I don’t know about you, but trying to get perfect photos of an infant can be a challenge at best. Even still I would rather try to capture Ava at 6 months old than Keira at 2 and a half. Ava might not hold still for very long, and she might look away and eventually she will break out in tears but she can’t run away. I know now that I need to make sure I take advantage of every opportunity I get to snap pictures of even the most mundane seeming moments.
These tips will help you make the most out of your photography sessions, for Better Baby Photography.
Tip #1: Forget the frightening flash
Turn off your flash! Not only can flash be startling to your baby, it creates a much harsher light. For a better picture, open your windows or move your baby outdoors. Natural light will make it easier to capture your baby’s natural beauty, by ensuring you don’t lose the depth in your baby’s features.
Tip #2: Work those angles
Get down to your baby’s level. This allows you to look right into their eyes and gives them the power to look right back – they will appear much more engaged in the picture and they might even give you that elusive smile.
Tip #3: Don’t worry about perfect posing
Don’t get too hung up on creating the perfect backdrop or coaxing baby into a classic pose. Taking pictures of your baby is about capturing who they are and they may not always be smiley, happy or perfectly poised. However, life and art is about capturing reality and when you look back later, you might appreciate having a few tantrum shots.
Tip #4: Know when to stop
Babies get tired and fussy and it’s important not to drag the photography session on too long. If you know when to stop, taking pictures of your baby will be a lot more fun – for both of you.
Tip#5: Print & Store
Digital photos are great for sharing, but it’s also lots of fun to print your photos and make the magical moments last. Disney Baby offers a great selection of Photo Albums and Picture Frames to help you store and display your pictures, so you can hang on to your memories for many years to come.
Another tip I would love to share is not to rely on your point and shoot or your phone when it comes to baby photography. Investing in a DSLR is so worth the increased quality, and most are easy enough for anyone to just pick up and use in automatic shooting mode. Just trust me. My photography has gone from OK to pretty well professional quality. I regret almost daily that I did not have a DSLR when Keira was an infant. I definitely recommend picking up a Canon EOS Rebel SL1 if you are a beginner as it is as easy to use as a point and shoot. Really! The photos in this post were all taken when I first got my DSLR and didn’t really have a clue.
Some of the photos I have taken of Ava are priceless, like this gorgeous one of her with her Grandma, Great Aunt and Great Grandmother (who turns an amazing 100 years old this year). Definitely worthy of her Baby photo album!
Who is the photographer in your house?
Disclosure: I am a Disney Baby Mom Ambassador and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group; however all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Elizabeth Lampman is a coffee-fuelled Mom of 2 girls and lives in Hamilton, Ontario. She enjoys travelling, developing easy recipes, crafting, taking on diy projects, travelling and saving money!
kathy downey
Sunday 1st of March 2015
Beautiful girl,great tips natural light is so important i
kathy downey
Thursday 11th of September 2014
Thanks for the tips! Lovely photos
Charlotte @ Pirate Monkey Mama
Friday 18th of July 2014
Thanks for the tips. I definitely need all the help I can get in the photography department. My hubby loves taking pictures but I find that mine are always hit or miss at best.
Victoria Ess
Thursday 17th of July 2014
Natural light is so important in general. She is SO cute!
MrDisco
Wednesday 16th of July 2014
great tips