Baby Photography Today

The experience I have photographing babies is minimal.  The baby portrait today is very different from the baby portraits from 10 years ago.

Here is an example of today:

The goal is to swaddle the baby to resemble what they looked like in the womb?  This is a challenge!
There are classes for photographers that teach you how to do this not to mention all over YouTube!

I was a sucker and I bought a class so I too could learn this new art.
Here is what I learned:

1. Swaddling a baby for photography is an art and will take tremendous practice.
2. It takes a ton of blankets and little pillows to create that soft foundation of angles that prop the baby in the perfect bundle.
3. The lighting is soft and low.  The aperture is low to add to the softness.  
4. My 50mm lens is a bit tricky - I need to focus on the eyes...literally.
5. The actions for photoshop that you can buy ARE WORTH IT!

My first attempt with King Louis:

The before shot:

He is hardly swaddled.  That is yet to come....I'm practicing.  But this is an example of what the photoshop actions help you achieve.  I see today that I need to warm the photo back up, just a little to "blue".   Notice the soft creamy skin...this will take a little time to perfect too.  Even though Lou was in a nice pocket, clearly I have to work with the little pillows to mold his little body into the perfect angles.