Photographing Baby

There are a few new moms on the photo staff here. Noreen's daughter, Isabella, was born in August 2006, and Jenna's son, Caden, was born in March 2006. We thought we would offer a few suggestions for getting good photos of your infant:

 

Time your photo sessions well.

Every baby has a window of time each day when they're most alert. Though Isabella tends to be a very smiley baby, she's most alert and affable somewhere between 8AM and 11AM daily. Be sure to have your camera ready during your baby's alert times to capture her smiley moments.

 

Capture the details.

Think about showing your baby's development by photographing details: her hand in your hand, the size of his little feet, or even the size of his first shoes.

 

Turn your flash off. Your baby will also thank you.

Get your baby in some natural light. Make sure your light source is behind you when you're taking the picture. Or experiment with having your light source come in from a side angle. You want to avoid the "deer in the headlights" look.

 

A little person with a big personality. In the moment.

Little personalities come out surprisingly quickly. Think about those details that make your baby unique. Then take a little bit of time (that virtual 5 minutes you can "spare") and think about how you want to capture them visually. Then wait for the moment. Remember that these things can't be rushed, and trying to pose a baby is an exercise in futility. It's always just a matter of time before the next mood manifests itself.  

 

Get Close. Then get closer.

Don't be afraid to try a few really close shots. Fill the entire frame with nothing but baby, and you instantly get rid of background distractions and clutter, resulting in a really nice portrait.

 

Don't forget to take a few snapshots of reality.

Some of my favorite photos show the happy chaos that reigns in a house with an infant. Although these  won't be the ones that make it onto the holiday card, they'll be priceless reminders of these short months when your child is very young. Does baby do a lot of crying? Snap a photo of that too. It won't be long before he grows out of it (I promise!) and you'll be able to look back and laugh.

 

Do you have any tricks or tips when it comes to photographing your baby? Have a favorite photo? Please share!

 

- Noreen & Jenna