88 TIPS FOR GREAT BABY PHOTOS
There’s some irony in the fact that one of the most photographed subject genres in the world is also one of the most challenging. Baby photography can be a joy, but it can also be an incredibly infuriating experience, as it’s close to impossible to communicate to your subject that you want them to look this way, sit still, and do this and do that. In this round-up we’ll be sharing 88 baby photography tips that will help you to get better results, whether you’re photographing your own baby or someone else’s.
We’ve divided the tips into different categories; some are more appropriate for certain ages, while others apply to preparation or post-production.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A BABY PHOTOGRAPHY SHOOT
1 PICK THE BEST TIME
Unless you’re photographing a baby who’s just a few days old, it’s likely that he or she will have some kind of routine. The parents should know when they’re likely to be at their calmest, and this is when you should aim to photograph them (don’t be surprised if the baby rips up the schedule though…)
2 KNOW THE LIGHT
Once you know what time of day (roughly) you’re going to be shooting, pick the best place to photograph. For babies you’ll want to stick to natural lighting - near a window is ideal, but the light may change depending on what time of day it is.
3 REMOVE CLOTHES AHEAD OF TIME
If you’re going to photograph a baby without any clothes on (typically newborn shoots go this way), it’s a good idea to remove clothing items ahead of time to reduce any marks or lines from the clothes on the baby’s skin.
4 COLOUR PALETTE
If you’re going with a clothed shot, think about whether the baby’s clothes co-ordinate or clash with the background you’re going to shoot them against.
5 CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT AHEAD OF TIME
If you’re lucky, you’ll get maybe 10 minutes of shooting time with a fidgety baby, so don’t waste that by cleaning lenses, checking your bag for the lens you need and so on. Have everything you need, cleaned and within easy reach, before you start shooting.
6 ALLOW ENOUGH TIME
Although you may only get a tiny amount of actual shooting time, you need to plan for a whole lot more. Minutes and hours can easily be swallowed up by a tantrum, a nappy change, a snooze… you get the picture.
7 USE YOUR RESOURCES
Websites such as Pinterest are positively brimming with posing tips and suggestions for babies. Have a browse, and make a note of anything you want to try ahead of time.
8 MAKE A LIST
Your time with the baby, or when the baby is
