Freelance Writing Jobs | Today's Articles | sign in

How to Photograph Babies

Capturing Photo Memories of Baby's Early Months

Nov 30, 2008 Lisa Koning

Babies are wonderful subjects for photographers. These tips will help improve your photography skills and take better shoots of baby.

There is no denying that children grow up very quickly; the changes that babies go through in their first year are amazing and not something to be missed. Photographs are very special mementos, chronicling a child’s progression; they are something that will be shared and looked back on for many years to come. So how can you take better photos of babies?

Tips for Taking Photos of Babies

Use natural lighting if possible. Newborn and young babies won’t like having the flash go off in their face. Take baby outside in nice weather, or look for rooms in your house that have good natural lighting, such as a conservatory or a room with big windows.
Forget poses (okay, except when aunties and uncles are around!). Otherwise capture the everyday moments when parents, siblings, friends are interacting with baby.
Get up close (but not with the flash, remember!) Eye contact is great and close shots are good for capturing expressions.
Avoid distracting backgrounds. Putting baby on a white or plain bedspread and letting baby do what comes naturally can make great photos.
Get down on the floor. Play and interact with baby. Have fun and while you and baby are laughing, snap some photos. Candid photography is about capturing a moment – and when you look back at that photo you’ll remember that moment!
Keep clothing simple. It can be tempting to dress baby up in fancy clothes, but it’s baby’s face and expressions that we want to capture, and sometimes a simply baby grow suit means focus stays with baby.
Photograph the little things. Toes and feet. Little fingers. These are all great and when you look back at them you’ll be amazed at how small baby was.
Keep your camera handy. It doesn’t need to be a special occasion. Capturing Mum or Dad feeding baby is something worth keeping. As are the special times when siblings interact with each other. Having a bath, cuddling a special toy, in the car seat; all every day events that will bring a smile to look back on.
Experiment. If you have a digital camera you can’t waste film. Try different angles and distances; see what you like. Taking many photos in quick succession can produce a lovely series of shots capturing many expressions and emotions.
Don’t forget you and baby. If you are Mum or Dad and also the photographer in the house it is likely that you capture everyone with baby except yourself! So sometimes hand the camera over to someone else.

You can’t take too many photos of baby, and the more practice you get; the more likely it is that you’ll improve your photographic skills. Throw a camera in your bag and don’t forget to capture those every day moments in baby’s life. And remember taking baby photos should be fun for you and for baby!

For tips on photographing older children see Suite101 article: Photographing Children. The Digital Photography School and Kodak have tips and hints on photographing babies.

The copyright of the article How to Photograph Babies in Photography is owned by Lisa Koning. Permission to republish How to Photograph Babies in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Getting Up Close