Newborn photographers hold the responsibility of preserving families’ memories of their newest members. This role is both delightful and important. As a photographer, you need to know the unique considerations when coming up with baby photography ideas and choosing a newborn photography camera.
Are you ready to dive into the world of newborn photography with a quality camera? Keep reading to learn about the things to consider when choosing a camera and the top newborn photoshoot camera in the market today.
What is Newborn Photography?
Newborn photography is a type of photography that involves shooting pictures of infants. While your subjects are adorable, it can be quite challenging to take pictures of them since they’re still too young to understand what’s going on around them.
As the photographer, you should be knowledgeable of safety lighting and how to hold, pose, and soothe infants. Your creativity will certainly be tested as you need to carefully manipulate teeny-tiny babies into fun little poses.
Photographing newborns has extraordinary requirements, so it also has different requirements for cameras.
What to Look for in a Camera for Newborn Photography?
When taking pictures of infants, you don’t need fast-performing cameras. You should prioritize these features instead:
- Babies are often shot with natural lighting, so a camera with higher ISO sensitivity will work well.
- Be sure to select a camera with enough megapixels to produce print-ready photos. Balance out the resolution with ISO sensitivity.
- The camera should have a silent shutter or quiet mode feature to avoid disturbing or scaring the newborn.
- Opt for wider apertures so babies stay the focal point of the images.
- A considerable shutter speed would help you avoid blurry pictures when the baby moves.
Of course, you also need to consider your personal preferences for cameras, as well as the types of shoots you envision for your clients and your budget. You don’t have to get top-of-the-line models to produce amazing images. Often, having the right camera and the right skills, such as professional photo retouching, are more than enough to give newborn photos that wow factor.
Best Cameras for Newborn Photography
No need to get lost in the dizzying array of camera choices. We have compared the top cameras in the market and have selected 5 of the most suitable cameras for newborn photography.
Nikon Z50
Price online: starts at Php 66,500
If you’re new to photography, the Nikon Z50 is a good investment for an entry-level camera. For a compact camera, this model packs great features that suit newborn photography. For one, all controls are on one side, so you can use one hand to operate the camera and the other to adjust the infant’s positions.
In terms of specs, the Nikon Z50 meets the basic requirements for newborn photography. This model has 20.9 megapixels, high ISO sensitivity, and autofocus. With these features, the Nikon Z50 can capture even the tiniest details about your adorable subjects.
The Nikon Z50 also has a silent photography feature but turning this on limits the maximum ISO to 51,200—something to take note of. Overall, however, the Nikon Z50 is a capable camera that’s worth your money.
Fujifilm X100V
Price online: Php 79,990
The core of Fujifilm’s X-Pro3 has been compressed into a more compact model, so expect a strong performance in the X100V. The model enjoys an improved lens and autofocus. However, this may be more compatible with seasoned photographers and professionals.
You’ll notice that the Fujifilm X100V sports a retro design. This means that the camera also retains an old-school range finder and dials (which control ISO and aperture settings). These may take a little getting used to for a few, but it allows you to customize the settings based on your vision for each newborn photo shoot.
Unlike other X-series models, however, the X100V has a fixed lens and no in-body stabilization. That being said, you can still trust this as a newborn photo camera for vibrant photos.
Canon Powershot G7 Mark III
Price online: Php 46,998
This is one of the more affordable cameras from Canon. The Canon Powershot G7 Mark III is a digital camera with capabilities comparable to mirror-less cameras. Although it’s smaller, it’s more than capable of vividly capturing the adorable expressions on babies’ faces.
What makes the Canon Powershot G7 Mark III perfect for newborn photography is the fact that it produces sharper images as you increase the focal length. It also produces vibrant colors, especially in JPEG.
If you’re the type to explore unusual angles in your shoots, the tilting LCD screen may come in handy. This model is also Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled so you can connect it to a smartphone or tablet for easier viewing.
Sony Alpha 7 III
Price online: Php 132,999 for body only; Php 149,499 for kit
When you’re shooting with babies, there’s very little room for errors so you must get each shot right. For this, the Sony Alpha 7 III is your best bet. The Sony Alpha 7 III has the key features that automatically make it a good camera for newborn photography.
Shooting at 24.2 megapixels, 693 autofocus points, and 204,800 maximum ISO, it will be difficult to get a poor image with this camera. The model also has a silent shutter mode that works best for static subjects, like newborn babies. You’ll also find two SD card slots, a flip-out screen, and a long battery life that lasts up to 710 shots.
Although its price is on the higher end, the Sony Alpha 7 III gives both seasoned and starting professionals their money’s worth given its fantastic performance.
Canon EOS R
Price online: Php 122,998 for body only; Php 145,998 for kit
If you want the power of Canon’s high-end EOS models but can’t splurge as much, the Canon EOS R is a worthy substitute. There are criticisms regarding this camera’s ergonomics, flip-out LCD screen, and single card slot, but it delivers great image quality.
For newborn photographers, who don’t need to move with their cameras as much, you may focus on the EOS R’s performance. Canon certainly did not shy away from giving the EOS R 30 megapixels and an improved autofocus system. The ISO range also hits 40,000, so you can clearly capture the little details in babies’ cute expressions even in low light—something many newborn photographers may often need to work with.
Customization is another key feature that professionals may like about the Canon EOS R. Users may customize the buttons in the camera. They can also boost image quality by using the EOS RD lenses’ dynamic focal ranges.
Nikon D7200
Price online: Php 60,497
Newborn babies grow fast, and you surely want to capture photos that parents would enjoy looking at for many years. But that doesn’t mean you need to empty your savings on a camera. Nikon’s D7200 will give you just what you need as a newborn photographer.
This is an entry-level DSLR camera that doesn’t feel like it. With 24.2 megapixels and various picture controls and special effects, this camera can support, if not enrich, all your creative endeavors featuring your delicate clients. You can trust Nikon’s advanced autofocus system to give you sharp images, too.
Aside from quality, expect convenience with the D75200’s connectivity features. Users can connect the camera to their computer or smartphone via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. This model is also compatible with the SnapBridge app through which you can transfer files to your computer or smartphone or control your camera through your phone.
Olympus OM-D E-M 10 Mark III
Price online: Php 40,590
Here’s another affordable mid-level camera. Don’t worry, though, because despite its price and compact size, it is quite competitive. It could be your next go-to camera for taking newborn photos.
Compared with the other cameras we’ve discussed, this model has a lower resolution—only 16 megapixels. But with its powerful processor and 5-axis image stabilization, it can produce sharp images with realistic colors.
It’s not a point-and-shoot camera by any means, but it’s much simpler to use than other mirrorless cameras. You can control settings like ISO, shutter speed, and aperture through the external dials on the right side of the camera. It also comes with a 3-inch tilting touchscreen LCD.
The Olympus OM-D E-M 10 Mark III is not the most powerful camera out there, but it’s a great camera, especially for those just starting out on newborn photography.
Capture Stunning Mementos of Your Child’s Infancy with Paper Boat Creative
Taking pictures of a new life will always be a precious experience for photographers. Cherish this opportunity by giving each newborn child and their loved ones the best photoshoot possible.
Paper Boat has listed down some of the most trusted types of newborn photography cameras in the Philippines. Take your pick based on quality, performance, comfort, and budget.
Even with the best equipment, you can always enhance your newborn photography with retouching from a reliable photo editing company like Paper Boat. Our newborn photo retouching services will take each photo closer to perfection to help you deliver images each client will treasure for years to come. Let’s talk about how we can deliver flawless newborn photography together.
Hit us up today or visit our website to learn more about our services.
