Simple Tips for taking great baby photos
Baby photos make the most wonderful postcards, keepsakes, or baby shower gifts. Here are some simple tips to help you take really great baby photos.
Lighting is everything. Avoid Bright Light.
Babies are especially sensitive to bright light. The best lighting is natural sunlight! And the best lighting for photography is just after sunrise and right before sunset. The harsh midday light can make your baby squint or create shadows on your baby's face. So find a shady spot, if you're taking photos outside in the afternoon. If you take photos indoor, try taking it under a skylight or near a large window. Avoid backlighting, where the light is behind your baby because it will come out dark. If you must use flashlight, set your camera to red eye reduction and use lamps to create lighting.
Get an Expression!
Get your baby to form delightful facial expressions by capturing your baby’s attention. Make lots of sounds, sing your usual happy songs, clap your hands, play peek-a-boo, make silly noises…do whatever it takes to make your little one smile!
If possible, find someone to help. Having a partner make things easier! You need someone to help you make sure things are just right and to help make your baby smile. Partners who love babies and kids, and aren't afraid to be goofy are the best! You focus on capturing the shots while he or she generates the giggles.
Get close up and different distances pictures.
Get awesome close up shots by focusing on your baby's face and start snapping the moment you see that look that appeals to you! Also, take close up photos of your baby's amazingly tiny toes, tiny hands and other exquisite tiny features. Taking photos from different distances allow you to keep the best ones.
Get down to your baby's level.
You don't want to have the same photos of your baby looking up or straight at you all the time! Try all different angles to capture your baby’s wonderfully unique features. You’ll be surprised at how different each image will turn out to be.
Capture action.
Try capturing your little one playing, yawning, crawling and doing whatever actions that fascinates you! Although getting your baby to sit still can be extremely challenging, but with the right techniques, you can capture really awesome photos!
Depending on your camera, it can take an entire second from the moment you press the shutter to when your camera actually takes the picture. This gap in time is called "shutter lag," and it can be the difference between getting action shots and missing them.
To prevent shutter lag, press the shutter down lightly, about halfway so as to lock the focus on the subject and continue to hold the button partially down until you're ready to shoot. You will be able to take the picture much faster since you're already in focus. Many cameras also have an Action mode. Use this shooting mode to speed up your shutter speed when your child is moving around and to avoid capturing blur images.
