Dyeing Cheesecloth for a Newborn Photo Shoot

I would like to introduce my new niece - Gia!

I was in charge of taking her newborn photos.  I researched photos I liked on Pinterest and found I really liked the look of cheesecloth wraps.

Texture is an important aspect of newborn photos.  Dyeing your own cheesecloth is an inexpensive way to get that texture in the colors you prefer.  

The cheesecloth looks like this when you take it out of the package.  

Plain white, really folded together.

Cheesecloth:

I found somewhere online that said to use 4 cups of water and then pour small amounts of dye in until you like the color.  

Rit liquid dye:

I stirred and let it soak for about 5 minutes.  (Longer times deepen the colors.)

I made a gray one and a pink one.

After taking it out of the dye, I rinsed it until the water ran clear, then wrung it out by hand and hung it outside to air dry.  I wore plastic gloves to wring it out, but I don't think the dye would've stained my hands.  After it was dry, I hand washed it in the sink with Dreft, rinsed and wrung and let it air dry again.  I repeated this process twice, since it would be in contact with the baby's skin, I wanted it soft and safe.

I used the technique from this blog to make a little flower for a headband - since I dyed the fabric - it was a perfect matching accessory.

Preparing for a Newborn Photo Shoot

When a new mom finds out she's expecting, she starts preparing for the baby by planning and organizing a nursery.  When a new aunt finds out she's expecting a niece or nephew, she starts preparing for the baby by planning and organizing a photo shoot.  Or maybe that's just me! 

The only newborns I've ever photographed have been my niece and nephew, so since I don't have a lot of experience with it, I started researching.  Here is a summary of the basics I learned:

• 7-14 days old is optimal - you want them sleepy and position-able
• It's best to go to the newborn's home
• The temperature should be nice and warm (you can use space heaters or heating pads, just don't let either have contact with the baby's skin)
• Don't use a flash - it can trigger a baby's startle reflex and upset them
• Find natural light in the baby's home and just experiment with what works best
• You're on the baby's time schedule - if he or she needs to eat or be swaddled or changed in between takes, that is the first priority

Then comes the fun part - start collecting backdrops, props and accessories.  For the backdrops - simple black and white.  I gathered a white presentation board, black fabric and a vinyl square that looks like old wood flooring that I found on Etsy by PeekPrints which is really cool!  

A behind the scenes look at the vinyl:

For background accessories - find chunky, textured items - baskets, blankets and hats should all have great texture.  I found two different chunky woven baskets and several blankets, some really soft and some really textured.  I used the Fabric Strip Backdrop that I made for the baby shower to create a fabric bed and it turned out very successful.

For props - I found an adorable hat on Etsy at SparkleBabyCouture and I was very impressed with this shop.  Hats for boys, hats and headbands for girls.

My nephew's nursery theme was teddy bears, so he had received several bears as gifts.  We took an adorable shot of him surrounded by bears. 

 

I also found vintage blocks to spell his name, at an antique store.

 

 

Do you have any other tips for a successful newborn photo shoot?