There’s something deeply special about a newborn session—especially when the subject is your own grandson.
Table of Contents
1. The Unexpected Problem
2. The Dilemma
3. The Setup
4. The Camera & Gear
5. Knitted With Love
6. What I Loved — and What I Would Do Differently
1. The Unexpected Problem
This wasn’t my first time photographing a newborn… but it felt like the first all over again.
We had chosen the date. The outfit was ready — a delicate hand-knit set I had quietly crafted over the weeks. I imagined this little bunny, the tiny tunic, the soft blanket, all wrapping around the sweetness of Marcel’s first days.
But that morning… Marcel woke up with a face full of baby acne.
2. The Dilemma
I had seen this before—with his older brother Elliot at the exact same age, about three weeks old.
Back then, I didn’t realize how time-consuming the editing would be. But I retouched every photo… and the results were beautiful.
This time, I knew what I was walking into. I had a decision to make: postpone the shoot and wait for the acne to pass (risking the outfit no longer fitting), or do the session now and spend the hours required to gently edit the images afterward.
So I made the same choice: take the photos now, and do the work later with Lightroom and Photoshop. And once again, I’m so glad I did. The result? Timeless, tender portraits. You’d never guess we had any challenge at all.
3. The Setup — Light, Space & Tools
We didn’t use a studio—just the upstairs living room, bathed in soft light from a wall of windows. It was cloudy perfect for soft shadow. The room, painted in an off-white tone, created a gentle, reflective atmosphere, perfect for newborn skin.
I placed a large white blanket directly on the floor and used a simple woven basket as a cradle. I filled it with cozy layers of other blankets to give shape and support, then gently laid my handmade blanket on top before settling Marcel into place.
On the opposite side of the windows, I set up a single flash with a white umbrella, bouncing light back toward the basket to fill in shadows and keep the lighting soft and balanced. My goal was to blend natural and artificial light seamlessly—to preserve the mood without harsh contrast.
4. The Camera & Gear
For this newborn session, I used my Nikon Z6 II mirrorless camera, a camera I often rely on for newborn photography in natural light. It performs beautifully in soft indoor environments and captures delicate skin tones with great detail.
For most of the storytelling images, I used my 50mm f/1.4 lens, which is one of my favorite lenses for newborn and family photography. The focal length creates a natural perspective while the wide aperture produces a soft background blur that helps keep the focus on the baby and the emotional connection in the scene.
When I wanted to capture the smallest details—the baby’s eyelashes, the texture of the hand-knit bunny, or the weave of the blanket—I switched to my 60mm macro lens. A macro lens is perfect for newborn detail photography, allowing me to highlight the tiny features that change so quickly in the first days of life.
Although the room had beautiful window light, I gently supplemented it with a Godox V860 III flash to balance the exposure and soften the shadows. The flash was diffused through a Neewer 33″ translucent soft white umbrella, which created a soft, even light that blended naturally with the window light.
This simple newborn photography lighting setup allowed me to maintain the calm, natural atmosphere of the room while ensuring the baby’s features were beautifully illuminated without harsh shadows.
5. Knitted With Love
Every accessory in these portraits—his little bunny, the bonnet, the blanket—was hand-knit by me. I had envisioned this shoot before he was even born, and each piece was created with this session in mind. Stitch by stitch, over quiet summer evenings, I imagined how they would look wrapped around this precious new soul.
It was deeply meaningful to see those pieces used not as props, but as part of a visual love letter to my grandson.
6. What I Loved — and What I Would Do Differently
What I loved:
This session took place in the morning, which created a calm and peaceful atmosphere. Elliot’s older brother was not at home at the time, so the house felt especially quiet — allowing the session to unfold gently and without rush.
Marcel was well fed and sleeping comfortably, which made it easy to move slowly and capture natural moments. When babies are relaxed, the entire experience feels more peaceful for everyone involved.
Bisou, the golden retriever, joined us at just the right moment and gave us a few beautiful, memorable images that added so much personality to the session.
I also loved the environment: abundant natural light and clean, simple surroundings that kept the focus entirely on connection and emotion.
What I would do differently:
If I could change one thing, I would avoid scheduling the session during the third week after birth. At that time, both Marcel and his brother whan were experiencing a common newborn rash, which reminded me how important timing can be for newborn photography.
In my experience, earlier sessions often work beautifully because newborns tend to sleep more deeply and curl naturally. Waiting much longer can also be challenging, as babies start experiencing digestive discomfort, become more alert, and grow quickly — which changes the sleepy newborn look many families love.
Every stage is beautiful, but choosing the right timing can help create a calmer and more comfortable experience for both baby and parents.
📍VIEW some of my favorite photos from the session here:
https://photographe.cathylamborelle.ca/project/baby-marcel/
