Five Ways to Take Beautiful Baby Photos

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Baby photography can be a very satisfying experience, especially if you take advantage of your natural knowledge of the subject and add a little imagination and composition. Here are a few easy tips that will help you make classic baby pictures for the family album.

Make it a Family Affair
Everyone can help! One parent can wield the camera and the other can set the stage and arrange the props. If you can get the siblings involved, even better. They'll provide the playful distractions that evoke your baby's natural expressions. If it's just Mom and Dad, both parents can take turns engaging their subject with funny faces or puppet play. Just make sure that everyone (baby and parents!) is fully rested and well fed beforehand to keep the mood positive.

Choose Clothing Carefully
The clothing should complement the baby's skin tones, so pick at least one outfit with subtle colors that won't detract from the child's face. These are particularly good for indoor shots. A more colorful outfit will work well for outdoor shots. Consider it the perfect opportunity to use those favorite "designer" baby clothes you received as gifts but are afraid to have the kids wear lest they get spinach on them!

Photograph from the Baby's Perspective
This means getting down on one knee or even laying down, elbows on the ground, to keep the camera even with the baby's face. Shooting from above will look unnatural and distort the baby's features. Framing should be simple and up close. Remember that the baby, and not the background, is the secret ingredient to a great picture.

Set a Comfortable Scene
Toddlers and crawlers are natural posers; they'll set their own scene without much help. Colorful props can add interest to their surroundings, and when photographing very young babies outdoors, you can use Mom's lap for a mother and child portrait. Indoors, try propping the baby up with pillows on three sides and draping the pillows with a favorite baby blanket. Another approach is to cover one large pillow with a blanket and lay the baby on its stomach facing you, with its arms crossed and resting on top of the pillow.

Use Natural Light
Natural light brings out the beautiful translucency of your baby's skin, so use it whenever possible. If you're shooting indoors, try setting up near a large open window. Professional photographers consider "North light" (sunlight coming from the north) the best source for natural light portraits. Position the child so that the light bathes it first from the front, and then from the side, using the shadows to add drama to the image. If you want to use some fill light, set your camera's flash (not a table lamp) on its softest flash setting, or use a large piece of white poster board to bounce the window light back into the baby's face.

Remember, a digital camera is perfect for baby photography, because it allows you to see immediate results and make any necessary adjustments. Also, as every parent knows, babies rarely give you more than a split-second chance to capture that special smile - take every opportunity to make sure you get the right moment!