Photography Business: Taking Baby Photos - for Professionals &
Families
Copyright 2005 Roy Barker
Babies make the best and the worst subjects to photograph. They
are the best for two reasons, people are more tolerant at
looking at baby photos, as well as the fact that babies are not
aware their image is being captured, and therefore they do not
tend to put on the “camera face” so typically used by elder
children and adults. They are the worst subjects because their
behaviour is unpredictable. Because their behaviour is
uncensored, they show their emotions, and can just as easily cry
as gurgle happily into the camera.
One of the most challenging aspects of photographing a baby is
to control the subject. On the one hand you want them relatively
still, but too much control and the photo loses its
impetuousness. Lighting and background are both important, you
want the background as uncluttered and simple as possible if the
photograph is indoors, or as natural as possible outside, a
piece of grass is ideal. The lighting should be coming from at
least two directional sources, but if it is too strong it will
throw shadows that complicate the picture, and often lose the
wonderful facial expressions it is possible to capture. However
don’t miss those impromptu shots either especially with a
digital camera, you can always edit the background later.
It is usually helpful to restrict babies’ activities; they are
not portrayed at their best nappy high in the air crawling
across the floor. A good way to restrict them is a highchair, or
holding them in the arms of another person. Baby photography is
often better taken very close up, and it is a wise move to look
at the manual for your camera, and see how close you can get. It
is better to get everything set up first, and then place the
baby in position when the lighting and setting have been chosen.
However that of course is not always possible.
Distractions in the form of noise, and toys can be a tool, but
never forget that a baby’s emotion’s are always lightning fast,
and it all makes for great photographs, whether it is tears of
frustration, pouring a drink over your best camera, or laughing.
They are often easier to photograph when there is a minimum of
people around because they are so easily distracted. The old
school of thought was keep the mother well out of the way,
however I personally can’t see any mileage in that, as babies
are calmer with someone they know, and in most cases that is the
mother. Above all remember that photographing babies is fun, the
unexpected if caught at just the right moment, makes great
memories. Although I doubt if a father who has just picked up
their offspring for a photograph will forget the time that their
child was sick all over them. Control can only go so far with
babies.
Babies are babies for short a period of time, you can never have
too many photographs, and here a digital camera can save
enormous amounts on both film and development. It also allows
for wastage as you can view the results immediately and can the
ones you don’t want. You will have huge embarrassment value in
later life showing your daughter’s first boyfriend her as a baby
with no nappy! Another enormous advantage to digital photography
is that you don’t have to shoot the photograph with a little
black box in front of your face. This will catch a baby’s
emotions perfectly, but is not the best way to capture their
best expressions. A small child will respond better when they
respond to your expressions. By being able to hold the camera
away from your face you have a chance to capture the best of
their expressions as well; an LCD screen generally reaps huge
benefits.
Another misunderstood statement is that the best photographs are
taken by professionals, whilst there is no denying that
professional take great formal photographs, and every baby
should have at least one set to keep as an adult. It is hard to
beat the formal professional photo. Some professionals offer
annual sittings for family shots and supply regular updated
montages specific to that family. A service that is hard to
beat. However this formal stylised pose isn’t always the answer,
somehow, because children are not camera aware, they are not
camera shy. Young babies are sometimes better photographed in an
environment that they are entirely comfortable with and that
place is often their own home or the garden. The great thing
about photographing your own child is that it does not need any
special equipment, special effects, or even any really special
effort, and it certainly does not involve trailing somewhere in
the middle of the night to capture a beautiful dawn. A point and
shoot will work wonders.
Probably the most important technical point to remember when
photographing a baby is that because of their size, you have to
get down to their height to get that wonderful close- up. The
easiest way and least dangerous way is to physically get down on
the floor with them, not necessarily the most dignified way, but
certainly the most rewarding. There are no imperfections in a
babies face, you can get as close as you can without showing
crow’s feet! You cannot engineer this type of photography it has
to happen, but you can be creative in your approach and let the
baby respond to you, because it has no knowledge of how to
respond to the camera.
With a very young baby still in its crib, there is very little
option, but to shoot from the above, unless you want the baby to
look as though it is captured in a wooden box, but it is an
approach to be avoided if at all possible.
You have more opportunities to photograph babies in more
settings than at almost any other age. After all you don’t
photograph your mother on the toilet. Few props are useful with
babies, but baths and potty’s are great because they are both
tools that they are familiar with and with a little patience
they can be put to great effect regarding play. Surely you can
put up with getting a little damp at bath- time, but of course
try and remember to make sure the potty is empty! Above all
remember that it fun and relaxed, you will never have the
opportunity to have so many natural photos again. Enter into the
spirit of it and you will be amply rewarded. Another great
“prop” to use if you have one is the family pet, providing it is
not intimidating to the baby.
There is no fun at all in photographing someone screaming the
house down in fear. Whilst every parent should have at least one
set of professional photos taken, don’t rely on someone else to
capture those truly enchanting moments, especially at momentous
milestones. If it is your child’s first birthday they will
reward you with better photographs if you take them yourself.
Get someone else (professional) to do it on a less important day.
The professional would do well to keep a file for the parents
and offer services such as a montage on the childs or childrens
yearly progress (updated every year). There is great value in
personalisation and there is an abundance of software available
to help you organise this service.
About the author:
Publisher & author: Roy Barker. Roy is the author of the popular
ebook, Income from Photography - a downloadable ebook which
guides the reader on how to start up and market a Profitable
Photography business. It can be viewed at
http://www.profitable-photography.com. Other related and
reviewed services & research sources can be found at
http://www.profitable-photography.com/html/117/