Whether you’re a professional photographer, an amateur hobbyist, or even just a proud parent who wants to show off their newborn baby, knowing how to wrap a newborn for photography is a great skill to have. Newborn photography is an amazing way to showcase the unique and beautiful characteristics of a newborn baby, especially as it highlights fine details such as a first smile, a heartwarming pose, and even those adorable little fingers and toes!
Just like any photography niche, you will need to practice several skills to be proficient in newborn photography. You need to know how to use the correct lighting and posing, as well as using the right equipment to get that perfect shot. When done right, you’ll be able to capture a unique moment in time that parents will find priceless; this is why newborn photography is so popular!
Among the skills that you need to learn is how to wrap a newborn for a photography shoot.
Why Is the Wrap so Important?
The wrap is essential to newborn photography because of two things. First, the wrap is a secure and safe way to keep the newborn baby in place, especially if you are trying to pose the baby in a certain way for a picture. Second, the wrap adds to the style of your photograph, especially if you choose the right fabric and décor.
A newborn wrap should be around 1-2 meters in length and approximately 40 to 50 cm in width.
Utility Wraps
If your main goal is to know how to wrap newborns for photography with security and comfort during your photoshoot, the wrap should be made from a soft and stretchy fabric such as cotton or jersey. If possible, look for fabric that has a 4-way stretch so that it is flexible and sturdy at the same time. Avoid wrapping the baby too tightly as this can cause the baby pain and restrict airflow.
Decorative Wraps
If you are looking for wraps that will give you and your photography session that extra bit of oomph, look for fabrics that have unique texture and color patterns. Think about that theme you want to achieve for your photoshoot, and look for fabrics that will fit this theme. In some cases, scarves can also be used to accentuate the wraps for a newborn photoshoot.
Generally, decorative wraps do not have the same stretchiness and flexibility as utility wraps.
How to Choose the Right Wraps for Newborn Photography
If you’re having trouble choosing the right kind of cloth for your wraps, cheesecloth is a great place to start because it offers both flexibility and comfort. The cloth is also gentle on the baby’s skin while the fabric photographs nicely.
Avoid fabrics that are heavily textured because these can leave indentations on your baby’s skin. You should also avoid fabrics that fray or peel easily because the stray threads can get caught in your baby’s fingers or mouth.
How to Make the Basic Newborn Photography Wrap
The basic wrap for newborn photography is known as the Evolution Base Wrap. All you need to make this wrap is a stretchy fabric that is approximately 18” by 60”. Here are the steps on how to wrap newborn for photography:
- Step 1: Lay the wrap flat a surface. Place the newborn on top of the wrap, with a shorter side still enough to bring over the baby’s body.
- Step 2: Position the baby’s hands up to its chest with the arms tucked inwards, and pull the shorter part of the wrap over the baby’s body towards the other side. Tuck firmly underneath, making sure that the fit is snug but not too tight.
- Step 3: Tuck the baby’s legs up to its stomach, and bring the longer side of the wrap under the baby’s bottom to support the legs. Wrap the longer end the fabric back up towards the shoulder of the newborn. Again, make sure that the wrap is not too tight.
- Step 4: Gently lift the newborn and bring the wrap enough both shoulders.
- Step 5: Bring the wrap across the newborn’s body, covering both the hands and feet entirely.
- Step 6: Finish the Evolution Base wrap by bringing the wrap around one more time around the body, and tucking the tail end of the wrap underneath the newborn.
Once you have mastered the steps of making the Evolution Basic Wrap, you can adjust the look and method to suit your photography shoot.
Newborn Photography Wrap Tips
Now that you know how to wrap newborn for photography, here are some other tips that you can keep in mind to help you finetune your craft:
Practice Your Wrapping Skills on a Doll
If you are not confident with your wrapping skills yet or there is a new style of wrapping that you want to try, you can practice on a doll! Plastic dolls are a great way to test out different wrapping fabrics and techniques so that you will be more confident in recreating the wrap on a real newborn later on.
Experiment with Surfaces
When it comes to newborn photography, there are times when you can even use the surface to give your images more style and detail. A curved bean bag, for example, can prop up the newborn so that you curl their arms and legs up.
Directional Light Helps with the Camera’s Focus
You can also play around with the lighting if there is a detail that you want to highlight. Side lighting, for example, helps bring out the textures of the wraps and surfaces around the newborn.
Conclusion
Knowing how to wrap a newborn for photography is more than just a photography skill to have. It is an emotional process for parents because it captures a priceless moment in their child’s life that the parents can cherish forever. This process is why newborn photography is so popular, particularly with first-time parents. Know more about photography.