There is a new trend of a shoot of newborns. Every month parents take their children to a setup to get them clicked. And this goes on till the child turns one (in some cases, two). It doesn’t end there. Parents get the costume for every festival round the year and they make sure that their newborn is clicked in the theme of that festival.
In the process of making your child an influencer or keeping up with the trend, you are putting pressure on your child from the very first month of his/her life. Every photo shoot is done at the cost of few very important factors. And those factors are as follows:
Discomfort
When my wife made my son lord Krishna on the occasion of Janamashtmi and made him sit (with the flute) to click some pictures, he was not at all comfortable. The simple reason for that was neither he had learnt to sit properly nor was he ready for it. He just wanted to be free, he wanted to do his own thing, he didn’t want to get clicked with the heavy flute.
So the first thing parents do in the photoshoot is they take the comfort of their child away. They put the child in the clothes and props which are not comfortable and they want him/her to do the things which they don’t want to do.
Forcefulness
After that incident, I told my wife and parents that there will be no photoshoot until he enjoys it. We didn’t only make him uncomfortable with clothes but also forced him to smile, sit or stand in a certain manner. Just to click one perfect moment to share with the world, we caused him a lot of trouble.
This was just one instance with my son, now imagine parents going for a shoot every month and on every festival.
Freedom to grow
A year ago, my neighbour invited a photographer for the shoot of two babies. The photographer created a set-up in our housing society and started the shoot. One of the newborns was 7 months old and hadn’t learned to sit. So the photographer refused the shoot of that child. Due to that, parents started cussing their child for not learning to sit.
Every child has a right to grow on his/her own terms and pace. Just for the shoots, parents are taking that freedom away.
Likelihood
Every child gives you signals about the activities he or she likes. A child gives a reaction to everything you do to entertain him or her. If you don’t believe then try to shoot or take a selfie with your child. Your child will immediately respond whether he/she likes that activity or not.
I am telling it with my experience that whenever I take a camera near my son he stops enjoying himself and become cautious. Similarly, your child will also give you the signs whether he or she likes the camera around or not. If he or she likes it then go ahead with the shoots but if he stops enjoying himself then don’t force him to do stuff just for the sake of shoot.
Irritating
I took my son for a photoshoot before his mundan (tonsure) ceremony in his eighth month. By then he had learnt to sit and we went with the typical mindset of getting him clicked before the ceremony for memories. We entered the studio with two pairs of clothes and planned a shoot of 15-20 photos. He cooperated with us in first few minutes of the shoot as he was observing the new place and stuff around.
After that, we were trying to grab his attention with his toys and he gave a couple of more good clicks then he got irritated and started crying. My wife tried to divert his mind by doing the things he enjoys but the efforts went in vain. She took a break from the shoot for a change and as we started changing, his irritation increased. So I stopped the shoot there and came home immediately. I didn’t want to make memories by irritating him to the core.
As a parent, I can only suggest that go for a shoot of your child if he/she enjoys it, don’t do it at the cost of above-mentioned factors.
New born photo shoot is challenging. It can go either way. Their comfort is the first priority. If they are happy, then the entire experience becomes very special.
Their comfort has taken a backseat in those shoots these days.
Obsession with photoshoots is reaching crazy levels now. So glad you highlighted the pain babies go through for the sake of their parents. Let them enjoy the process, don’t force them.
I have witnessed babies crying and photographer going on with the shoot ignoring that.
Paresh, you have rightly mentioned all the pointers that makes baby discomfort for the photoshoot. And by putting the pressure of a perfect moment so many unpleasant moments for the baby. Hope parents read this post and give a thought to the trend.
I also hope that most of the parents read this post and give their newborn’s comfort topmost priority.
I agree with you have said in the post. we lived in digital era and many new parents plan various photo shoots to click insta worthy pictures of their little kids but I feel they should pay more attention on comfort of kids rather than showing off to world.
I totally agree with you, we live in the digital era and parents these days wants the best photo session for their kids. I think a child’s comfort should be the top priority. Hope after reading this post many parents will try to avoid this rat race of uncomfortable photo sessions.
I hope the same.
One of the adverse effects of social media is the undue pressure on tender kids, mostly induced by their own parents. Photoshoots of newborns is one such issue. Parents need to understand that the baby is a living being and not subject it to such trauma, all for the sake of a few likes and comments on social media, and to showoff to the world.
Even pre wedding shoots have also become that. People do it for few likes on social media.
Photoshoot of newborns must not be done if your child is cranky. If he/she is not enjoying the experience, you should not do it.
Exactly.
This is so very tru. Peer pressure and social media plays a major role in this. The monthly milestone shoot is another pain we put the babies into. Comfort of the child is the most important factor we should be looking for
I agree with you on this post. We parents sometimes get so excited without thinking about what the innocent little one is facing.
New born and child photography is a very tricky area, I agree with the rational points you have mentioned above. For the same reason, parents must reach only the professionals even if they are a little steeper than others.
Totally agree with you and my honest confession is that not just for newborn photoshoots even I am guilty of pestering my son once for an apparel photoshoot. Afterwards, I realised my fault and now I never pressurize for any brand endorsements etc.
New parents are always excited to capture moments of the newborn; nothing wrong with that. Just that they need to be mindful of the baby’s comfort.
I try to keep my son away from any direct exposure that this age as well. When he was a newborn baby, I used to steer clear any kind brand/collab photos hoot.
Baby pictures are so adorable! I am sure a ton of effort goes into it