Taking pictures of babies can be a huge challenge and a huge source of stress as well, but the rewards can be wonderful to look at.
Babies tend to sleep, eat and cry a lot and won't pose in front of the camera but don't let that put you off photographing them. Do not be discouraged by this - instead, use this challenge to motivate you towards creating the best baby portrait you could.
One of the most important factors in photographing babies is patience and the way you apply child psychology when relating to the baby. One classic example would be babies six months and above, as they are usually shy and defensive in nature. Here's where you can use child psychology to the best of your capabilities, talking in baby talk, playing with the baby, or even acting like a friendly little baby yourself. The keys of your car can be very effective. But remember, your job is to take a baby portrait; you must be able to react quickly when the infant responds to your entertainment. Shooting a portrait of a newborn baby can be difficult. Because newborn babies are largely stationary, your best is to take headshots of the baby in close-ups. Try using natural light from a bedroom window to add mood to the portrait.
Older babies tend to be more active, even hyperactive, so you have to work quickly. That being said, you have to work as quickly as you can while the baby isn't tired yet.
For babies seven months and older, a twist is added to the challenge of shooting quickly. These babies change position on their whim and get bored very easily.
If you are serious about baby photography and you tend to shoot from your own studio make sure you have a lot of toys to amuse the infants. You may want to shoot color photos or black and white ones, but in any case, they look best with a light colored background.
Parents may be worried about the affect of studio lights on their baby. You have to confidently explain that strobe lights are safe even for babies. Try to explain this before it becomes a concern.
Ask for the parents' permission first before handling an infant. Most parents will be very protective and won't react well to a stranger lifting the infant.
Watch out for the fingers - fingers in the mouth can be attractive but on most occasions they will obscure the face.
One quick and final advice when dealing with baby portraits - always get the parents' consent before selling the photos to an agency. There is a large market out there for baby pictures but agencies or magazines won't touch them without the parents consent. You may be tempted to show off what you can do on baby portraits, and while that is all well and good, you should also put proper child care at a premium when shooting these photos.
Babies tend to sleep, eat and cry a lot and won't pose in front of the camera but don't let that put you off photographing them. Do not be discouraged by this - instead, use this challenge to motivate you towards creating the best baby portrait you could.
One of the most important factors in photographing babies is patience and the way you apply child psychology when relating to the baby. One classic example would be babies six months and above, as they are usually shy and defensive in nature. Here's where you can use child psychology to the best of your capabilities, talking in baby talk, playing with the baby, or even acting like a friendly little baby yourself. The keys of your car can be very effective. But remember, your job is to take a baby portrait; you must be able to react quickly when the infant responds to your entertainment. Shooting a portrait of a newborn baby can be difficult. Because newborn babies are largely stationary, your best is to take headshots of the baby in close-ups. Try using natural light from a bedroom window to add mood to the portrait.
Older babies tend to be more active, even hyperactive, so you have to work quickly. That being said, you have to work as quickly as you can while the baby isn't tired yet.
For babies seven months and older, a twist is added to the challenge of shooting quickly. These babies change position on their whim and get bored very easily.
If you are serious about baby photography and you tend to shoot from your own studio make sure you have a lot of toys to amuse the infants. You may want to shoot color photos or black and white ones, but in any case, they look best with a light colored background.
Parents may be worried about the affect of studio lights on their baby. You have to confidently explain that strobe lights are safe even for babies. Try to explain this before it becomes a concern.
Ask for the parents' permission first before handling an infant. Most parents will be very protective and won't react well to a stranger lifting the infant.
Watch out for the fingers - fingers in the mouth can be attractive but on most occasions they will obscure the face.
One quick and final advice when dealing with baby portraits - always get the parents' consent before selling the photos to an agency. There is a large market out there for baby pictures but agencies or magazines won't touch them without the parents consent. You may be tempted to show off what you can do on baby portraits, and while that is all well and good, you should also put proper child care at a premium when shooting these photos.
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