Hospital newborn photos

Well, our overnight bag is packed. When the baby is ready to make his grand entrance, we’ll just need to grab a couple of last minute items to take with us to the hospital — phone chargers, our iPad, my purse, and the DSLR camera.

Our Canon EOS 60D was actually my push present the first time around, although I received the gift a few weeks before Levi was born. Although I already knew how to shoot in manual, I didn’t fully understand the nuances of the camera for a long time. (And in many regards, I still don’t!)

When we were in the hospital, I tried to instruct JB on how to use it, as there were several specific shots I wanted him to capture. Eventually, I simply asked him to shoot in automatic mode. Needless to say, some shots came out better than others.

That’s not say we don’t have an abundance of hospital newborn photos of Levi. Both my mom and dad had their DSLR cameras with them, and my mother-in-law had her point and shoot. Cameras were constantly clicking for the two-and-a-half days we spent in the hospital.

In fact, so many photos were taken in those short days (plus the following week), that I’ve never actually gone through and organized them! Looking back now, it was probably all a bit excessive.

We may not need as many hospital newborn photos this time around, but I do want to make sure we capture certain moments and milestones: Holding the baby after delivery, the baby getting cleaned off and examined, Levi meeting his brother, the baby wrapped up like a burrito in his bassinet, and those peaceful, sleepy snuggles.

Both The Blue Closet and Lil Sugar offer tips on photographing your newborn in the hospital, including the not-to-be-missed photo opportunities and tricks on taking the best shots. I think the most important thing for us to remember will be to take advantage of any natural light. The mother/baby rooms in our hospital have large windows that we should use them to our advantage; flash photography never seems to produce the images I want.

As for JB taking photos of the baby and me in the delivery room, I’m guessing that using the automatic settings (and — ugh — the flash) are still the way to go…unless you have any suggestions for us!

PS - What to pack in your hospital bag, plus part one and part two of Levi’s birth story.

(images: Mariana Megre,  Eden Frangipane Photography, Key to Pictures, Jessica Janae Photography, There to Here, Simply Heaven Photography, Hither & Thither)