Failed Newborn Shoot - HELP!

Hi!

I've just returned from a failed newborn shoot - really it was my first one (non paying obviously). I've shot some more mature babies but this was my first newb baby - he was 5 days old.

I spent three hours there before giving up. I knew that I had to have patience for this! I know some people can do up to 6 hours for a shoot, but I arrived at 1pm and left at 4.15pm. The sun usually sets around 5pm here so I lost most of the natural light.

Here's what happened - if someone could tell me where I went wrong. I asked mum to have fed bub prior to me getting there so he was full/content. He was and was sleeping when I arrived - but had his clothes still on. I cranked the heating and had my little portable heater set up so that he wouldn't get cold (also acting as a white noise). This was mum's 4th child so she is pretty seasoned with newborns. As soon as we unwrapped him and (bummer) mum undressed him, he was awake and squirming around. From there no matter what we did he would not go back to sleep. We re-wrapped him without clothes on, mum tried feeding him again, walked him. Once when we thought he had been asleep for nearly 15 minutes and we thought we would have a go he would be awake as soon as we gently gently unwrapped him and tried positioning on the bean bag.

Because this is mum's fourth baby - she had 2 children under 3 who were at home with us at the same time who were running and sliding around, squealing. Mum was trying to not get frustrated with them as all they wanted to do when we placed baby down was come over and nudge him and see what we were doing.

We are going to try again on Thursday morning for some more shots when the two little ones won't be there running riot..

Any other advice what you would have done in this situation if you didn't have the option of coming back a second time for a re-shoot?

Do you tell parents not to have younger children around?

Also he still had is umbilical cord clamp attached. Do you generally wait until this has fallen off prior to organising the shoot?

Usually I can get a few good shots from non-cooperative babies, but today I think I got 10 shots in all and none of them worth anything. Oh.. I did get one of Cindy the doll propped on my beanbag

Babies are unpredictable, that's the nature of the baby beast. You didn't do anything wrong, it just wasn't meant to be for you, on that day, with that baby. That's just how it goes. Having 2 other children running around screaming couldn't have helped matters any, you might suggest that a neighbor watches them next time, but that isn't always practical either. Bottom line: it wasn't your fault, it was the luck of the draw. As for the cord still being attached, it doesn't matter. the earlier the better to my mind, and the cord, or lack thereof, doesn't factor into my equation. Things will likely go better next time, hang in there.

My first baby shoot failed...

We didn't realize Miss Alexia would get cold and wake up and then procede to puke and poo all over herself - next time I'll bring a heater..

It wasn't pretty.

You should probably invest in a flash that you can bounce so you have more time.

Babies don't cooperate, so expecting them to be asleep during daylight won't work every time

That's just the way it goes. Newborn photography is really, really difficult for this very reason.

Not much you can do about it, except be patient.

chalk it up as a learning experience and apply hat you learned to your next newborn shoot

My last newborn shot, little one was awake and fussy the entire time. Mom said he fell asleep as soon as I left (I spent two hours there). We had timed it for me to come over after a wakeful stretch too . . .

However, I still had about 50-80 workable shots (several from the first five minutes I was there - he was clothed and I just shot a few, the others were of mom and dad holding/comforting him), and there were some eye open shots that worked well (albeit not the current trend of sleepy baby look). Mom and dad were still happy. Granted, these were friends and not a pro shoot - but I think if you were charging and promising 20-30 shots, you should still be able to deliver.

lookingforaname wrote in post #12439266
My last newborn shot, little one was awake and fussy the entire time. Mom said he fell asleep as soon as I left (I spent two hours there). We had timed it for me to come over after a wakeful stretch too . . .

Same thing happened to me on this shoot. Cranky baby from start to finish, who then went nicely to sleep as soon as I had gone.

It happens.

I followed the "crank up the heater" advice for my newborn daughter and she will wak up from sleep. 2nd time I tried she pooed all over the blanket. Next time damn flash/camera fell from the bed and flash foot broke (need to fix it). So only 2-3 shots and she is already 7-8 weeks old. Tried last evening also and almost 3 yr old wanted to wack the camera again.

I would give it a total of 4-5 hours before I gave up. I have had babies fuss for 3 hours and then all of a sudden they tire themselves out and it is goodnight time! Remember they will fall asleep eventually.

As for lighting I wuold start earlier next time, I start around 10am so I have plenty of daylight. Also another thing is have mommy feed again. At my shoots the mom feeds the baby 3-4 times (sometimes). They need a very full belly, so definitely a few ounces. Keep them swaddled and warm too. As soon as they start to drift, put them down and snap a few pictures. If they wake up, dont worry, take some awake photos too! Then pick them back up and rock them. I like to do the holding and the rocking, esp bc I dont have breast milk, haha! The babies can smell the breastmilk on their moms and it can make them fussy.

Also - I always am sure to take SOME photos, even if they are awake or just mom holding the baby. Oh and you can do some family shots while the baby is awake! So during my 3 hours of waiting, I try to get at least 20 photos of something.

Definitely stay patient, it is hard - newborn sessions are very trying but can be rewarding too!

The same thing happened to me The little bub just wouldn't stay asleep no matter what. The minute we put her down she'd wake right up. I ended up getting some pretty cute shots of the baby posed in he mom's arms and on mom's lap. It wasn't what I was going for, but it came out okay. Better luck next time! I wish I had some advice

edge100 wrote in post #12432938
That's just the way it goes. Newborn photography is really, really difficult for this very reason.

Not much you can do about it, except be patient.

You got that right !!!! I did my nieces newborn pictures..scream..feed​..relax..wipe dribble..take a shot.. three hours !!!!