Photographer Lisette tells us all about newborn photography

The arrival of a baby marks the start of a new and special time that passes far too quickly. That's why many people choose a newborn photographer to capture these precious memories. Curious about this type of photography and want to know more? Then you've come to the right place! We'll tell you everything about newborn photography, from what it actually involves to everything that comes with it. After all, when is the best time to photograph a newborn baby? We interviewed professional wedding and newborn photographer Lisette Lubbers. She tells you all about it.

Who is Lisette Lubbers?

Lisette took her first steps in photography at sixteen with a compact camera. It was soon followed by a DSLR. "Even in auto mode I was taking pretty nice photos with it," says Lisette. At weekends she photographed family, friends and their families. "There was nothing I'd rather do at weekends, and I got the feeling I could make people happy with it." When strangers started asking about her rates, she decided to start her own business.

Want to know more about Lisette? Take a look at her website or Instagram.

Newborn photography with Lisette Lubbers: love and lots of patience

She has photographed babies who were barely five seconds old. Enschede-based photographer Lisette Lubbers is even present when babies are born by caesarean section. She's right there with her camera at home births too. Or when a toddler goes wild on a cake. And sometimes she has to make herself invisible.

When you're asked to take photos at an event as life-changing as a birth – whether it's a caesarean in hospital or a regular home birth – you're witnessing something deeply intimate with an enormous impact on the parents. The key is to make yourself practically invisible. An art Lisette Lubbers has mastered to perfection. She doesn't say so herself, but her clients do.

"Aspiring photographers often ask me how to become a 'birth photographer'," says Lisette. "The most important thing is to think it through carefully and realise how intense it is to witness a birth." She explains that nothing can be taken for granted. "However well you prepare, every birth is truly unique and different. The art is to be invisible during those hours. Especially when medical staff are around too." How do you do that? "Make clear agreements with the parents beforehand and discuss every 'what if' scenario that could arise, and what they'd like you to do in each case."

"Say it turns into an emergency caesarean, what then? If the mother has to go to the operating room for medical reasons, do you stay with the father? Do they want the moment of birth fully in frame or from the side? If the baby has to be taken away, do you go along? What should you do in the worst case?" Lisette explains that there are many different factors to take into account as a photographer. "I personally think it's very important that the moment of birth remains the parents' moment together. That you're not in the room the whole time during labour, but pop in now and then for a beautiful shot."

Watching and helping

"As a birth photographer you don't get in the way, you stay calm and, if needed, you lend a hand when extra help is required. And leave the room every now and then. Only for the final centimetres do you stay, because of course you don't want to miss the moment." Lisette usually stands in a corner where she's sure she's not in the way and won't miss a good shot. "I don't photograph any procedures by medical staff, and I make it clear in advance that they won't appear in the photos. For privacy reasons, that isn't allowed."

"Also think in advance about how you'd cope with seeing any distressing situations that might arise. Can you handle that? Personally, I find a birth the most beautiful thing to experience. I often wipe away a tear behind my camera when, after hours, a beautiful little miracle suddenly arrives." Of course, things don't always go well. "Sometimes you're there when it was touch and go, or when things went badly wrong. Those moments affect me deeply. But knowing that your photos can still mean something as a keepsake makes your presence worthwhile. Fortunately, I rarely experience moments like that. And that's just as well, because otherwise my heart couldn't take it!"

Patience

Patience is the most important quality for a newborn and children's photographer. "Of all the tips I can give, this is the most important one: be patient." Having done countless shoots with children, Lisette knows exactly how to get young kids to cooperate. Because it's by no means a given that a child will play along during a shoot. "Quite the opposite," she laughs. "Every shoot starts with winning the child's trust."

"Sometimes I really have to pull out all the stops. Recently I had a one-year-old boy who wasn't really in the mood. I asked his mum whether he loved any particular songs we could sing, or whether he had a favourite game. She chuckled and said she knew something that always made him laugh, and looked at her husband. 'He always laughs as soon as Dad comes home and honks the car horn! He often does it several times in a row and then he roars with laughter,' she told me. Okay, I thought. That's not quite what I had in mind, but it's worth a try! And that's how the father ended up sitting in the car during the shoot, honking like crazy so we could capture a son in fits of laughter."

Lisette's tips

Want to get started with baby and newborn photography yourself? Lisette has a few more tips for you!

• Nothing is compulsory. During a shoot, a child should never feel that they have to do anything. "I guide them through the session playfully. With lots of patience and attention, we work together with the parents to get the best result. To be honest, that doesn't always work. But you can't expect it to, either. Kids will be kids, and especially with a new baby brother or sister it can be quite tricky. But that's exactly what makes it so special."
• Relaxation. Newborn babies obviously can't be directed. "With babies, it's important to make the most of everything you can influence. For example, I always try to schedule a shoot just after a feed. Or I ask the parents to give their baby a bath shortly before I arrive. That way the baby is nice and relaxed, which is ideal for the shoot." It's also important that the baby is already dressed in the right clothes before the shoot and that the room you're photographing in is nice and warm. "Changing clothes causes unrest, and you don't want that during a shoot. You don't want to wake a little baby for it." Lisette also tells the parents that there's always time for cuddles and that it's really no problem if a nappy needs changing: "That can't be directed either, of course."
• Natural light. For her photos, Lisette relies on natural light and her fast lenses. "I prefer not to use flash, because I love the effect of natural light in photos taken during the day. Babies don't like flash either." To make sure the light still falls in the right places, Lisette uses various reflectors to suit the light coming in. This gives her photos a light, serene look.