Babies can be the most challenging and rewarding portraits to take, but can also be the most frustrating.
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.
Be armed with the tools of child psychology and patience and photographing babies would be much easier - your chances of success should improve this way. Babies over six months may be shy and won't react well to a complete stranger. This is where child psychology plays a major role, as you put yourself in the shoes of the baby, try to speak its language, play with it, or even IMAGINE yourself as a baby. You can use your car keys in this capacity. But when the baby reacts to your makeshift entertainment, you have to be aware of what you have to do, which is create a baby portrait everybody can enjoy. It can be an especially huge challenge taking a portrait of a newborn baby. At this age the baby will not be active, so it's better to focus on close-up headshots. Adding the right amount of ambiance can be achieved with natural light from the baby's bedroom window.
Babies over a few months of age will be more alert and will have a lot more movement in them. Shooting fast is a necessity, the infant will tire quickly.
This is especially true if you are working with babies seven months old and above. The baby will bore quickly and will not want to stay in the same position.
If you have decided on baby photography as your photography subject of choice, then you should have a) your own studio and b) lots of baby toys for amusement. A light colour background will work best and shoot the portraits in colour and black and white.
Also be on the lookout for worried parents fussing about the studio lights. Point out that strobe lights have no effect on kids. Try to point this out before the parent asks.
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.
Be armed with the tools of child psychology and patience and photographing babies would be much easier - your chances of success should improve this way. Babies over six months may be shy and won't react well to a complete stranger. This is where child psychology plays a major role, as you put yourself in the shoes of the baby, try to speak its language, play with it, or even IMAGINE yourself as a baby. You can use your car keys in this capacity. But when the baby reacts to your makeshift entertainment, you have to be aware of what you have to do, which is create a baby portrait everybody can enjoy. It can be an especially huge challenge taking a portrait of a newborn baby. At this age the baby will not be active, so it's better to focus on close-up headshots. Adding the right amount of ambiance can be achieved with natural light from the baby's bedroom window.
Babies over a few months of age will be more alert and will have a lot more movement in them. Shooting fast is a necessity, the infant will tire quickly.
This is especially true if you are working with babies seven months old and above. The baby will bore quickly and will not want to stay in the same position.
If you have decided on baby photography as your photography subject of choice, then you should have a) your own studio and b) lots of baby toys for amusement. A light colour background will work best and shoot the portraits in colour and black and white.
Also be on the lookout for worried parents fussing about the studio lights. Point out that strobe lights have no effect on kids. Try to point this out before the parent asks.
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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