Your success in newborn photography isn’t defined by the equipment you have. As those in the photography community would say: it’s not the camera, it’s the photographer. Even if all you had in your arsenal were an outdated camera and a few budget lenses, proper skill would enable you to capture beautiful newborn portraits and maternity photos that your clients would cherish forever. That’s where the best lens for newborn photography comes in.
Nonetheless, if you’re looking to take your newborn photography business to the next level, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have the best tools at your disposal. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the top camera lenses you should have on hand to get the best possible results from your maternity and newborn photo shoots.
What is the best lens for newborn photography?
Choosing the best lens for shooting babies can be difficult, as there isn’t one specific lens for everyone. In reality, you’re going to need a variety of different lenses—each for a different purpose—to capture the many styles and types of shots that are typical to newborn photography. Mainly, you’ll need a medium telephoto, a wide-angle, a macro, and a 50mm prime lens.
Since you’re photographing people in your maternity and newborn photo shoots, a portrait lens (typically a medium telephoto lens) is a must. And because you need to capture the tinier details (such as the baby’s toes, fingers, or eyelashes), you’ll also need a good macro lens.
Now you can certainly stop there, but if you want to be prepared for other photography situations, you’ll also need an all-around 50mm prime lens for when you need a fast, lightweight lens that works well in low light and takes extremely sharp pictures.
In addition, you should have a wide-angle lens for family photos (i.e. parents and baby) or any newborn photo shoot session conducted indoors or in the studio (where you might have minimal space to work and can’t back up to include more in the shot) or outdoors (where you’ll need a wide-angle to include more of the picturesque backgrounds).
What to look for in a lens for newborn photography
Looking for the best lens for newborn photography? Here are some of the most important lens features to consider:
Aperture
By far, aperture is the most important thing to consider when choosing a newborn photography lens. That’s because aperture is what gives you that dreamy blurred, bokeh background that helps the subject—in this case, the adorable newborn—stand out. Look for an aperture for about f/2.8 or wider. The wider the aperture, the more you can blur out the background, giving you ultimate versatility no matter the location of the shoot.
Focal length
Focal length is another highly important newborn photography lens feature. You’ll want a focal length between 50mm (nifty fifty) and 85mm—the standard for portrait photos. These lenses deliver the cleanest, most natural-looking portrait-style snaps. You can also shoot with a wider-angle lens like a 35mm to get some background in the shot, but you won’t need too much wider than that if the baby is your number one focus.
Prime
This ties in with focal length, but when it comes to a newborn photography lens, it’s important to choose a prime lens when possible, as prime lenses are known for delivering the crispest and most realistic images—the kind that pop off the page or screen. Prime lenses also pick up impressive details, which will make those newborn photos even more dazzling.
Focusing distance
While not critical, it’s important to keep an eye on focusing distance when choosing your lens, as this gives you an idea of how you’ll be able to shoot in the moment. The closer the focusing distance, the closer you can get to the baby while shooting. This is helpful for, say, shooting close-ups of their tiny fingers or toes, or mom holding the baby’s hand.
Focus
Look for a lens with highly reviewed autofocus features. This way, you can rest assured your lens works with your camera to find and focus in on the subject quickly. Autofocus is essential for capturing those moments sharply and speedily—the latter being particularly important if you’re adding, say, a dog or toddler sibling to the photoshoot.
Quiet shooting
Most lenses make some noise when focusing or shooting, but increasingly, manufacturers are introducing “silent shooting” lenses, or lenses with quieter focusing mechanisms. If you can, look for a lens that’s on the quieter side when it comes to focusing (both manual and auto). It’s not the most essential feature, but it minimizes the chance you’ll wake up that newborn when they’re photogenically sleeping in the perfect position.
The Best Lenses for Newborn Photography
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L
- Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM Lens
- Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM Lens
- Canon EF 35mm f/2
- Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3
- Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM
- Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Lens
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S Lens
- Nikon 35mm f/1.4G AF-S NIKKOR
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S Lens
- Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART Lens for Nikon
- Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART Lens for Canon
Best Canon Lenses for Newborn Photography
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L is one of the best choices for taking portraits since it’s capable of shooting wide open due to its f/1.2L aperture. It is one of the fastest autofocus lenses in its class, and exudes professional quality through its wide 72mm filter diameter and ability to resist dust and moisture.
The lens includes a high refraction glass molded aspherical lens element that minimizes spherical aberration so you can capture finer details and maintain superior image quality.
Key Features:
- Lens Mount: Canon EF
- Lens Format: Full Frame
- Focal Length: 50mm
- 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/2 Macro IS STM Lens
With a bright f/2 aperture and stunning prime quality, the Canon RF 85mm f/2 is one of the best lenses for newborn photography. The maximum f/2 aperture, and its nine-blade circular aperture construction, let you softly blur out the background, creating dazzling bokeh that puts the baby in crystal-clear focus.
Plus, this Canon RF 85mm lens offers a 1.15-foot minimum focusing distance, giving you the utmost flexibility when it comes to creating and framing your shot. And the image stabilization with up to five stops of shake correction ensure you can get creative going handheld—without compromising image quality. A built-in 12-pin communication system also ensures a speedy autofocus response time.
Key Features:
- Lens Mount: Canon RF
- Lens Format: Full Frame
- Focal Length: 85mm
- Maximum Aperture: f/2
- Bright f/2 Aperture Mid-telephoto Macro RF Lens
- Maximum Magnification of 0.5x and Minimum Focusing Distance of 1.15′
- Up to 5 Stops of Shake Correction
- 12-pin Communication System
- 9 blade Circular Aperture
Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM Lens
As the world’s first medium telephoto macro lens, the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 is a go-to for baby photography. You can capture your adorable subjects from near or far, with a fixed 100mm focal length and up to 1.4x magnification with autofocus. The f/2.8 maximum aperture guarantees that dreamy bokeh background newborn photographers pine for. And, the built-in image stabilization with up to five stops of shake correction let you move around handheld, without worrying about blurred images.
The high-speed and smooth autofocus keeps your subject sharp throughout the session, while a dust and weather-resistant build lets you get outside and experiment with more natural settings, too.
Key Features:
- Lens Mount: Canon RF
- Lens Format: Full Frame
- Focal Length: 100mm
- Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
- Maximum Magnification of 1.4x
- Up to 5 Stops of Shake Correction
- Hybrid IS Compensates for Angular and Shift Camera Shake during Macro Shooting
- High Speed, Smooth and Quiet Auto Focus with Dual Nano USM
- Control Ring for Direct Setting Changes
Canon EF 35mm f/2
The Canon EF 35mm f/2 is a lightweight and versatile wide-angle classic Canon lens. Equipped with a GMo aspherical lens element, you’re assured outstanding image quality. It features a fast maximum aperture, built-in image stabilization, full-time manual focus override, and a micro-stepping drive aperture for quieter operation. Since it produces minimal noise, it’s useful for taking photos of babies who happen to be sound asleep.
Its full-time manual focus enables manual focusing while in AF mode–and thanks to its low-speed focus, you can also take impressive videos.
Key Features:
- Lens Mount: Canon EF
- Lens Format: Full Frame
- Focal Length: 35mm
- Maximum Aperture: f/2
- 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
Best Sony Lens for Newborn Photography
Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3
The Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 is the only lens from Sony that offers telephoto zoom capabilities for their crop-sensor camera bodies (APS-C). As a telephoto lens with 3.8x zoom, it’s a universal lens for close-up portraits. The lens also offers a beautiful blur background via its 7-lobe circular aperture. As a lightweight lens, you can easily fit the E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 into your pocket. It includes an Optical Steady Shot feature that enhances image sharpness when you’re taking handheld photos.
Key Features:
- Lens Format: Sony E (APS-C)
- Focal Length:55-210mm
- Maximum Aperture: f/4.5-6.3
- Standard to Telephoto Zoom Lens
- Built-in Optical SteadyShot image stabilization system
- 7-blade circular aperture
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM (G Master) E-Mount Lens
For full versatility in newborn photography, it doesn’t get much better than the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. The full-frame G Master standard zoom lens delivers stellar image resolution—among the best in its class—with an aperture that lets you capture blurred backgrounds (and in low-lit situations).
The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 lens promises ultra-fast and quiet focusing; that means the baby will stay crystal clear as you move around, and noisy focus sounds won’t distract them when they’re in the perfect pose. Adding to the lens’ many features are the extra-low dispersion (ED) and super ED glass elements that reduce flare and ghosting—promising a perfect and wall-worthy set of images.
Key Features:
- Lens Mount: Sony E-Mount
- Lens Format: Full Frame
- Focal Length: 24-70mm
- Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
- New XA (extreme aspherical) lens element
- Direct Drive Super Sonic Wave Motor (SSM) focus system
- Nano AR Coating technology to minimize flare and ghosting
Best Nikon Lenses for Newborn Photography
NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Lens
Edge-to-edge sharpness and impeccable image quality are among the many features that make the Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 lens a must-have for baby photography. The 105mm prime lens offers a true 1:1 maximum reproduction ratio, helping subjects look realistic as can be. With an f/2.8 aperture, you can frame the newborn while softly blurring out the distracting backdrop.
The lens works just as well as a 105mm mid-telephoto lens as it does as a portrait lens; you can get as close as 0.96 feet from your subject while staying in focus. And, five-axis image stabilization (when used with a compatible Z series camera) makes handheld shooting a breeze.
Key Features:
- Lens Mount: Nikon Z-Mount
- Lens Format: Full Frame
- Focal Length: 105mm
- Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
- Full 1:1 reproduction ratio
- 4.5 stop Vibration Reduction
- 5-axis Image Stabilization
NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S Lens
Another great Nikon lens for newborn photography is the NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8. This fast and high-quality prime is a go-to for professional photographers. It features an f/1.8 maximum aperture that promises a soft, gorgeous blurred background that draws the viewer’s eye to the most important part of the image: the baby! It features eye-detection and autofocus to make your shoot day a breeze.
Plus, ultra-quiet motor features ensure you won’t distract the baby once they’re in the perfect pose. You can expect astonishing image quality with the NIKKOR Z 85mm lens; it features two extra-low dispersion elements to reduce chromatic aberration and color fringing, ensuring a top-notch final product.
Key Features:
- Lens Mount: Nikon Z-Mount
- Lens Format: Full Frame
- Focal Length: 85mm
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
- Customizable Control Ring
- 9-Blade Rounded Diaphragm
- 2 Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements
- New Multi-Focus System
- Dual Detect 5 Axis VR
Nikon 35mm f/1.4G AF-S NIKKOR
The Nikon 35mm f/1.4 lens offers perception that’s similar to that found in the human eye due to its 35mm focal length. This means you can capture stunning photos with breathtaking clarity, even under dim lighting conditions. The lens is perfect for you if you take baby photos on the daily since it has a strong design, is fashioned from high-quality materials, and offers top-notch optical performance.
Its fast maximum aperture ensures a bright viewfinder image every time, as well as a beautiful background blur. To top that off, it includes a Nano Crystal Coat (N) and Aspherical Lens Element (AS) that eliminates ghosting, flare, coma and other types of aberration.
Key Features:
- Lens Mount: Nikon F-Mount
- Focal Length: 35mm
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
- Nano Crystal Coat
- Optimized for Edge-to-edge Sharpness
- Aspherical Lens Element
- N and AS element
- Silent Wave Motor (SWM) and Rear Focusing (RF)
Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S Lens
Few focal lengths are as perfect for newborn photography as 50mm, and the Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 lens does not disappoint. It’s no wonder it’s one of our favorite 50mm Nikon lenses. As a high-quality prime with a bright f/1.8 aperture, you can rest assured you’ll create crisp, dazzling baby portraits with every snap of the shutter.
This lens produces images that are impressively life-like, with reduced image distortion. And the stunning, creamy bokeh guaranteed with the f/1.8 aperture makes this a can’t-beat baby-lens option. Even better? Quick autofocus. The built-in, noiseless AF technology works swiftly for focused images throughout the shoot, while the manual focusing option remains for those who want full control.
- Lens Mount: Nikon Z-Mount
- Focal Length: 50mm
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
- Customizable Control Ring
- New Dual Detect 5 Axis VR
- ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) Glass
- Nano Crystal Coat
Best Sigma Lenses for Newborn Photography
Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART Lens for Nikon
The Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART Lens is designed for full-frame DLSRs. When used on digicams with an APS-C size image sensor, it can double as a 38mm lens. Its versatility means you can use it for many types of photography, including weddings and astrophotography. But it really excels when it comes to capturing indoor photos.
Additionally, the lens can capture impressive photos in low light thanks to its exceptional focal plane sharpness and gorgeous bokeh. With both a Low Dispersion (FLD) glass and Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass, you can minimize chromatic aberration and take clearer photos.
Key Features:
- Lens Mount: Nikon F-Mount
- Focal Length: 34mm
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
- Incorporates FLD and SLD glass
- Optimized Power Layout
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART Lens for Canon
If you’re looking for a high-end 50mm lens with an ultra-fast autofocus, then the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM is the lens for you. It provides good coverage on a full-frame body and is equivalent to a 75mm lens when used with an APS-C body.
The lens includes an optimized autofocus algorithm so you can focus your images more smoothly while reducing lens movement. Moreover, it includes a Super Multi-Layer Coating that reduces ghosting and flair.
Key Features:
- Lens Mount: Nikon EF-Mount
- Focal Length: 50mm
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
- Incredible Focal Point Sharpness
- Pairs well with Pro-Level DSLRs
- Optimized Autofocus Algorithm
- Floating Focusing System
