If you’ve ever tried to capture the perfect shot of a newborn with a wiggly toddler sibling in the frame, you know it’s a whole different ballgame. So, how do you still get those perfect shots amidst a fun and spunky toddler? Join me as I walk you through my camera settings for newborn photography and share strategies that helped me get those adorable moments!

left ISO 1250 f2.5 1/500 | middle ISO 2500 f2.5 1/500 | right ISO 1250 f1/6 1/500

The Scenario: Newborn + Wiggly Toddler

Let’s face it: photographing a newborn is already a delicate task, but add a curious, energetic toddler into the mix, and things can get even trickier. Toddlers are unpredictable and fast-moving, which means that as photographers, we need to be even quicker on our feet.

ISO 1250 f1.8 1/500

My Go-To Camera Settings for Newborn Photography

One of the key adjustments I made during this session was to keep my shutter speed high. For this particular shoot, I rarely dropped my shutter speed below 1/500 of a second. Why so fast? Here’s the deal:

• Freezing Motion: A high shutter speed is crucial for freezing those sudden, unpredictable movements of a toddler. This helps in capturing sharp, clear images without motion blur, even with a little one is bouncing around.
• Exposing correctly in-camera: As I expose for each shot when working with an active little one, I prefer to not compromise on the high shutter speed and instead adjust the ISO or f-stop to my liking. For me, getting the exposure right the first time (no blown highlights and no lost shadows) is crucial to my editing process later!

ISO 200 f3.2 1/1250

Other Essential Tips

• Focus and Composition: With a wiggly toddler, it’s important to keep your focus sharp and your compositions flexible. I always want to be ready to capture those spontaneous interactions between siblings and baby – you know, those sweet moments that melt mama’s heart when they receive their gallery. 🥹❤️
• Patience and Preparation: Patience is your best friend! Prepare for lots of breaks and keep the mood light and fun. Engaging the toddler with toys or incentives can also help them stay still just long enough for the perfect shot.

left ISO 2500 f2.2 1/500 | right ISO 2500 f2.2 1/500

Ready to Learn More Camera Settings?

If you’re curious about how camera settings for newborn photography differ for other types of sessions—like solo newborn shoots or sessions with older children—let me know! Each scenario requires its own unique approach and settings, and I’d be more than happy to share more tips and tricks!

Feel free to drop your questions in the comments or reach out if you’d like to see more behind-the-scenes details.

I hope you enjoyed this little behind-the-scenes peek!

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left ISO 2000 f2.2 1/500 | right ISO 1250 f2.0 1/500