It can sometimes be difficult to take great photos of your baby in the NICU. High Risk Hope reached out to the official HRH Calendar Baby Contest photographer, The Gallery Studios to get their top 4 tips to ensure  parents capture their baby’s important milestones and take photos like a pro in the NICU:

Keep it simple

When looking to take your photo consider if there are things in the image that could be removed to keep the image simple. Sometimes getting up high, down low or simply moving left of right will dramatically change the outcome of your photo.  As your baby gets bigger and you are able to freely pick them up consider some images by a nearby window, which will create some beautiful soft light and provide a change of background scenery.

Capture the environment

Your baby may be spending days, weeks or months in the NICU.  Make sure you step back and take an image of their bay from a couple of different angles to include all of their machines and monitors.  One day your child might like to know which machine was which and what they all did.

Milestones and details

As your baby moves through the NICU and reaches milestones like 3 lb, moving from an isolette to an open crib, first cuddle, first breastfeed, etc. make sure you are taking photographs to mark the occasion. These moments will never be firsts again.  Take images that capture the details; blood pressure being taken, sunglasses for photo therapy lights, when they are finally IV free, tiny fingers and toes etc., remember this is your baby’s story.

A sense of scale

Babies in the NICU are all different shapes and sizes, many are very small.  Use your partner’s hand, a wedding band, a coin or a toy as a size comparison for your baby.  As they get bigger take further images so you can see just how far they have come.  As your baby will no doubt have restricted visitation no one will truly understand just how small your baby is unless you can provide that sense of scale.

Gallery Studios NICU Photo Tips