Serenityphotoshoot1
Have you ever looked at a professional picture of a baby and thought, "I wish I could do that"? Well, as long as you have your own baby, a digital camera (with a timer or continuous shooting capability), a solid colored bed sheet (black or blue works well), two tacks/nails (hammer)/pushpins (depending on your shooting location), a will to succeed, a partner to help and a tripod; you too can take those fantastic baby photos.
Your will to succeed depends on a few factors. First and foremost is patience. You may have to take hundreds of shots before you get that one that you feel is perfect. Next you have to realize that your baby needs to be in the right mood. If your baby tends to get relaxed after a feeding it may not be the right time for a shot of them smiling and laughing. However, if you want the picture where you are holding them as their head is gently cradled in your hand then by all means feed away. Lastly, you need to make sure you have the right lighting. You might have taken some photos in the past that look darker then what you saw through the lens of LCD window at the time the photo was taken. This is because the lighting was not ideal and you probably did not have a filter.
Outside: It is early morning a couple of hours before the sun bleaches the earth in heat or the end of day as the sun melts into the horizon. Your baby is happy as a clam ready to smile, coo, or relax into you. You have your digital camera attached to your tripod, a partner to help, your solid black sheet, small finishing nails (like the kind you use to hang pictures) and time.
- Find shaded area where there is a wall.
- Hang bed sheet so that the fabric is stretched tight between both nails.
- Frame the picture: One of you holds the baby while the other looks through the lens and gives direction on where baby needs to be in order to be in the picture (remember you can always crop the photo later if the picture is just a little outside what you want).
- Set the continuous shooting feature and timer on your digital camera (most digital cameras these days has this feature; consult your individual manual to find out)*
- Press down on the shutter release and then position yourself in the photo.
- Wait for all the pictures to be taken and then review them. Retake as many times as needed to get that perfect picture.
That is it. It just takes patience and time. When you have put in these two things and are looking at the photos later you will be rewarded with that shot that truly captures your baby.
Serenityphotoshoot2
*Please note if you don't have a continuous shooting feature or timer on your camera you can still take these photos it will just require more patience and one of you will have to take the picture while the other one holds the baby.
Author: Chris McVey
If you liked this article please check out these other great examiners.
Newbies and their cameras by Jeremy Hoagland
Personal or professional? Taking baby's first photos by Liz Edelbrock
Nick Kelsh teaches you how to photograph your baby by Frank Haynes
For more info:
Baby Photography Now!... by David Nightingale
Very cute professional baby pictures
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