Ann Wo – Newborn baby photographer

Newborn baby photos have to be done before the baby is two weeks old! This is when they are really sleepy and it is easier to pose them.

Ann Wo had been working as a professional studio photographer when she had her son. She decided to specialize in newborn photography and the result is really stunning as you can see in these photos.

Ann shows great love for the newborns and has a way to make the photos unique with color and texture.

Ann Wo lives in West London and serves the surrounding area.

Tell us a little about yourself and your photography.

I was raised in Siberia and moved to UK about ten years ago. I specialize in bespoke maternity and newborn photography, with sessions carried out at a client?s home or on location.

Why did you start taking photos?

I always loved photography, but never took it seriously. Then six years ago I got offered a job at my local printing lab while ordering my prints! Complete accident! They also had a portrait studio set up, and that’s where I’ve worked for four years photographing families. Then in 2010 my son was born, and I went on maternity leave. By that point I started to become bored with -white studio family photos-there was no creativity in there for me.

I’ve also started -liking- babies, I had no interest in them before whatsoever! At the same time I came across some beautiful newborn photography such as Baby As Art. I knew instantly that was what I want to do! So in 2011 I went freelance and Ann Wo Photography was born.

What inspired you to turn it into a business?

A freelance lifestyle. I love to be self-employed. It took about six months to set up and now I earn more then when I was employed, but working less hours. And I can be as creative as I want to.

Working with so young babies must be difficult! Tell me about the challenges with newborn photography.

Yes, you need A LOT of experience with newborns. If I wasn’t a mother I wouldn’t even tried I think. You need to be able to read baby’s signals. You need to keep newborn safety in mind while posing as they are so fragile. You need to be able to relax parents -that’s sometimes more difficult then babies, new parents can be very stressed. And sessions are very long – sometimes 5 hours, so you need a lot of patience and energy.

You make some deeply emotional newborn baby photos. How do you capture true feelings?

That’s another reason why my sessions are long – you need time for people to get used to you and relax and that’s where fake smiles are disappearing.

You also seem to be fascinated with color and texture, why is that?

Oh yes! That’s one more plus in newborn photography – you get to play around with textures, colors – blankets, props, backgrounds – it’s like painting I guess – I just love it!

What are some other photographic projects you enjoy working on?

I quite like abstract photography, but don?t really have time to do it this days.

What kind of a camera and lenses do you primarily use and how do you select your equipment?

I have Canon 5D MarkII and 7D as a back-up. Lenses are 50mm 1.8 ? my favourite, Sigma macro lens, and Canon 24-70mm standard lens. I have couple of elinchrom lights and softboxes, oh and a reflector of course. I shoot mostly with natural light.