Whenever I hear one of my friends complain about how hard it is to photograph their infants I always say with a smile: “You think it’s hard now wait until they’re older and they can actually run from the camera.”
(One of my favorite “Tummy Shots”)
I don’t know about you, but I never had a problem getting great shots of my child when she was an infant. My problems started when she learned the word “no” and was old enough to hightail it out of a room the moment she saw me reach for my camera. (We’ve since worked through those issues and now she will smile on demand “for two pictures only mommy.” Hey, I take what I can get.)
If you are anything like me when you aren’t nursing, rocking or changing your newborn’s diaper you are trying to capture those famous series of firsts–- first night at home, first smile, and first time wearing that adorable pink dress with the matching pink shoes and hair ribbon.
Newborns are amazing and precious gifts and as far as I am concerned their every move should be documented (but then again I am a self-professed snap happy parent). The following are a few tips that have helped me capture some memorable shots of my own daughter.
Love Is In The Details. If executed properly detailed shots can become works of art. If you are growing frustrated with failed attempts to capture your baby’s entire body, zoom in tight on a tiny hand or a foot. You can take this a step further and lay your baby’s hand into an adult’s or an older sibling’s to emphasize just how tiny they are.
Tummy Time = Terrific Shots. Once your infant is old enough to raise his head use tummy time to your advantage. Lay your baby on his belly and catch his attention so he looks up at you. This works best if you are on the same level as your child. Some of the best shots I have of my daughter were taken when she was on her tummy.
Practice Patience, Patience, Patience. Infants are fueled by their curiosity. Everything grabs their attention and just when you have your baby in the perfect position and you’re behind your camera, she may roll over to see what’s happening on the other side. Remember to exercise patience. I would recommend taking a few test shots to ensure you have your lighting and framing just right. Then, once you place your baby in the shot you can simply shoot away. Also, keep in mind that you only need one great shot. No child is going to tolerate a 45-minute photo shoot. Be content if you capture a few nice pictures. After all, a handful of fantastic shots are much more powerful than 50 mediocre shots.
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Snapping Frameworthy Shots Of Your Kids
More Common Sense Tips To Capturing A Frame-Worthy Picture
Common Sense Tips To Capturing Frame-Worthy Pictures