What's the deal with sleeping neonates?

[joedlh]

Why is it that whenever I see a thread with "Newborn" in the title, I have come to expect shots of a sleeping kid. It's almost as bad as the expectation for the same old/same old sunset shots. I grant that newborns do spend a lot of time sleeping. But they are awake sometimes. Sleeping shots of any subject lack the impact of an eyes open shot. I wouldn't offer a shot of an adult sleeping as one of my best shots. Why do it for newborns? I can see the new parents are amazed and enthralled by everything the new family member does. "Look, Honey, she's sleeping. Get a picture!" But everybody else? Can we see some shots of neonates with their eyes open?

[cameraperson]

Yeah, but you see bunches of them here. The clients only see one set - their kid, so therefore, they love it and buy it. I'm so tired of seeing lots of things on here (not necessarily this group). I despise, hate, pictures of flowers and trees and bugs. Just don't post a picture. But it's because I see them all the time on all kinds of forums. People can't find a subject so they take a picture of a flower. I hate it, but I digress...

I wonder if some of it is because of lighting if they use a flash and the baby's vision being hurt.

[IrregularPulse]

if a newborn is sleeping, you can put it in any outfit and pose you want. If it is awake, it wants to eat. Most newborn shots are in the first 3 weeks or so. They literally eat and sleep at that age. And scream.

[joedlh]

Originally Posted by IrregularPulse

if a newborn is sleeping, you can put it in any outfit and pose you want. If it is awake, it wants to eat. Most newborn shots are in the first 3 weeks or so. They literally eat and sleep at that age. And scream.

I helped raise half of my brothers and sisters and two children of my own. All you need is a little patience. There are moments.

[tracyvb]

I always take some awake shots as well for newborns and generally moms buy maybe 1 of those for every 15 sleeping shots ... Maybe it's just a mommy thing? For me personally it reminds me of how sweet and new they are. The look so peaceful and innocent when they are sleeping.

I take plenty of pictures of my own kiddos sleeping when they are older too. The just look so sweet. When you look at your child sleeping when they are 5 you can still remember exactly how they looked when they were sleeping as a newborn. It's just a sweet recollection.

Plus lots of babies have crossed eyes - which isn't such a photogenic trait.

[RDKirk]

As has been noted, clients buy the sleeping pictures more often of newborns--usually because they are cuter during the stage before they've started to assert personalities.

There is also much more session time available when you start with them sleeping. They're usually only awake to eat at that age--you have only a very few minutes and you can't fuss with them before they get fussy.