Hey everyone! So I spent a bit of time in the studio with this lovely…okay totally creepy… baby doll here to photograph some of the studio options available to you. My studio setups are all very simple with a bed for the little ones to jump and roll on, a cream tufted sofa, some neutral walls and long flowy white sheers. There’s not a huge variation in the look of the setups but remember that this is just a base for what you can build on and having a live subject in the photo where I can zoom out, come close up, change my angle, will all add variation as well. We can keep it as simple as you see here or we can add in pops of subtle color through you children’s outfits and my stock of blankets, mini quilts, buntings and banners. In some of the samples I threw a bunting or two on the wall just to show how it would look but those are changeable. I think you’ll find that once there is a human subject in the photo it will come to life a lot more as the baby doll in the photos is only about the size of a 6lb newborn so your children will be much taller and fill in more of the frame.
Below you’ll find samples of the setup options labeled A,B,C, etc so that it makes it a bit easier for you to communicate to me what your setup preference is. I can’t guarantee every setup for every session (mini sessions mainly) because I am limited to how much I can physically change the room between sessions but your preference will give me a good idea of the main element you like. Also if you scroll more toward the bottom of this post you can see some of the setups in use or similar ones before I changed the studio a tad for 2017.
So if you have an upcoming mini or private session please let me know
1) the letter of your top 2 setup preferences in order
2) your child’s age and ability (such as sitting up, standing, walking, fully mobile)
3) if you’d like it to have subtle decor such as a bunting/banner/happy birthday sign/etc added to your setup. I don’t have a huge stock of these types of items but if you let me know what your child may be wearing and their age I may be able to help pick out what will look best
A: Bed setup against neutral wall
B: Bed setup against shutter doors. Toying with the idea of finding little end tables for some plants/decor but may decide to leave it plain.
C: Bed setup against whitewash brick wall
D: Bed setup against white sheers. There is also another window camera right with white sheers which will allow me to get angles beyond straight on given enough natural light that day.
E: Tufted sofa against neutral wall. Decoration optional of course.
F: Tufted sofa against brick wall. Remember that this baby doll is only about the size of a 6lb newborn so your child will help fill out the frame much more.
G: Tufted sofa against white sheers
H: Simple sheers and light wood floor. Again remember your child will be much taller in this setup compared to baby doll.
I: Neutral wall and rustic floor
J: Painted walls and rustic floor
K: Lace trim teepee (flowers optional and can be exchanged for other colors with advanced notice)
L: Neutral wall and sanded pine boards
M: Neutral wall and white boards
N: Whitewash brick wall with pine boards
O: Whitewash brick wall with white boards
Add-ons:
Comforter colors for the bed setup. Usually I go with white or creams for mini days because relayering the comforters can get time consuming (and heavy!) but I do have a pale blue a pale pink I can try to have ready. And the following photo is some of the banners I have. Birthday specific general neutral banners and a couple others should be arriving this week as well. Send me a photo of what your child will be wearing along with their age and ability if a baby (sitting up, standing, walking) and I’d be happy to help coordinate a little setup for you.
Buntings/banners. Best if only one subject is involved as most aren’t anymore than about 4ft wide. You’ll see clear tape in a couple of the sample photos. We’ll add length to banners or edit out tape in your child’s photos. Once you send over a photo of your child’s outfit I’d be happy to help coordinate a little bunting/banner to match but you can’t go wrong with simple as well!
In use: Samples from past sessions to give an idea of the looks that can be achieved
Neutral wall and rustic floor with pink lace petite bunting (trim has since been painted to match wall color and blend more seamlessly)
Bed setup against whitewash brick wall. This is a new one so I’ll have more samples to show hopefully in the next month.
Simple white sheers and light floor. Great for older taller subjects or picked up by a parent if shot from the side (or little ones on couch). Little ones on the ground will be shot from more straight on.
Tufted sofa with white sheers
Non-sitting baby on white comforter
Bed against white sheers
White sheers on a sunny morning
Older subject on ladder against white sheers and then portraits against the neutral wall
Tufted sofa against neutral wall
Bed setup against neutral wall
Tufted sofa against white sheers
Painted wall with rustic floor.
And just a quick example of how a comforter color for the bed setup works really well for little ones, especially as an overhead shot. I wouldn’t recommend the blue comforter for shots with sitting up baby. It doesn’t coordinate perfectly with the wall color so better for just a behind the head laying down backdrop.
