Your little one has finally entered the world! As you celebrate your child’s arrival, you and your family will definitely want to get some photos before you leave the hospital. Those first moments go by in a blur, and images of your child’s first couple days are definitely something you will want to look back on in the days and years to come.

We’ve put together a list of a few tips for taking your own photos below! And for those gorgeous portraits of your family and new addition, consider hiring a professional photographer for a Fresh 48 session.

Take advantage of natural light

Hospital lighting is flattering to no one. It can be too bright and wash out colors in photos, or it can be too dark, leaving your images in shadow. The flash on your phone or point-and-shoot camera won’t be much help either, as it can lead to harsh shadows and yellow-looking skin tones. If your room has a window, use the daylight as much as possible to capture some photos of your newborn. Make sure to open the blinds all the way, and if you need to, you can even move the bassinet over to the window in order to put your baby in the best light.

Don’t worry about posing

Posed portraits are for the professionals and are better saved for your newborn photos. Hospital photos should be candid, capturing the real moments of your baby’s first days. While you may move your child around the room for different angles and backdrops, just focus on capturing their genuine first expressions. Those are the images you’ll most want to look back on.

Choose the right angles

To get the best photos, try different angles and see which images turn out the best. As a general rule of thumb, downward angles work well, so try photographing your baby from above. You can even play with different focus points and see what you like. The best thing to do is take a lot of photos so you have plenty of options when you look back at them later.

Capture the details

You’ll be amazed at how fast your little one grows up, so it’s always a great idea to capture those tiny toes and fingers. Your baby’s life will be pretty simple those first couple days, but that doesn’t make the moments any less important to you and your family. Be sure to take photos of first feedings and visits from family members, as well as that adorable outfit for their trip home.

Make sure you’re not just the photographer

If this is your first child, you may be understandably excited to capture photos, but you may not realize how little you end up in images when you’re always the photographer. Ask family members to get photos of you with your baby as well. You may want to avoid getting in front of the camera because of how you look and feel, but trust me, those pictures will mean a lot to you later down the road.

I’ve never met a parent who regretted having hundreds of photos of their newborn, but I’ve definitely met people who wish they had taken the time to take more pictures when their baby was small. Take some time before you leave the hospital to capture your child’s first moments, and if you find that prospect a little daunting, book a professional to come in and take photos of your family as you welcome this precious new life into the world.