Newborn photography has seen quite the uptick over the last decade or so. Gone are the days of a simple picture taken in the hospital, now parents are booking photographers before they are out of the hospital. Not only are they booking photographers, but they are picking out their backdrop scene, outfits, and more.
Overall, the best lens for newborn photography is a prime 50mm f/1.4 lens or an 85mm f/1.4 lens from the camera brand of your choice.
Capturing the innocence and purity of a newborn is an important role, and these parents are expecting gorgeous photos. Not only do you need to have a knack for taking photographs of newborns, but you will need the correct equipment.
What lens is best?
I wish there was a straightforward answer to this question, but alas, there isn't. The truth is, you might need a few different lenses when shooting newborns for different styles. However, you need to make sure you have a wide-angle, medium telephoto, a macro, and a 50mm prime lens.
Let me break down why:
Wide-Angle: Most newborn shots will wind up incorporating parents or siblings, so getting this lens will help get more people in the photo and get a wider angle.
Medium Telephoto: This will help you capture a portrait when doing newborn and even maternity photos.
Macro: Newborns are tiny little things, and you'll need a lens to get those small little details. Think of those itty bitty little fingers and toes. This lens will ensure you get those details.
50mm Prime Lens: I mean, this is just a great lens to always have in tow. It's fast and lightweight, and it also takes sharp photographs.
So, what are the best lenses?
Canon Lenses
• Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens
This bad boy can shoot nice and wide with its f/1.2L aperture, and it is swift with its autofocus feature. It also has a wide 77mm filter diameter. Not only does this lens have excellent professional qualities, but it also can resist moisture and dust.
This high refraction, glass-molded, aspherical lens helps you capture tiny details while keeping the integrity of the main subject.
Lens Features:
- Lens Mount: Canon RF
- Zoom Focal Length: All Primes Lens
- Lens Format: Full Frame Maximum Aperture: f/1.2
- Ultra-large Aperture for a Narrow Depth of Field
- Fastest Autofocus Lens in its Class
- Optimized Lens Coating & Construction
- High-performance and Weather-resistant
• Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM Lens
This telephoto lens will give you sharp images with creamy bokeh and a full-time manual focus. This lens has a super-wide aperture that offers a narrow field depth, and this lens also features minimal glare.
Lens Features:
- Lens Mount: Canon RF
- Zoom Focal Length: All Primes Lens
- Lens Format: Full Frame
- Fast f/1.2 aperture
- Medium Telephoto Lens with 85mm Focal Length
- Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics (BR) Reduces Chromatic Aberration
- Control Ring for Direct Setting Changes
- 2.79 ft / 0.85 m Minimum Focus Distance
- 82mm Filter Size
• Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens
This lens offers a 1:1 magnification ratio to deliver what a macro lens should. Taking pictures of tiny little newborn features will be a breeze with this lens. This lens also features a near-silent focus to keep things super hush-hush for the little bambino who may be sleeping.
Lens Features:
- Lens Format: Full Frame
- Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
- Lens Type: Macro RF Lens
- Hybrid IS Compensates for Angular and Shift Camera Shake during Macro Shooting
- Macro IS (works in 1:1 macro mode)
- Highly Resistant to Dust and Water Droplets
- Up to 8 stops of Shake Correction
• Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM Wide-Angle
This lightweight little gem offers a wide-angle and so much versatility. It has a GMo aspherical, a lens element to guarantee exquisite image quality. It also has a fast maximum aperture with image stabilization and full-time manual focus.
Lens Features:
- Zoom Focal Length: All Primes Lens
- Lens Format: Full Frame
- Maximum Aperture: f/2
- Lens Type: Wide Angle SLR Lens
- Image Stabilization (4 Stops)
- GMo Aspherical Lens Element
- Rear Focus System and Ring-type USM
- Micro-stepping Drive Provides Quieter Operation
- Minimum Focusing Distance of 0.79 ft./0.24
Sony Lenses
Designed as the ultimate portrait lens, this telephoto prime lens strikes a perfect balance between resolution and bokeh in a compact package. This lens is excellent for close-up portraits and has a circular 11-blade aperture for beautiful defocus effects.
Lens Features:
- Lens Format: FE Full-frame
- Circular 11-blade aperture for beautiful defocus effects
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
- Lens Type: Standard to Telephoto Zoom Lens
- Dust and moisture resistant design
- Sony Nano AR Coating to eliminate flare and ghosting
- 77mm diameter
• Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM Full-frame Large-aperture G Master Lens
This lens is a high-end prime lens that's perfect for newborn photography and videography. With its bright f/1.2 aperture, this lens delivers stunning resolution and beautiful bokeh, making it the ideal choice for portrait photography and other creative endeavors. The advanced focusing system ensures smooth, accurate focus control whether you're shooting stills or video, while the durable construction ensures reliable performance in challenging environments.
Lens Features:
- Lens Format: FE Full-frame
- Circular 11-blade aperture for beautiful defocus effects
- Aperture Range: f/1.2 to f/16
- Rounded 11-Blade Diaphragm
- Focus Hold Button
- Four XD Linear AF Motors
- 72mm diameter
Nikon Lenses
• Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Lens
Possibly the Holy Grail of macros lenses. All around are tiny unseen worlds—textures, shapes, colors...micro details. We need only to look closer. The first NIKKOR Z lens with a 1:1 reproduction ratio, it fills the frame with the edge-to-edge sharpness and the overwhelming image quality that has become a hallmark of premium S-Line lenses.
Lens Features:
- Zoom Focal Length: All Primes Lens
- Mount Type: Nikon Z Mount
- Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
- Lens Elements: 16
- Maximum Aperture: f/ 2.8
- Minimum Aperture: f/ 32
- VR (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization
• Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S Lens
If you're looking for breathtaking bokeh then look no further. This lens is meant to take portraits and will give the sharpest photos. This lens also has Nano Crystal Coat to prevent lens flare and an Extra-Low Dispersion Glass for optimum correction of chromatic aberrations.
Lens Features:
- Lens Format: Full Frame
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
- Lens Type: Medium Telephoto / Portrait / Telephoto
- Nano Crystal Coat
- 9-Blade Rounded Diaphragm produces stunning bokeh
- Nano Crystal Coat virtually eliminates internal lens element reflections
- Two precisely synchronized AF drive units deliver fast accurate autofocusing
• Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S Lens
Designed specifically for use with Nikon's Z mirrorless cameras, the NIKKOR Z 35mm F/1.8 S is a prime lens versatile enough to capture newborn portraits, weddings, and everything else in between. The wide-angle 35mm lens is a favorite for capturing the human-eye perspective, putting you at the center of the shot. Its lightweight, portable design is further enhanced with a new stepping motor giving this lens a fast, smooth and quiet autofocus.
Lens Features:
- Zoom Focal Length: All Primes Lens
- Lens Format: Full Frame
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
- Lens Type: Wide Angle Mirrorless Z lens
- Nano Crystal Coat
- Stepping Motor provides fast smooth and accurate autofocus
- Extra-Low Dispersion Glass for optimum correction of chromatic aberrations
Sigma Lenses
• Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Sony E
This lens is made for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras and is quite versatile. Not only is it great for newborn photography, but it's also good for weddings and even astrophotography. It shines and shows how powerful it is when taking indoor photos. This lens will still take a great shot with its bokeh and focal plane sharpness, even with dim lights. This lens is key to taking clear photographs.
Lens Features:
- Zoom Focal Length: All Primes Lens
- Lens Format: Full Frame
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
- Lens Type: Wide Angle mirrorless lens
- Designed for Sony Full-frame mirrorless cameras
- Blade Rounded Diaphragm
- Filter Size: 77mm
• Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART (Canon, Nikon, or Sony)
This luxurious 50mm lens will be sure to impress you with its optimized autofocus algorithm. This camera will take crystal clear and gorgeous photos, and it also has a multi-layer coating to reduce flare and ghosting.
Lens Features:
- Zoom Focal Length: All Primes Lens
- Lens Format: Full Frame
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
- Lens Type: Standard Prime Lens
- Incredible Focal Point Sharpness
- Pairs well with Pro-Level DSLRs and Mirrorless
- Optimized Autofocus Algorithm
- Floating Focusing System
If you want to capture newborns in all their cute glory, pick up one or a few of these lenses. With the right equipment, patience, and an eye for a good photo, you will leave parents in awe with what you can create.
