Yesterday I saw the most adorable photo of a baby nestled in his father’s guitar case.
Brilliant.
That’s the kind of creativity I wish I had exercised when my daughter was a baby. Whereas I was (and still am) a snap happy parent, I don’t have many images of her in unique poses ala Anne Geddes.
Who thinks of dressing up an infant as a bird and placing her in a nest or wrapping up a newborn to look like a pupa, and then documenting the moment with a camera?
Fortunately, you don’t have to rack your brain to capture your child in a cute moment. There are many conventional poses that can be equally darling, though you’ll need to get your child to cooperate in order to make the photo work. Newborns and infants are still developing so getting them to control certain body parts is a challenge. What’s more, babies don’t communicate very well, so you will have to plan accordingly.
When taking photos of very young children, it’s a good idea to have a few props on hand. If you don’t like the way the props look in the shot, you can always remove them with the help of photo-editing software. Otherwise, keep the props simple so they don’t distract from your baby’s face. If you are photographing a toddler, consider placing him on a small stool and positioning his head so he is facing the camera, but not looking directly into the lens. Then, gingerly adjust his chin so it is a bit lower than the top of his shoulders. Doing this will force the child’s eyes to open a bit more as he looks up toward the camera. If your indoor lighting is poor, you could replicate the pose outdoors by having your toddler sit on a swing or tree stump.
Another flattering pose is taken from an angle. Position your child on a stool with her shoulders at a 90-degree angle from the camera. Then, have her turn her head toward the lens. This is another pose that works well outdoors. Rather than shooting indoors, have your child strike the playful pose on the grass, a park bench or a slide.
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