Taking Better Baby Portraits

Posted on 27. Apr, 2010 by admin in Baby Center, Model & Actor Tips, Parenting, Photo Techniques

By Jerry Sparrow

The first few weeks of a new baby’s life are a busy time for parents. But this is also a great time to take photographs of your baby.

Here’s how to make the most of this opportunity:
• Dress the baby in an outfit that fits just right. If the outfit is too big, your baby may wriggle down into it and obscure the face.
• Take pictures in an area of your home that benefits from great natural light. Filtered sunlight through windows helps produce wonderful images.
• Placing the baby on something like a beanbag gives great natural support while you take your photographs.
• Get close, then closer. It’s OK to take a close-up shot. You want to see more of your baby and less of your room.
• Zoom in on specific feature: a hand, a foot, an ear and those perfect tiny toes. They will never be that small again.
• Use a parent’s hand in the photograph with the baby. Contrasting the different sizes of an adult hand and a baby’s hand makes for an interesting image. You could use a sibling’s hand, too.
• Photograph your baby on a solid-colored, or lightly-patterned, blanket.
• Include a favorite toy or blanket in the shot.
• Photographs of sleeping babies can look very cute. So plan ahead and create a space for your baby to have a nap where you can take a good picture. Leave yourself space to walk around to get unobstructed shots at different angles.
• Take lots of photographs. The more you take the better the chance of taking ones that you really like.

ENJOY A STRESS-FREE SITTING
As babies get older, and stronger, they are better able to pose for a portrait sitting. At around six to eight weeks babies may be lifting up their heads. At approximately six or seven months they can probably sit up. At this stage you could also consider using the services of a professional photographer who can bring their equipment to your home. This is less stressful for the baby than traveling to a studio and so can lead to better portraits. It also means both parents can participate with the baby in the sitting.

LEARN FROM A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
Professional children’s photographers are used to interacting with babies and have accumulated a variety of tricks to get babies to smile for, and look at, the camera. Parents may use the opportunity to watch and learn how the photographer interacts with the baby to get the most from the sitting. They will see how the lighting is set up, how the sitting area is prepared, how different outfits and favorite toys are positioned close at hand. When the session begins, the photographer starts talking to the baby. The baby responds with a quizzical look and then with a smile. Snap. A toy appears in the photographer’s hand and the baby giggles. Snap. After a short while, the baby has been photographed in different outfits, in different poses, with a favorite toy and a favorite blanket, with mom and with dad. The result is an album’s worth of beautiful portraits that capture a special moment in a family’s life.

One company with professional children’s photographs in major metropolitan areas throughout the country is Our365 Portraits. They have been taking portraits of babies in their own homes since 1948. You can learn more about its approach to taking beautiful in-home children’s portraits at our365portraits.com, or by calling 1-877-850-5437. Mention The CuteKid for a special deal.

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Tags: baby photos, baby portraits, child photography, Our 365, photography