Five Tips for Photographing Newborns with Strobes and Flash
(Updated in 2026)
Photographing newborns with strobes and flash doesn’t have to be intimidating. In fact, it can help you create consistently beautiful, soft, natural-looking light in any environment.
Whether you’re in a studio or indoors at a client’s home, these tips will help you light newborns confidently and efficiently.
Why Use Strobes and Flash for Newborn Photography?
Strobes and flash give you the control in your newborn work that natural light just can’t deliver.
Good lighting helps you:
Stay consistent across sessions and setups
Work regardless of window placement, weather or time of day
Ensure that every clients gets your best work
I know a lot of photographers worry about the safety of using lighting when photographing newborns, but you can trust that modern strobes and flashes are safe for newborns when used properly and paired with the right modifiers and placement. (Follow this link to read more about the safely of using flash when photographing newborns)
Tip #1 Take your light off your camera
A lot of photographers who are new to working with artificial light will take their flash, put it on the top of their camera, set it to TTL so the flash is controlling the output and call it good.
This seems like an easy way to incorporate artificial light into your work, but the problem with this approach is that it creates light that is flat, kind of boring, and harsh.
Taking your flash off your camera and mounting it onto a light stand allows you to:
introduce direction to your light
Create highlights and shadows that add visual interest to your image
Tip #2 Place your light in a large light modifier
Once your light is off your camera and on a light stand, pair it with a large modifier (an umbrellas or a soft box).
Large light sources like large modifiers soften the light.
Using a large modifier will help you:
create a natural light look when photographing newborns
photograph larger groups, like families, evenly
My go-to modifier is the Westcott 7’ Umbrella when working in my studio.
Tip #3 Bring your light in close
I love soft light.
When I’m working with strobes and flash, my goal is to create light that looks like the kind of light you get from a perfect north facing window.
One way I create that look is by taking my flash off my camera and pairing it with a large modifier.
But another way I create that look is by bringing my light in nice and close to my subject!
The closer your light is to your subject, the softer the light will be.
When I’m working with a newborn, I have my light about two to three feet away from the baby.
Tip #4 Place your light at the top of the baby’s head, not its feet
Okay. Lets recap what you’ve learned so far.
You now know that to create beautiful, soft, natural looking light with a strobe or a flash you need to:
take your light off of your camera and put it on a stand with a large modifier
bring the light and modifier in nice and close to your subject!
The next thing you want to do is to make sure that your light is placed up by the baby’s head, NOT their feet!
This will prevent accidentally uplighting the baby you are work with!
While there are no right or wrongs in photography, necessarily, uplighting is not the prettiest light for portraits.
While most photographers know that this is not a great way to light a portrait, I see a lot of newborn images in which the baby has been placed in this kind of light.
This happens when a baby is placed lying down or in the arms of a parent with his/her feet facing the light.
Placing a baby in this way results in uplighting, even when working with soft light.
To guard against accidentally lighting a baby this way, make sure the baby’s head is always pointed toward the light source, even when being held. This will ensure that everyone in the photo, baby included, is captured in the most flattering light possible!
Tip #5 Use a handheld light meter
This step in optional, especially if you are a digital photographer.
I’m a film photographer, so for me, metering my light with a handheld light meter is essential.
BUT, I’m of the opinion that all photographers, film and digital alike, should use a handheld light meter when working strobes and flash, especially when photographing newborns, babies and small children.
Newborns, and babies and small children do not have the patience that adults do. So if your photographing a baby, and you’re spending a good chunk of time taking a photo, checking the back of your camera, and adjusting your lights until you get the look you want, you are wasting valuable time.
Also, newborns do lots of cute things that their parents, your clients, probably want pictures of. And again, if you’re spending your time, fussing with the back of your camera and your lights, chances are you are going to miss capturing some of those really cute moments.
A hand held meter will tell you exactly what you need your settings to be on your camera and what the power of your lights need to be. You can meter once, set your camera to those settings, adjust the power on your strobe or flash, and then have the perfect light for the rest of your shoot!
In Summery: Frequently Asked Questions
Is flash safe for newborns?
Yes — professional strobes and flashes are safe when used responsibly modifiers and appropriate positioning. Brief bursts of light are no more intense than many everyday light exposures.
Can I photograph newborns with natural light instead?
Absolutely. Natural light is beautiful, but it’s not always consistent or available. Strobes give you control and reliability in any environment. To get started, check out my course, Lighting on Location: Off-Camera Flash for In-Home Photographers.
Do I need expensive gear to start?
No. Many photographers begin with a basic strobe, a large softbox or umbrella, and a light stand. That’s enough to create flattering newborn portraits. You can download my complete equipment list by following this link.
