Photographing Infants: Capture the Best Baby Pictures

New parents have only one chance to capture their baby’s “firsts.” Whether you’re a new parent or doting grandparent or you’re just interested in learning about photographing infants, here are some tips for capturing great baby moments!

Make Photographing Your Infant a Habit
Your baby will have plenty of firsts: the first bath, the first smile and the first steps are only a few. To capture as many of these firsts as you can, try to have your camera handy as much as possible.

Your newborn will be a toddler before you know it, so you should make photographing your infant part of your routine. By taking pictures regularly, you can track your newborn’s growth.

The Perfect Shot May Be One in a Hundred
In newborn and infant photography, quantity can lead to quality. As unpredictable as they can be, you may not get perfect baby pictures in the first few shots you take. Don’t be afraid to fill up your camera’s entire memory in one photography session.

The more pictures of the baby you take, the better the chance that you’ll capture one perfect moment. With a digital camera, you can easily delete the baby pictures you don’t want.

Capture the Mood, Even if It’s Cranky
No one smiles all the time, especially not babies. If you’re trying to get a posed shot or portrait of your little one, pay attention to your baby’s schedule. A well-rested, well-fed and comfortable baby will be more cooperative, offering you better photo ops. However, make sure you catch your baby in all moods. A pout or frown can work just as well as a smile in infant photography.

Get Pictures of the Baby, Not the Crib
Don’t be afraid to zoom in to your infant when taking pictures. A close-up will truly capture your baby’s personality and features. If the crib or other background objects aren’t important to the baby picture, crop them out.

Put Pictures in Perspective
First, make sure that you get down to your baby’s level when taking pictures. By aligning yourself (and your camera) with your baby, you can capture the moment from your infant’s perspective. Once you have a few baby pictures from this angle, move around and find new and interesting angles to give pictures a different feel.

Keep the Background Simple
When photographing infants, clutter in the background only detracts from your baby. Try to eliminate distractions from the backgrounds of your baby pictures. During posed infant and newborn photography, minimize clutter by selecting a solid color blanket or a single stuffed for your infant. This ensures that the focus of your photo is your baby.

People and Props Add to Baby Pictures
While you should eliminate distracting objects from your baby pictures, some people and props aren’t necessarily clutter. Include natural moments with your family and friends in your infant photography. Capture the loving interaction between grandparent and grandchild or the delicate care of a sibling holding the newborn for the first time.

You can also take a picture of your baby with a favorite toy. These props can serve not only to preserve memories, but also to track your baby’s growth. By using the same favorite stuffed animal, you can watch your infant grow in relation to the toy.

Infant Photography Is All About Action
While newborn and infant photography in a studio may consist of posed baby pictures, in real life, your infant is constantly moving. When trying to capture these moves, set your camera to action mode.

You can prepare for action shots by setting your shot (aiming the camera at your baby) and gently pressing the shutter halfway to lock the focus. When your baby moves, press the shutter down the rest of the way to ensure that your action shot will be in focus.

Good Lighting for Great Photographs
Although you may love to be outside on sunny days, direct sunlight can create harsh shadows and tends to cause your baby to squint. Consequently, outdoors may not be the best setting for infant photography. While overcast days are optimal for photographing infants, you can also make sunny day pictures turn out by finding a shady spot to take your baby pictures.

If you’re taking pictures indoors, try using the natural light from a window to light your baby. Natural light can give your infant a softer appearance than flash photography.

Eliminating Red Eye From Baby Pictures
If you don’t have an adjustable flash to point at the ceiling, be sure to use the built-in red-eye feature on your camera. If your camera doesn’t have the red-eye reducer (or to add even more red-eye protections), follow these steps:

• Turn on the lights in the room to decrease pupil size.
• Divert your infant’s attention, so the baby is not looking directly into the camera.

Enjoy, Print and Share Pictures of Your Baby
By using these tips, you’re now ready to take great baby pictures that you can share with others and keep for years as memories.