TAKE TEN: Clair Fraser
As one of South Africa’s best newborn baby photographers, Clair Fraser is surprisingly VERY generous with her knowledge. In anticipation of her newborn workshop alongside Kameraz and Fujifilm, Clair shares not only her favourite images but also some valuable lessons from her years as a photographer.
[Clair’s workshop will be at Kameraz, Johannesburg, 12 October 2024 from 10:00 – 12:00 for free. Booking essential.]
Clair Fraser. (Image: Raurie Fraser).
Newborn photography is such a niche field, how did you get started in this?
I was working as a wedding photographer and a few of our friends started having babies, so I asked if I could photograph them. I had no training at all and just thought I’d try to copy what I had seen on Pinterest. It turns out there is a lot one should know about babies, posing and wrapping before just rushing in and hoping for the best.
I soon realised I would need some help, but sadly at the time I couldn’t find anyone in South Africa who was offering workshops or willing to teach. It was even hard to find out where people were getting certain props from. But I pushed through and watched a bunch of YouTube videos and online tutorials and slowly started getting the hang of it.
It also helped that I had my own babies soon after starting and used my firstborn as my practice model.
You also seem to be happy to assist anyone new to the field.
Yes, I have become passionate about teaching as I would like to help those who want to get into the industry to learn the right way to do things from the beginning. They will learn eventually, so I might as well help them and not gatekeep all the “secrets” of how to do well and where to get the props and extras.
The safety of the baby is so important, for example, just hanging a baby from a tree branch is NOT a good idea! You see this online and then think you can give it a try, but this needs to be done safely (i.e. the baby is never actually hanging from a tree).
It’s also why I started NPC (Newborn Photography Convention) as a place to go and physically touch and buy the gorgeous props that are available with local vendors right here in SA rather than spending a fortune to import from overseas. It’s great to meet the vendors in order to build a relationship and know that your online purchase is legit and of decent quality. It’s also a place to meet other photographers and learn from some of the best industry leaders in South Africa.
When it comes to newborn photography, how do you keep the babies calm and relaxed to incorporate all the poses?
It’s all in your shoulders. I know it sounds too simple, but it really is. I often just have to check my shoulder position and make sure they are relaxed. I say it to all my workshop attendees and even to all the new moms I meet – if your shoulders are relaxed and not sitting under your ears then you are more likely to give off a calm demeanour and the baby will feed off the calm.
And the second most important thing is to go slow and comfort the baby every step of the way. No shot is worth rushing.
One would imagine that newborn photography also involves a lot of trust from mom and dad and then managing this relationship during the shoot. Is this your experience?
Absolutely. It is very important to let the parents know that, while I know babies and I’m confident in what I am doing, it’s still their baby and they are welcome to watch over my shoulder and be involved if they want to. Although most moms and dads prefer to sit back and relax while they watch and enjoy.
I think there is also a lot to be said for how much they can see on my social media pages before they even step in to the studio. It’s important to put your own face in some of your videos. I might not be glamorous when I’m all sweaty, but it’s not about me – it’s about them seeing what to expect and trusting that my studio is clean and well set up for them, and that I know what I’m doing.
I’m a very chatty person, so during the shoot I always talk about their birth experience and just a bunch of baby stuff. Even after 12 years of having new mommies in my studio, I still enjoy this.
Can you explain what “wrapping” is?
Wrapping is the technique that the industry invented to make newbies feel like they will never get that baby to fit into that basket😆.
BUT, if you get some training in order to learn how to do it and take your time (with your shoulders relaxed), it actually becomes quite easy. All it takes is a long piece of stretchy material that you wrap around the baby while keeping their arms and hands comfortably tucked in and their legs crossed in a sitting position. It is similar to swaddling, but when you wrap them with the legs up rather than straight down, then you will eventually get a baby all cosy and feeling safe like being back in the womb (in the shape of a ball.)
What photography lesson did you learn the hard way?
I spent a lot of money buying totally unnecessary stuff – equipment and props that I didn’t need or that were just completely unsuited to newborn photography.
This goes back to the fact that there were not a lot of people doing it back then. There were no mentors sharing on local social media platforms and the photographic shops didn’t really know what to advise. This was totally not their fault, but it was the reason I bought four strobe lights, the black and white PVC backdrop, some props like washing baskets and big teddy bears – all of which were very not great for what I was doing.
Talking about lighting, do you prefer natural or studio light?
I love natural light! My studio is big and white and has gorgeous light coming in through a glass sliding door. I almost always only use natural light, but I have a few great lights as backup for rainy days and for when I want to do something a little more dramatic, mostly for maternity shoots.
I enjoy using my light (just one constant, not four strobes), but my style during the shoot is a little less structured than how some people do it and I often like to just capture a moment that might not be as setup and preplanned as what’s required to have the light in the right place. I prefer to go with the flow while using the sun and window as my light source.
Do you have a favourite Fujinon lens? Also, which camera do you use?
I have owned each of the four major camera brands at some point in my career but my fave, and what I’m using now, is Fujifilm. I have the X-T4 (and very much looking forward to when I can upgrade) and I love it!
It’s hard to believe I used to break my back with heavy, bulky cameras in the past. I was at an event years ago when I met Barry and Corlia from Fujifilm and they put a small, retro looking camera into my hands. I fell in love with the look and how light it was. Then I had the chance to test one in a shoot, and the decision to go all-in with Fujifilm was easy.
I have three lenses and I love them all, but I’d say my fave is the XF35mmF1.4 R. It gives beautiful depth of field, while still great at focussing on the tiny details of a newborn baby.
I love that the X-T4 has the flip-screen which I often use when I have to lift my camera up high over the top of a baby when they are in a basket on the floor. The 35mm lens gives me just enough space to capture the whole setup but is also great for when I’m close enough to the baby to hold or support their head while I pull back and take the photo with the other hand (which is easy to do since the camera is so light).
Do you have a solid piece of advice for photographers looking to expand to newborn photography?
Don’t be intimidated by how “oversaturated” the industry is. There are babies born every day, and all photographers have different styles, personalities, prices and experience, which allows for lots of options for potential clients.
Add your name to the long list of suggestions when someone asks for a newborn photographer on a Facebook group. Yes, there might be 72 comments already, but you aren’t just answering that one mommy – someone else might see your link and enquire.
Also, you definitely need an Instagram page and not just Facebook, and my biggest advice is to add your name to your handle. Even if your business name doesn’t have your own name in it, at least add it to your bio so potential clients know what to call you.
Oh, and of course the best thing you can do is to attend a workshop and invest in upskilling in yourself. (Join me at Kameraz for a newborn workshop, 12 October 2024 from 10:00 – 12:00. Free, but booking essential.)
Thanks a million Clair for your generous answers! Where can people find you online?
My Instagram is the best place. Facebook is also great, but there’s definitely more on IG.
My favourite and most used app is WhatsApp (0832882229). I know plenty of people prefer to “keep it professional” by using email and only responding to enquiries during business hours, but I love WhatsApp and am happy to receive a message at any time.
I might not reply late at night or during a family lunch on the weekend, but I was also once a pregnant or new mommy who lay awake being kicked in the ribs or feeding at 3am with nothing else to do. So I totally understand that this is sometimes the best time for a mommy to get her admin done, and I will be happy to hear from you, and reply when I’m awake. I have older kids now, and yes mommy, you will eventually get to sleep through the night again… one day😊.
Also have a look at the following:
www.facebook.com/ClairFraserPhotographyWorkshops
