First Baby Photo Session Question

[710 Studio]

Hi all.

I have a session with a 2-month-old coming up, Saturday, January 3. I think I'm fairly well prepared for it, except for a single question that the mother asked in an e-mail that I just received.

"Can we do some nude shots of him? I know some photographers will not do nude shots of babies, because of child pornography laws".

Being in the United States, what limitations am I bound by and what do I need to keep in mind? Any tips as to paperwork I need to have handy for this?

Any information you could give me would be appreciated!

----

Nobody has any experience with this? I'm surprised! Still... if anybody has any experience with doing baby photography, feel free to pass along the knowledge...

+d

[jgoodstein]

I have my first baby shoot next week. I to am interested in opinions, My belief is "tushy" is ok, but leave it at that. You may also want to discuss with where you have your photos printed to see there policy.. of course if its in house then that's a different issue. I'm even afraid to google the laws and may just call a lawyer to ask about Florida Laws.

[710 Studio]

I have my first baby shoot next week. I to am interested in opinions, My belief is "tushy" is ok, but leave it at that. You may also want to discuss with where you have your photos printed to see there policy.. of course if its in house then that's a different issue. I'm even afraid to google the laws and may just call a lawyer to ask about Florida Laws.

Glad to see I'm not the only one in this boat! I, too, think that tush is just fine. It's also sad that photographers have to find themselves in this predicament. I just said to heck with it and told the lady that those photos would be just fine. Just as long as she signs an agreement saying that I have permission to photograph her baby's bottom. :rolleyes:

All-in-all, I'm going to let her know that I'll photograph her baby's bottom, but frontal nudity is out of the question. I believe that is a safe avenue follow.

I hope...

ANYBODY - I'm still open for opinions on this topic. Bring 'em on in, people! :)

[CheetaPita]

for babies that young- i prefer to shoot them nude!

clothes can swallow lil ones....or bunch up - especially on babies who cant sit up yet.

Now i have no clue aboutthe laws/rules on this type of thing.....but i can tell you that Ive never ever had a problem with someone thinking that my photos were child pornography. Obviously, you dont want to show everything...just keep it tasteful.

I do think with a 2month old....do the nude shots while the baby is soundly asleep so that you can position them properly to keep it tasteful :)

[710 Studio]

for babies that young- i prefer to shoot them nude!

clothes can swallow lil ones....or bunch up - especially on babies who cant sit up yet.

Now i have no clue aboutthe laws/rules on this type of thing.....but i can tell you that Ive never ever had a problem with someone thinking that my photos were child pornography. Obviously, you dont want to show everything...just keep it tasteful.

I do think with a 2month old....do the nude shots while the baby is soundly asleep so that you can position them properly to keep it tasteful :)

The family is driving a good 45 miles for this shoot, so we're ALL hoping the baby will fall asleep on the way. Apparently, the baby is very much a car sleeper. :)

I have a lot of (what I believe to be) good ideas for Saturday's shoot. A lot of them involve the baby being sans-clothing. But, like you said, preferably sleeping, so we can easily position the baby so nothing is showing that shouldn't be. I'm hoping mommy and daddy don't mind being photographed, as I have some ideas that would involve them, as well (clothed... of course... :) ).

[UnMarkedPanic]

I am not an expert but it should be fine as long you have consent from parents..

[TanyaShieldsPhotography]

I have never photographed a child under the age of 3 months WITH clothes! Naked babies do not automatically equate to child porn.

[TanyaShieldsPhotography]

for babies that young- i prefer to shoot them nude!

clothes can swallow lil ones....or bunch up - especially on babies who cant sit up yet.

Now i have no clue aboutthe laws/rules on this type of thing.....but i can tell you that Ive never ever had a problem with someone thinking that my photos were child pornography. Obviously, you dont want to show everything...just keep it tasteful.

I do think with a 2month old....do the nude shots while the baby is soundly asleep so that you can position them properly to keep it tasteful :)

Agree with all of this.

Typically, babies are most easily shot BEFORE the age of 2 weeks.

[710 Studio]

I am not an expert but it should be fine as long you have consent from parents..

Yeah... I am definitely going to have the parents sign something. I'm thinking everything will be alright, as long as I have a signed consent form.

[710 Studio]

Agree with all of this.

Typically, babies are most easily shot BEFORE the age of 2 weeks.
I would have LOVED to have done the shoot before the age of 2 weeks, but the parents wanted to wait until the baby started making facial expressions. Who can blame them, really?

Funny thing... this was SUPPOSED to be a maternity shoot. 3 days before the shoot, though, I got an e-mail from the girl's boyfriend saying that she went into labor... 5 weeks early. So the maternity shoot has turned into a baby shoot. :)

[jillybean]

Naked babies are natural and beautiful... not porn- just like a naked adult you can make it soft and lovely or ... the other. ALL of my babies are naked when being photographed for most of the session unless the parent asks for something other than that-