Baby photo top tips from a royal photographer

^{William as a baby [Picture credit: Arthur Edwards]}

Edwards first advises photographers to make use of natural light, stressing that ‘babies don’t like flash’.

And some details may not seem important at the time, but it may be a mistake not to include them in photos.

The veteran photographer reveals: ‘Baby William (pictured above) became extremely fond of a blue elephant toy, but Diana would move it away for pictures.

‘She mentioned once that she later wished she’d had a photo to remember the toy, as it was his favourite.’

Finally, he urges people to ensure they keep their precious memories by printing their shots (see top tips list below).

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that more than half of first-time mums (51%) refuse to allow photos of their new born to be posted on social networking websites, or say they would need to first give their approval, according to a survey commissioned by camera maker Nikon.

The poll of 2,000 adults, conducted between 2-5 July 2013, also showed that 70% of new mothers have their photo taken within three hours of giving birth.

However, more than one in five said it took more than a month before they felt comfortable in front of the camera.

New mothers are given a ‘raw deal’ when it comes to capturing those ‘all-important first moments on camera’, according to Nikon.

‘86% of first-time mums aren’t happy with the photos taken in the week after giving birth – suggesting that mum needs to be consulted before you get snapping,’ said a Nikon spokesperson.

Over a quarter of mums expressed annoyance that people ‘took photos that didn’t flatter them’.

Nikon UK’s Jeremy Gilbert added: ‘It’s an exciting and important time to capture, but a bit of care and consideration goes a long way with mum, as does a good camera that will do mum and baby justice.

‘These are the pictures that last a lifetime, so it’s crucial to get [them] right.

Arthur Edwards’ top tips, as supplied to Nikon UK

Think about the light you’ve got – babies don’t like flash. If you’re in the hospital room visiting mum just after the birth, see if she can move to the window and let the natural light do its job. Our first sight of Diana with baby William was outside of the hospital and the natural light helped the photos look beautiful
Think about the time of day you take your pictures. Always catch the baby after a feed and a sleep so they are content, happy and giggly, and not grumpy. Ask Mum before you visit when nap time is
Some details may not seem the most attractive things to get into photos, but think about what you’ll want to remember and what might become important ‘firsts’. Baby William became extremely fond of a blue elephant toy, but Diana would move it away from him for pictures. She mentioned once she later wished she’d had a photo to remember the toy, as it was his first favourite
Lots of people will be taking pictures in the same locations, so think about using different backgrounds to help your photos stand out, like a coloured cushion underneath the baby
If mum is usually the photographer in your family or social group, make sure you offer to take the camera for once – remember she’ll want photos of her with her new arrival. Kate is the keenest photographer of the two, but even she will no doubt hand over the camera to William and trust him with the family album for a change