Add fun twist to newborn photo shoots

Baby photo shoots are turning out to be the next big thing after pre-wedding photography. Ace the photo-session with your bundle of joy by keeping a few tips in mind. Prateek Rallan, CEO and founder of Bundle of Joy - a team of natural light professional photographers who specialise in the fine art of newborn, kids, maternity and family portraiture -- has shared tips to help parents enjoy the process:

• Bombard your photographer with questions: Ensure to meet or call the photographer before the shoot so that both of you are comfortable with each other. Discuss the time of the shoot to be at a time when the baby is not tired and has slept well. Also discuss the themes, clothes to be worn during the shoot so that you are not tensed during the shoot at all.
• It is your photo shoot, include some things unique to yourself: Don’t be a slave to the photographer’s props. Try to include your child’s favourite toy or outfit. Customisation will make your shoot more personal.
• Don’t ignore the siblings: If the baby has older siblings, make sure to include them right at the start as their very first priority and then let them go play while you complete the session.
• Pet time: Try to include your pet in the shoot. Pictures of newborns with their family pets are more adorable than any other. Don’t leave them behind; they will add more colour and life to your pictures than any prop ever can.
• Don’t be cold: Newborns are least cranky when they are warm. Ensure you ask the photographer to carry a space heater or blow dryer to warm up the room.
• Feeding session before photo-session: To keep the baby comfortable, happy, and sleepy, parents should feed the baby before the session and keep at minimum a change of clothes, baby wipes, burp cloths and baby lotion handy.
• You don’t want to look starved in the photos: Ensure to eat a lot before you go for the session and remember to wear cool and comfortable clothing as these sessions can end up being really long warm sessions of three hours. The last thing you want is to look tired and famished in the pictures.
• Family time: When was the last time you had your family photographed, with you actually in the photo? Try to get the entire family, including the grandparents on both sides.
• Never take your eyes off the baby: Don't leave the baby alone even at the cost of bordering a stalker. Babies can startle and move very rapidly, so make sure you are agile and prepared to catch the baby if he or she decides to go his or her own way.
• It’s important to have fun: While a sleeping baby is what newborn photographers strive for, getting images of the baby awake and looking at the camera or interacting with parents are great too. Remember to be open and flexible. The session may not always go as planned and that might just be the best thing that happens to you.

Be alive to every moment; let the baby move, yawn, and stretch. Do not stress over having the perfect pose in every frame. And most importantly, have fun.