: great for around the house or with a small baby on the go. I actually didn't get one of these until my third baby and I wish I had gotten it sooner! Baby wearing is amazing!! 6. Diaper Bag: We honestly just used a backpack for all three of our babies, but anything with a ton of pockets will work. Make sure there's room for all of these necessities: diapers, wipes, diaper changing pad, diaper rash cream, hand sanitizer, spare pacifiers, small baby first aid kit, bottles/cups, nursing pads or formula (if either is applicable), snack containers, bibs, spoons, burp clothes, a couple of small toys/books for entertainment on the go, change of clothes for baby (and for you if your baby tends to spit up a lot!), snacks/water for you if you're breastfeeding. Happy Holidays!! If you have any other must have baby gear that you love that I didn't share here, please let me know in the comments so other moms can see! Please note that I’m not a medical professional and that these are just my opinions as a parent. If you ever have any questions about the safety of a baby product or your baby's behavior, please consult a physician. |
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