Babies can be fickle when you try and take their pictures Thursday, Mar 19 2009

How to avoid a baby melt down a photo time

Babies can be fickle when you try and take their pictures. Take Cooper for example. The photo above is from I was on maternity leave years ago. I knew all the tricks, but he wanted nothing to do with having his photo taken that day. I’m an addict with a camera, though, so I had to at least take a few shots of the fussy baby. Here are a few tricks that may help in preparation if you want to take pics at home, or if you are preparing to have professional pictures taken:

1. Make sure the baby has full tummy- hungry babies are unhappy babies.

 
2. Waiting until he or she was sleepy- it’s easier to take photos of a restful, peaceful infant. You can also turn your flash off and take advantage of natural lighting because your baby is being so still for the shots.

 
3. Make sure the room is all nice and toasty warm, especially if your baby is partially unclothed or in diapers for any of the photographs.

 

4. When in doubt, reschedule for another time or day. There is no sense in stressing yourself or the baby for a shot that you aren’t going to get when your child is upset. By the time the crying is done, your child’s face will be so red (and usually tear streaked), it will be unphotographable anyway. So postponing is usually the better option!

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Dress up playtime is the perfect photo opportunity Tuesday, Mar 17 2009

Jungle Mia back in the day

Admit it… you loved to play dress up as a kid! So don’t be shy when it comes to having fun dressing your little one up for photos. Find whatever you have around the house and whatever he or she is comtable wearing. Make it fun for parents and kids alike, and let it be a bonding experience for anyone who wants to play along!

 

 

 

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Photograph using natural light Tuesday, Mar 17 2009

Outdoor light, shaded front porch at our old house, Mia on a blanket, no flash

Try and shoot with natural light every opportunity that you have.

What do I mean my natural light? I mean no camera flash, no indoor overhead lights or lamps. Indirect light helps keep skin from looking blotchy in indoor color pics, and it helps give your images depth by not washing out faces with the flash or darkening the background too deeply.

To photograph with natural light:
1. Turn off the automatic flash feature on your camera. On some cameras it’s a matter of just turning down the flash mechanism. On other cameras, you will have to check your owner’s manual to set the camera to not automatically turn on the flash when you take your photographs.
2. For indoor photography, look for an indirect light source such as a large window. Try and let as much light bathe the room as possible.
3. For outdoor photography, also look for an indirect light source. Avoid direct sunlight as it will cause deep shadows. Instead photograph when it’s shady or overcast out to minimize shadows. Morning and afternoon sunlight when the sun is situated in the side of the sky also makes for less of a shadow than when it is directly above at noontime.
4. Act fast. Using natural light limits you to only being able to photograph during certain times of the day. Don’t miss out on the best times.
5. Practice makes perfect, and that is the joy of digital cameras (you can take as many shots as you want and don’t have to print or pay for any of the bad ones…. so shoot away!!!). Try shots at different times of day and under different lighting conditions. See what works best in your home and around your property. Find the right light conditions to allow you to ditch the flash and give your shots great depth!!!

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Favorite photo tips- How to photograph a baby who doesn’t like to be put down Monday, Mar 16 2009

Sitting baby down for photos can be easier said than done

Babies, especially newborns, crave being held. Trying to put them down then, even on a full tummy and when they are sleepy can be challenging. So, how do you photograph them without the adult in the picture? And why would you want to photograph them without the parent in the shot? 

First off, parents are great! We love them… we wouldn’t have babies without out them! My husband and I are proud parents ourselves, but sometimes our babies should get to shine in photographs all by themselves. We want to give them the full glory of the moment!

I’ve talked on my EvansvilleMoms.com postings before about natural lighting, and having your child lay on the ground allows you to do that. For the child that won’t lay on the ground, though, giving the baby ample hand support is one suggested alternative. Daddies generally have big enough hands to hold the baby in one palm and along their arm that you can photograph over his shoulder or from the side. Moms can generally hold the baby with both arms. When you do this, try and frame your photograph maximizing your light while at the same time either removing any shoulders, arms or hands completely, or consider using them as part of your foreground to give some depth to your shot.  

Some babies will allow you to put them into Boppie pillows. The Boppie gives some children enough sense of support that they are OK with leaving the comfort of your hands or arms. You can use the Boppie with its natural covering, or you can put a blanket or towel over it to give it additional color or texture. Another suggestion is using a stuffed animal as another item to prop your baby against. Whatever you choose, though, make sure that there are ample hands and eyes to pose and watch the baby. You should never be farther than a few inches from a newborn (this may require 3 adults- 1 to photograph, 1 to pose, and 1 to watch), and all poses should be done at ground level to avoid any fall injuries.

 

Good luck as you give this new technique a try, and please use the utmost care in making sure to give your baby the most head and neck support as you position him or her for the photographs.

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