Baby Photos
Baby photography can be a joy, but it can also be incredibly infuriating as it’s nigh on impossible to communicate that you want them to look this way, sit still, do this and do that.
In this round-up, we’ll be serving up a bunch of baby photography tips to hopefully take some of the stress away from you, whether it’s your own baby you’re photographing or somebody else’s. We’ve divided the tips into different categories, as some are more appropriate depending on the age of the baby, while some apply to preparation, and others to after you’ve taken the shot.
Prepare for a baby photography
1. Pick the best time
Unless you’re photographing a baby that is just a couple of days old, it’s likely that the baby will have some kind of routine. The parents should know when they’re likely to be at their calmest – this is the time you should aim for (don’t be surprised if the baby spontaneously changes pattern though…).
2. Know the light
Once you know what time of day (roughly) you’re going to be shooting, pick the best place to photograph. For babies you’ll want to stick to natural lighting – near a window is ideal, but the light may change depending on what time of day it is.
3. Remove clothes ahead of time
If you’re going to photograph a baby without any clothes on (typically newborn shoots go this way), it’s a good idea to remove any ahead of time to reduce any marks or lines from the clothes on baby’s skin.
4. Colour palette
On the other hand, if you’re going with a clothed shot – think about how what baby is wearing co-ordinates or clashes with the background you’re going to shoot on.
5. Check your equipment ahead of time
If you’re lucky, you’ll get maybe 10 minutes of shooting time with a fidgety baby. Don’t waste that by cleaning lenses, checking your bag for the lens you need, etc. Have everything you need, cleaned and within easy reach before you start shooting.
6. Allow enough time
Although you may only get a tiny amount of actual shooting time, you need to plan for a whole lot more. Minutes and hours can easily be swallowed up by a tantrum, a nappy change, an unexpected snooze… you get the picture. Allow at least a couple of hours,if you can.
7. Use your resources
Websites like Pinterest are positively brimming with posing tips and suggestions for babies. Have a browse and make a particular note of anything you want to try ahead of time.
8. Make a list
Your time with the baby, or when the baby is in a photographic mood, may be limited. Have a list of shots (that also includes the incidentals, close-ups and macro shots) you want to grab ready to tick off rather than trying to remember – and inevitably – forgetting something.
9. Use a tripod
If you mount your camera on a tripod, it leaves your hands free to pose the baby (great for newborns) or create a fuss or distraction to get the expressions you want (for older babies). Just be careful that the baby doesn’t wander outside the edge of the frame. Set up the tripod in the room you’ll be photographing in ahead of time.
10. Baby photography apps
You can get great photos with your phone too! Download one of the many free apps for Android or iOS that will play a sound or funny noise from your phone to encourage babies to look directly at the camera lens.
11. Online shopping trip
Website Etsy is a great place to find props for baby photography. From hats to baskets to cocoons for the baby to sit in, there’s plenty of sellers geared up exactly for this kind of photography. You could re-sell any items you buy on eBay once you’re done with them, too.
12. Keep an eye out for baskets
Baskets make for a classic place to pose a baby – especially a newborn or very small baby. If you can find a shallow basket – homeware stores such as Ikea are great – then it’s ideal, but otherwise, pad the bottom of a basket out with cushions, towels or blankets.
13. Always in raw format
Shooting in raw format is generally a good idea, but especially so with babies. If you manage to grab a shot, but the white balance or exposure is slightly off, you can alter that in Photoshop no problem.
14. Blank space
With baby shoots, you don’t want to have anything that can take your attention away from the baby doing something great. You can guarantee that the best moment will come just as your memory card fills up. Get in the habit of formatting your memory card before each shoot.
This is just a starter. Tune in for more!!
