One of my proudest moments as a mom is when I capture my son in a photograph in just the right way: it’s focused, he’s smiling, and everything about the picture is adorable. I can’t get them on Facebook fast enough for all my friends and family to oohh-and-aahh over. A few of my friends have asked me how I get such good pictures of my son. Part of it is technique and part of it is the fact that he is just plain cute. Obviously I am a little biased because I’m his mom! I’m going to share with you some of the techniques I use to get the perfect photo. When it comes to taking great pictures of your infant, it all comes down to five things: timing, lighting, props, the art of distraction, and post-processing. Today I’ll talk about timing.
Timing means having your camera within reach at all times, taking posed photos at the right time of day, waiting for your baby to be in the right mood, and waiting for the perfect moment to press the shutter.
Right Time of Day
For a variety of reasons, taking your picture at the right time of day is crucial. The first hour of the day is magical. Your baby is happiest after a good night’s rest. The lighting in your home near a western facing window in the morning is perfect for taking beautiful photographs. Finally, your baby is likely still clean and drool free!
The Right Mood
You’ll never get that perfect shot if your baby’s needs aren’t met, she is too tired, or she is too distracted by something and is moving around too much. If you want that perfect shot, you’ll have to be flexible. You might have everything set up already, but you’ll need to postpone if your baby is not up for a photo shoot. Sometimes, you’ll discover you need to set up your shot quickly when the perfect moment arrives. After a while, you’ll learn the pattern of your baby’s moods and will be able to predict when she’ll be most likely to flash you that adorable gummy grin.
When to “Snap”
Babies are in constant motion. Even if they are sitting still, their face is an ever-changing canvas of emotion, reflecting their mood and the state of their environment at any given moment. Because of this, choosing when to press the shutter has a dramatic affect on the outcome of your photo. When photographing an older child, you can instruct them to hold still and smile. If you take five pictures in a row, they’ll all look very similar. With a baby, if you take five pictures in a row, each one may be completely different. If you’re not confident in your ability to snap the picture at the perfect moment (for example, during the 1.2 seconds that your baby smiles the biggest), I recommend using the “burst” setting on your camera. This will allow you to hold down the shutter while your camera takes a series of photos in very quick succession. This feature is great for when your baby is playing or being exceptionally wiggly. You’ll end up sifting through many photos to find “the one,” but results are worth the effort (provided that everything else fell into place).
In Review: Take your baby’s photo in the first hour of the day when she is happy, rested, fed, clean and content. If necessary, use the “burst” setting on your camera to get that perfect pose.