Leoni Bolt Photography

Photographing Newborns Without a Studio

When it comes to shooting Newborns, you can pretty much set up anywhere as the ‘studio’ only needs to be quite small.

I make a point of offering to shoot my clients babies in their own home, as being a mother myself I understand just how hard it can be getting out of the house in those first few weeks! Especially when everyone wants to visit and see the gorgeous new baby! Then there is also the matter of whether mum is able to drive after giving birth.

I usually set up at least a couple of different set-ups which can be easily adjusted to get a few different looks in without upsetting baby too much.

Before you start there are a couple of things that will help you keep bubs asleep and cosy, which is what you need when working with a newborn. The main reason for this, is if you’ve ever tried to photograph a newborn, you will notice their arms and legs go everywhere and they make all sorts of strange and wonderful expressions with their mouths. Although this can be cute, it’s very hard to get the adorable shots we’re after! Firstly make sure the room is really warm. I usually work in about 28-30 degrees celcius. This can get uncomfortable for the adults in the room, but baby will be nice and cosy. You can always use a under blanket heating pad, and I also find if you’re using an oil heater in the room, you can pop a blanket over it for a minute to put over the baby once you have them positioned to make sure they settle. Secondly the use of white noise will help them settle as well. You may need to feed baby several times throughout the shoot to keep them sleeping. Having a bottle and/or dummy on hand can be helpful as breastfeeding and then repositioning the baby means you need to essentially start all over again. I always allow about 4 hours for a newborn shoot as you never know how it’s going to work out. Even if you are the baby whisperer!

I have a couple of adorable canvas backdrops perfect for babies, that consist of a vintage wallpaper and floorboards all printed on one piece of canvas. I have a couple of different skirting boards that I then clip to where the designs join and ‘viola’, an instant backdrop! These are great as they are very portable and can be setup anywhere where you can find some wall space. I use masking tape to keep it all secure as the tape won’t peel off paint or varnish. You can also use a backdrop stand but I find they sit better when secured to the wall.

newborn

The second setup I have ready to go is a draped fabric over a beanbag. I’m always on the lookout for beautiful textured fabrics that will work well. I will layer them up for a quick changeover, and use other wraps and fabrics to position the baby exactly where I want them. Finding the right fabrics and beanbags can be quite hard. The beanbag needs to be really firm, so that they don’t sink into it too much. You also need to take into account that a naked baby will probably pee, poop or spew all over everything, so make sure they can be easily washed. I recently found an outdoor square beanbag which is perfect for this.

I always have a black backdrop handy in case we need to set up something for the whole family. It also comes in handy if you want to get some shots of mum or dad holding the baby and you only want to see their arms.

Here dad has black sleeves but his shirt was white, so we picked up the backdrop from the floor and clipped it to his shoulders.

Depending on the location you may not need a backdrop. Here we just used the curtain in the family home.

These family shots have been photographed using a softbox, but when photographing newborns, it’s always best to try and use natural light where possible. If you are in a room where it’s not possible to use natural light, or it’s just not the right time of day, you can reflect a studio light off a wall or a reflector for a similar effect.

These are just a few tips I have learnt along the way. I hope you find them helpful in photographing your newborns.

If you want to book a newborn session with me just fill in the contact form below.

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By admin|May 6th, 2015|portraits|

Best photographs of 2014

Best photographs of 2014 by Leoni Bolt Photography.

Wow! That’s it! The year of 2014 has come to an end!

And what a wonderful and busy year it’s been! I myself had my second (and last) child in April. Two baby girls who for better or worse are smart and boisterous and keep my hands full, especially when I’m running a business and trying to edit hundreds of photos at any one time!

My sister also had a baby girl and of course many of my previous wedding clients have come back when they’ve started their families, which is what I love! Growing with people as you share the most important parts of their lives, and help them cherish those memories.

So on that note why don’t we start on the journey of life in 2014 through my eyes, and start with the maternity and newborn shoots….

And of course don’t forget the first birthday cake smash!!

Weddings, weddings and more weddings!!

I decided I needed to do some more boudoir shoots just for some fun! Hopefully there will be a lot more of this next year!

And of course there’s is always lots of family photos. I love when families want to do something a bit out of the ordinary and just plain fun!

2015 is already gearing up to be crazy busy. So much to look forward to!!

I hope you all have an amazing New Year and that 2015 will bring adventure, new beginnings and most importantly you spend some of it with the ones you love!

Leoni xx

By admin|December 31st, 2014|Recent Photo Opportunities|

Newborn and Maternity Photography Sessions

Newborn and Maternity Photography Sessions by Leoni Bolt Photography

Bringing another life into this world is one of life’s amazing miracles, full of wonder and excitement. Creating a new life inside of your growing baby belly you emanate a glow that only a pregnant woman can enjoy. As you embark on the journey of becoming a parent let us help you to capture those memories so that you may cherish them for the rest of your lives.

We have designed a couple of specialised packages to celebrate these special moments. Of course you are welcome to design your own package from our Al a Carte price list or add additional items to your package.

BLOSSOM COLLECTION

The first year of a child’s life involves so many milestones as they grow from a little bump in mum’s belly through to a little person of their own. This first year flies by so quickly we often wonder where our baby has gone! Let us capture some of these amazing moments for you to keep and share.

The Blossom Collection consists of sessions:

Maternity session
Newborn session
6 month session
12 month session including cake smash

Maternity Session

As your excitement grows from the anticipation of the arrival of your little bundle of joy, so does your gorgeous belly! It’s an emotional time for parents, and a time to bathe in the glow of pregnancy and the love of becoming a parent. You can share this session with your partner and if you have other children they are welcome also.

The maternity session can be done in the privacy of your own home, on location or in the studio, depending on where you feel most comfortable your preferred style of photo shoot. In the studio (which can also be set up in your own home) we will use studio lighting to accentuate your bumps and curves and can create some really artistic photos. Outside is more of a lifestyle, fashion style session celebrating life!

Ideally your maternity session should be taken in your last trimester and preferably by 38 weeks.

Newborn Session

Newborns are best captured within the first 14 days of their lives, when they are at their sleepiest and most content (most of the time – although not all babies get the memo). Newborn sessions are generally between 2-4 hours in length, as they require feeding, cuddles and attention throughout to keep them happy and sleepy. Be sure to bring along any little outfits, blankets or stuffed toys that you want to include.

6 Month Session

This is generally around the time when bub starts sitting up and getting around and being a little more active. They have started laughing and playing and are turning into little personalities. Feel free to bring their favourite toy and be prepared to be a little silly to make them laugh!

12 Month Session

By now you have a very active little person,that loves to get into things. A cake smash is a great way to give them something tactile and fun to do and to capture their joy and amazement as they explore the tastes and textures.

Pricing

What would you expect to pay for a whole year of memories? Well at just $350 per session, you can get a lifetime of memories!

Each session includes

up to 2 hour session in the studio or on location
Your viewing session appointment
3 art mount prints to put into your portfolio collection box set (included)

By admin|August 1st, 2014|helpful info, Recent Photo Opportunities|

Maternity & Newborn Photography – what you need to know!

For those of you who know me, you may or may not know that I’m 38 weeks pregnant and am supposedly sitting around waiting for the arrival of baby number 2. If you know this much you would probably also know that the likeliness of me just sitting back and relaxing and not coming up with some new project that will consume a massive amount of time and energy is close to zero! Well your right I can’t just chill out and watch daytime tv – but instead I am focusing my energy into the newborns and pregnant mums that have come to see me recently.

Photographing baby bumps and babies that are just days old is so rewarding, as it is such a special time and oh so short!
Carrying around that pregnant belly or rocking your baby to sleep can sometimes feel like the longest journey, but once it’s over it’s just a distant memory, making way for all the new and exciting milestones to come. It is a really special part of a photographer’s job (and the reason why we love what we do!) being able to share those incredible moments and memories with you.

I want to share with you some hints and tips for your maternity or newborn photos that will get you prepared before you arrive at the studio.

Initially you may not feel like you want to get semi naked in front of anybody when you are considering maternity photography, and hey you don’t have to if you really don’t want to! There are many ways to show off that gorgeous baby bump and pregnancy glow, and you can always include your partner and/or other kids as well. Photo shoots out on location can be a very relaxed and free spirited way to get in touch with that maternal instinct, and in the studio you can really make magic happen with the help of lighting. We can also do a combination of both and I am happy to travel to you if you are more comfortable in your own home.

On location maternity photography

Ok I’m ready! So what do I need to know?
The best time to get your maternity photos done is generally between 32 & 38 weeks, depending on your personal situation. I have even photographed pregnant ladies at 20 weeks only to find out a few weeks later they have had complications and have been ordered to strict bed rest. 32-38 weeks means you’ll really have a bump to show off and hopefully your hands and feet haven’t started swelling (oh the joys of pregnancy!) Listen to your body and be sure to let your photographer know if you are uncomfortable or need to stop for a minute. Although you won’t be expected to perform any acrobatics, standing around in front of studio lighting can really have an effect on your unbalanced body. If you need to stop and have a break, sit down, have some water or go out for some fresh air. We don’t need you fainting during your photo shoot!
Maternity photography is really quite basic when it comes to what you need to get organised. The general rule is keep it plain. Maternity photography is all about your belly, and your natural glow, not about your fancy accessories or new lippy. If your in the studio plain black and white always works, in fact be sure to take both to give yourself more variety. If you have a white mens button up shirt bring that along too! There are always ways to use the draping of different materials to create different looks and textures and you can bring along any props such as teddy bears or blocks that spell bub’s name to include as well. Unless you’re outside on location you probably won’t need to choose other clothes, but flowing dresses or jeans and white tops are always a good place to start.

maternity tryptich

Of course after the maternity shoot along the comes the newborn, the anticipated bundle of joy that will change your lives forever!
One thing you need to be aware of with a newborn is that nothing ever goes to plan! Want to make a booking, but not sure of exact dates? Most photographers are very understanding and flexible when it comes to newborns. If you give them an approximate date they’ll be expecting your call once your baby is born.

Baby girl in a tutu

Newborns are best photographed within the first 2 weeks of their lives, when they are still new and fresh (and sometimes wrinkly and flakey – especially if they’ve been overcooked!). The main reason for this is that they should still be mostly sleeping, which makes it easier to capture their innocent sleeping beauty. To be able to achieve this you need to be patient! Sometimes a photography session with a newborn can take up to 4 hours, although we try not to do this to you as everyone especially the baby can get over it by this point! Depending on your baby, if they are sleeping pretty well through the night, mornings are easiest as they can be a bit more tolerant. We all know about the ‘witching hour’ come afternoon. Don’t know what I’m talking about? I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough lol!
Babies are best started off with a full belly, so feed your baby while the photographer is setting up or as you get there. Don’t worry we can wait – and we’ve all dealt with breastfeeding mums. While your feeding the baby, loosen his nappy to help get rid of excess marks – although any unwanted creases, blemishes and peeling skin can be retouched in Photoshop afterwards. Be sure to give baby a good burp after his feed, to keep them as content as can be. If you can pump breastmilk, of if baby is bottle fed have one on hand as it’s easier to settle a baby once in position with a bottle.
If you are having the photos done at home, don’t stress about the mess! You’ve just had a baby – we don’t care about the state of your house! Ideally if you are having the photos done at home find a spot close to the window as natural lighting tends to work best. Babies can get disturbed by too many flashing lights! The environment should also be reasonably warm as when you start peeling clothes off baby they won’t like it much, especially if it’s cold.
Sometimes the smell of mum can be a distraction too so it’s always good to have another set of hands if they are available.

baby girl holding mum’s ring

I have several packages on offer so that you can combine your Maternity and Newborn photo shoots as well as through the first year of your baby’s life. In the first year your baby will go from a precious little bundle to a crazy toddler – leaving you wondering where your baby has gone? Be sure to capture all of those special moments and finish the year with a bang with our new 1 yr old cake smash!

If you want to check out more of my work with babies and bumps head on over to this gallery: Maternity & Bubs

If you would like more information on my packages for mums & bubs send me an email:[contact-form-7 id=”152890″ title=”Contact form 1″]

By admin|March 6th, 2014|helpful info, portraits, Recent Photo Opportunities|

Cutest baby photos ever!

Photographing newborns is an amazing thing. Each little person so new to the world, getting used to their surroundings.
Ideally you want to photograph newborns in the first 10-14 days of their new life, when they’re still sleepy from their long, hard journey and easy to position. This is not always possible, but you quickly notice how alert they can be suddenly, when you have lots of people around and potentially studio lights flashing in their faces.
Natural lighting is always best when photographing newborns, but is not always possible, depending on the weather and the positioning of the windows and lighting. If you want to see how I have done newborn shoots in confined spaces using studio lighting to replicate natural lighting as much as possible check out this other blog post.
Newborns can take anywhere from 1-4 hrs as it completely depends on the baby and how settled they are throughout the shoot. They may need to be fed, burped, changed several times throughout to keep them happy and settled.
It’s always a good idea to get baby dressed in their first outfit before feeding and then settling them, and having a great workflow helps to not having to move them around too much and disturb their slumber. You can do lots of different angles and slight body movements in one setup for a range of different looks.
I generally have at least 2 setups ready to go so I can just gently move the baby from one setup to the next. I generally save the family photos until last as it’s much easier to deal with a baby that’s getting over it when mum or dad is snuggling up to them. Mum and dad should dress accordingly so that everyone matches to some degree, and plain colours are always nice and simple to work with and not too distracting. Siblings are always encouraged to come along as well, but it can take a long time and be quite boring for them, so just be prepared.
Taking baby photos is something I’m enjoying more and more since becoming a mother myself. I love meeting these brand new people and following along in their life’s adventures.
I have all inclusive packages from Maternity through to 1st birthday Cake Smash photos.
If you would like to enquire about a newborn photo shoot, please fill in the contact form below.

I hope you enjoy this cuteness in your day!

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By admin|September 7th, 2012|portraits, Recent Photo Opportunities|

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