I was just thinking about the early beginnings of when I first started collecting reborn dolls and blogging about them. I had so much fun (and still do!) taking photos and then creating posts. Today I wanted to share a few tips that I’d like to pass on to other doll collectors, in getting that perfect reborn baby photoshoot! Here’s also an excuse to share some adorable new photos I took of Hayden 😛

Hayden and I sitting on my sofa near a window with natural light coming in. The best time for me to catch natural light in-doors is in the mornings starting at 8:00 AM

Tip #1 Lighting is your friend

Lighting can make or break a photo. Having the an area with adequate light gives for a clearer and visually pleasing shot. No matter what kind of camera quality you are working with, a good source of light will result in nice photos. The easiest way to ensure good lighting, is to take photos outdoors or near a window that lets in a large amount of sunlight. Natural lighting is my favorite!

If you do not have a natural light source (weather your living space isn’t suited for it, or you’re working after dark) try your best to be near a bright source of artificial light, like a lamp. Most cellphones also have a flash photography feature, which can help you capture better photos in low light situations.

In this photo I cleared out an area on my living room floor; nearest a window that lets in natural sunlight. I also create a cozy environment with this Moses basket and baby nest sleeper.

Tip #2 Create a clean photo area

Most reborn babies are newborn to 3 month size, so it doesn’t take much to make this tip work for you. As long as you have a clutter-free and opened area to put your reborn for the photo, you’re good to go! If you don’t, you can easily make one with a basket or any flat surface like a table or your bed!

Currently, I like photographing my reborn babies on my sofa or a clean space on the floor.

Reborn dolls already reach a level of realism with the artist’s beautiful work. In photographs, you can enhance this realism with props..like Hayden’s wooden teether toy.

Tip #3 Add realism with props

Realism for your reborn baby photos can be made easy with props. Props consist of any baby item that would make an enviornment look more like a space a baby would be in. Since all of my reborn babies are “sleeping” I like to use blankets, small toys, or faux formula bottles in my photos. Here’s a list of items that I’ve seen used as props in reborn baby photography:

• Boppy/Blankets/Pillows
• Teethers/Rattles/Toys
• Faux Formula Bottles
• Eating Utensils / Cups
• Pacifiers/ Pacifier Holders

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I hope you found these tips helpful. You can achieve beautiful reborn doll photography without spending lots of money on a digital camera, fancy backdrops or a specialized lighting set up. Most of us are carrying around good quality cameras right on our cellphone (which is what I use for 99% of my photos!) Use what you have around your home to challenge yourself in creating photos.