I am so honored to be featured here today! When Alise asked me, I was so excited to share! My name is Devan Jacobsen, owner of Devan Rae Photography. I am married to an amazing man, Spencer. We have two lovely children, a 3.5 year old little boy & a 1.5 year old little girl. They keep us on our toes! We love being outdoors & having adventures, which only fuels my love for photography. My family is my greatest joy, and they continue to encourage my love of photography. I am truly indebted to them!
I have loved photography for as long as I can remember. I used to play with my mom's film cameras when I was younger. I took class after class in High School. I was enthralled in everything having to do with photography. I loved the aesthetic that could be produced with a camera! When I was applying to colleges, I knew what I wanted to be. A Photographer! I just wasn't positive what type of photography I loved yet. My parents always encouraged me to follow my dreams! They bought me my first camera. They paid for my crazy expensive film hobby too. My parents & my husband have been my greatest advocates! I graduated with my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Utah Valley University and went to work in my town Photographing Newborns, Births, Families, & Weddings. I love portraiture!
I enjoy portraiture so much because I get to work with people. I get to capture their personalities & the things they love the most in life. I am documenting amazingly beautiful things in their lives, and I am so grateful for that. I get to meet these amazing people & learn about their lives. It truly is a treat to learn from all of my amazing clients!
Today I want to give you a few Newborn Photography Tips!
Comfort is key! If you have a baby that is well fed & sleepy, you have hit the jackpot! When babies are calm, comfy & fed, they are more likely to pose easier, or stay happier during pictures. Have a small space heater in the same room as you. You don't want to overheat your baby, but having the room warm that you're taking pictures in will help a ton.
Light, light, light! I love ample light. Take pictures of your baby when there is a lot window light. The more light you have, the fresher, cleaner & more beautiful your portraits will be.
Direction of light- each person has their own preference here. I prefer to have my baby far enough away from the window that the light is diffused & beautiful. Also, pay attention to where the shadow lays on the baby's face. You want to have the shadow under the nose. In other words, don't have the window light going up the baby's nose. You will position the forehead closer to the light source to prevent ghoul lighting. I tend to love less shadow so I like to position the baby more towards the light.
Be safe! Always have help when taking newborn portraits. Only attempt safe lifestyle & prop poses. For instance, swaddle your baby securely, shoot from a few different angles, then slowly unwrap you baby & shoot their details... little hands, feet, nose, ears, hair, belly button, mouth... then make a collage! Those details you never want to forget!
