The average person will use their camera phone to immortalize mundane things: sunsets, nights out with friends, an especially chubby squirrel spotted in the park. Many people post photos of everything they eat to Instagram. It is very selfless of them to do so – the world would be a far poorer place for not knowing who ate a fruit and yogurt parfait for lunch.
The purpose of photography changes drastically for anyone who has had a child. You would ideally take so many photos of your baby that you could stack them like a flipbook to watch the tot advance through their first few months in real time.
Photography, as it turns out, is an art form. Even a technological masterpiece of a camera can’t compensate for bad technique. (Or worse: a fussy subject.) If you want to take the best photos of your newborn you must do whatever Lori Dozier tells you. The Chaska-based professional specializes in photographing families, weddings, and temperamental little bundles of joy.
“My dad was a shutterbug,” said Lori. "He spent his young adult years traveling the world with the Navy and working in construction alongside his father in Europe. He never advanced past a tourist’s skill in photography, but he knew enough to get me interested in the hobby.
“I learned how to shoot on film and develop it in a darkroom back in middle school. I enjoyed that whole process, but I’ll never miss the smell of acetic acid. My friends growing up always joked that while they were getting smaller and smaller cameras, mine were getting bigger and bigger.
“Moving to Minnesota reawakened my love for photography for two reasons. I hope no one back in Texas will take offense when I say the landscape here is so much prettier. Big ugly pines just don’t compare to Minnesota’s fall foliage, and the lakes and water are gorgeous. But Minnesota was also where I had my first baby Anabel in 2010, and then Eleanor in 2011.
“Having recently resigned from my job as a speech therapist to stay home with my daughters, I was looking for something creative to do between diaper changes. I started taking photos of friends' newborns, which led to referrals to other families. That’s what turned me from a hobbyist into a professional.
“I most enjoy capturing the connections between newborns and their families. Babies grow up quickly, and too many mothers find themselves behind the camera when those rare, magic moments are actually happening. It wasn’t until I had been a mother for two years that I realized I wasn’t actually in any of the photos of my babies.
“My first and biggest tip for taking photos of your baby: make sure you’re in some of them. And I know, a lot of ladies would rather get a root canal than have their picture taken, but you have to remember that baby photos are just as much for your baby as they are for you. Don’t deprive them of that memory one day just because you’re camera-shy.
“I’m a lifestyle photographer, not a posed photographer. I find it much more valuable, and often easier to photograph a newborn during life’s intimate moments than expect them to sit and smile for the camera. A newborn is more content when they’re being cradled by their mother. That’s real life, which is so much more beautiful.
“Make sure to change up the distance you take photos from. Too many people fall into the habit of photographing from a single angle. They’ll miss out on close-ups of little feet, little fingers, and nothing captures the feeling of intimacy quite like a wide shot of a parent holding their baby.
“Also make sure you have ample light wherever you shoot, but avoid getting too much. Very harsh lighting can create shadows and create too much contrast. I try to shoot during a time of day when sunlight isn’t coming directly through the windows. If that can’t be avoided, a simple white sheet covering the windows will help to filter and soften the light.
“Wardrobe is crucial. You want your baby comfortable during a photo session. You may have a very nice outfit for them in mind, but if it makes them uncomfortable it’s going to make things way more complicated than they need to be. I also advise my clients to avoid bright and bold colors. They not only reflect back onto the skin, which is called ‘color casting,’ but may also possibly clash with your home decor if you intend to frame and hang the photos.
“I can’t overemphasize how important it is to keep a newborn comfortable during a shoot. Not every baby likes to be swaddled, but if yours happens to, use that to your advantage. Keep the room nice and warm, and feed your baby before you start taking pictures. If you’re ready for it, you’ll be able to capture the instant before a newborn falls asleep. That’s when they reflexively smile, which can be an elusive expression when a baby is too young to care very much about their surroundings.
“More than anything else, be flexible. Babies and especially toddlers always run a photo shoot. Instead of insisting they pose a certain way, let them do what they like and then catch them in the act of being cute. Those are the moments you’ll want to remember years from now anyway!”
Lori Dozier serves Eden Prairie, Chaska, Waconia, Chanhassen, Minnetonka and surrounding areas. You may engage her services at loridozierphotography.com.