Three years ago I wrote an article for Light Inspired, Reshoot is not a dirty word.  At the time I gave a recent example where I had returned to the hospital the morning after a Visiting Hours Only session to capture a few images with the baby alone and with mom.  My gallery was filled with beautiful images, but in every single one of just mom and sweet Sophie she was feeding.  In every single bassinet image she was not happy. Going back for seconds turned out fabulous.

My goals for a hospital newborn session include showing life as it is, documenting the sibling meeting, but also just as important is capturing the baby’s 1st portrait.  While I love a crying baby picture as much as the next person, I also want one where they are nice and calm.

Over time I have developed a sense for when we can push through a session and when we should call it a day.  Yes Photoshop allows us to do AMAZING things, but I am not really one who likes to spend hours on the computer manipulating the perfect image.  I would much rather capture it live in camera. If the toddlers are not really into me or my camera, no problem.  I will sip on my coffee and wait.  Sometimes things just fall together beautifully in the last 10 minutes of a shoot.

Other times when it is the true first meeting I just come up with lots of ways to trick my sweet toddlers into giving me what I want.  You want to play by the window?  No problem, we will just bring the party over to you.

It is also all about balance.  When I will see you at the hospital and then later that month for an in-home newborn session, I decide how much to push at the hospital versus waiting at home to get the majority of those sibling moments.  It is usually a much more enjoyable experience for everyone.

Sometimes the light doesn’t cooperate with your vision, even for an indoor shoot.  All it might take is 15-20 minutes on another day to make your heart sing.

Reshoots are still the exception, not the rule.  I just want to be clear that occasionally in life, and photoshoots involving small children and babies, things do not go as planned.  Sometimes the best plan is to stop, regroup, and try another day.  If it takes a second trip we did not fail, we are setting ourselves up to succeed another day.

Looking for a newborn photographer in the Boulder, Colorado area?  Colie James Photography offers in-hospital newborn photography at  Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette and other hospitals in Boulder, Fort Collins and Denver.  For additional information on Boulder Hospital Newborn Photography sessions please click here or contact me to book your session.  I would love to document your growing family in those first few hours.