1. Do some planning ahead
If you're taking baby photos for clients, here are some things you need to discuss with your parents a day or two before your scheduled shoot:
- Your child's schedule. Parents may or may not have it, but nine times out of ten, parents of children will be able to tell you what time of day their child is at its best and calmest.
- If you're photographing babies at home, be sure to figure out the details that parents want you to photograph. If you don't have a lot of studio lighting (the author personally doesn't!), you want to make sure you know which direction the windows of your chosen room are facing when you're shooting. You want to make sure you have enough light!
- You should also find out what parents think about baby clothes. The author loves bare, pink, wrinkled baby buttocks; However, not all parents are as relatable as the author. Be sure to discuss this before shooting! You don't want to find yourself in a situation where you ask parents to undress their children and then when they say "no!" , you have to face an awkward tense situation.
2. Consider timing
This can be quite tricky, as all babies seem to have their own schedules, especially those who are super photogenic. Here are three things to look out for:
- First of all, babies lose their lovely newborn curls in about 10 days after birth. If you want to cock your little butt and get your baby in shape, try shooting inside this window.
- Second, coordinate with parents beforehand to make sure you come when your baby is sleepy. The sleepier the better!
- Third, if you're planning to take nude photos of your baby, make sure your baby is wearing clothes that are easy to take off and won't disturb your baby. Clothes that don't need to be covered on the head are fine, but swaddling clothes are also good. You need to undress your baby without affecting his deep sleep. Don't be afraid to ask parents to help you move and shape your baby. With practice, you will feel more comfortable with newborns and babies, but in the beginning, advise parents on how to help you position your baby, and then start shooting!
3. Come up with some simple baby photography ideas
If you're a fan of Anne Geddes, or an avid baby photo enthusiast, it's easy to set your expectations too high and overload your photo shoot process with too many "concept" photos, and end up with a headache and little to show. So keep it simple. Choose only two or three positions, and if you do, take a break and try a few more times later.
As always, the author recommends that you do a quick search for baby photos online to spark your creativity. For babies, the author really thinks that simplicity is best. Unless you have a human-sized flower or seashell by your side, don't go crazy with props; Babies are so fresh and perfect that they can easily stand alone in the center of your photo. Have fun with them (and make sure parents know they have the cutest kids in the world!)
4. Be prepared
Make sure everything you need is well organized and easy to get to. Babies are irritable, fussy, and very impatient, and you have to maximize your shooting time.
- If you're using studio lighting, you should set it up at least 10 minutes before you plan to start shooting. This way you have time to take several tests before the child is brought into the room.
- The next one is a given, but keep in mind that the sensor and lens should be checked before shooting and, if necessary, washed. You can't stop during a newborn shoot just because you notice a spot on the sensor. Babies are not as tolerant as adults – they are like ticking time bombs!
- Get a good night's sleep! You have to arrive with a patient eye and excess energy. Remember, you might walk into a home where no one sleeps more than an hour in a row for several days in a row. The last thing everyone needs is yet another exhausted, grumpy, patient-exhausted adult! As a photographer, you should set the tone. Take a full meal and get a good night's sleep.
5. Warm up the room
As a baby photographer, you'll usually try to capture cute baby buns, baby feet, and baby tummy. All these unclothed shoots soon lead to a cold, grumpy baby. You may want to buy a small heater to provide a little extra heat for your baby's orientation. Be sure to set the temperature to around 74 degrees an hour before shooting.
If you're filming at a client's home, this will need to be planned in advance. In any case, the author recommends bringing heat, as babies are usually not used to hanging around with only diapers!
6. Bring some handy props
As mentioned above, babies usually provide enough aesthetic appeal for most photos. But props, when used properly, are great. They help convey a point of view, size, and vulnerability, and they also add a little bit of color, which is also nice.
But know that things don't always go as planned, and be prepared for your props to be (or).
At one of the authors' meetings, we wanted to create a popular "baby on a pile of super soft towels" look. The list of items the author needs is short: a clean white towel, a pink ribbon, and some baby wipes.
But it happened that when the author took the baby's diaper off, the author needed a quick wash.
After taking a few photos, the baby felt that she didn't like her bedding and peed on the top towel. Luckily, she was lying on a whole bunch of substitutes. Although the author did not notice it until the end of the shooting, when the mother picked up the child and the author turned the top two towels, the author did not fold them as neatly as before.
This didn't completely ruin the shoot, but remember to take your time and be careful with your baby and props. Babies can feel stress or nervousness. It's not high fashion; It should be mellow and beautiful!
7. Find the right angle
It's especially difficult to take beautiful baby photos in the days after your baby is born, as your subjects are often wrapped in a bunny rug and 99% of the time you see their little heads. Add to that the intricacies of the bumps, marks, scratches, and misshapen heads that often occur when newborns are born, and finding a flattering angle is more than just making the proud parents "Oh! and "Ahhhh It can be hard.
But don't give up! Not everything is lost. Here are some of the methods you might want to try to help solve the above problems:
- Get down. One key to taking pictures of babies naturally is on their horizontal line. The author spends a lot of time lying on the floor, next to the author's own children. The author thinks it's a place that everyone loves, but it's also a great place to use a camera. Low shots and close-ups do have some challenges in terms of focal length, but that means you end up with a shot that feels like you've stepped into a baby's world, rather than looking down from above.
- Try some close-ups. Another way to improve the angle and make your photo look more intimate is to approach by moving your body or using a longer focal length. The author personally likes to take close-up photos with a long lens, as putting the camera on the baby's face may scare them.
- Try nursing injections. Some of the best pictures the author took of his child were when he was being breastfed. This puts him in a more upright position, which makes him look more human-like and opens up angles for your photos. Try a few different poses (shoulders, sitting up, putting them on your arms, lying on your stomach, etc.), because each pose has different possibilities. Also remember that your baby isn't the only potential person; Parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends can all add backgrounds to photos, and parents will undoubtedly love having more photos of their children themselves!
8. Create a shallow depth of field
- Most of the baby photos taken by the author were taken with a very low f-number to create a very shallow depth of field. The author doesn't mean it's for everyone, but it's the author's unique style, and the author does it for a number of reasons:
- Babies will only be very small for a very short period of time. With the effect of a shallow depth of field, the author can focus and emphasize the little feet and toes, for example, before they slide into roller skates and ballet shoes.
- The shallow depth of field creates a gentle and intimate mood. It is perfect for this nature of shooting!
- But the main reason the author shoots babies with a shallow depth of field is the shallow depth of field, which, in the author's opinion, helps to show how the parents' world is suddenly all about the little one. While everything around your baby may be out of focus, one thing is clear!
9. Consider what you wear
It's special for parents to have you there to take pictures of their children because it's something they can't usually do on their own. It is recommended that they prepare clothes that your baby likes in advance, as well as spare clothes in case of accidents.
To feel safe and warm, babies will also be well accompanied, with blankets, bottles, beanie, and soft toys. Check that the colors of these items match well. If you have some conflicts during the shoot that you can't modify, then shoot anyway and consider using black and white in post-production to help take it down a notch.
10. Use the right settings for baby photography
The ideal camera setup for photographing babies depends on your particular situation and style, but here are some basic suggestions:
Aperture: Use a wide aperture, such as f/2.8, to isolate the beautiful child from the background. This will also help you capture well-exposed photos without raising your ISO to an extreme value.
Shutter speed: When photographing babies, authors often prefer to hold the camera in their hands, as this allows for greater mobility and flexibility. That's why the author always uses a minimum shutter speed of 1/125 of a second. But if the baby is moving, the authors recommend using a faster shutter speed, such as 1/200th of a second or higher.
ISO: This should be selected after you dial in the aperture and shutter speed. Basically, choose an ISO that will give you good exposure, but don't turn it up! If you're using studio lighting, it should be easy to keep a low ISO, but if you're using natural light, an easy way to lower the ISO is to keep the kids near the window.
11. Pay attention to the light
Lighting is essential to any photo – it illuminates your subject, adds dramatic contrast or subtle texture, and creates mood. You can use flash or flash to photograph your baby, but be careful not to overdo it!
In the case of the author personally, the author often uses natural light, which the author considers very flattering to the human subject, especially the warm and soft light after dawn and before dusk. This soft lighting bathes the photos in a romantic glow.
The midday sun can add energy and drama. The dappled sunlight, filtered through the leaves, can even create a bouncy rhythm in your photos.
If there is no sunlight, a soft shaded balcony light can also create an intimate atmosphere. If the author needs to use a flash, the author likes to try a slow flash setting.
12. Set up the scene
Considering your surroundings will greatly improve your shots! If you're going to take pictures of your baby, the author recommends that you choose a space in advance and then clean up the clutter and free yourself from visual distractions. Keep in mind that most of the action with a child is below, so take this into account when choosing your location.
If you're taking pictures of your client's baby, communicate with them ahead of time about the importance of a clean environment. When you arrive, take a few minutes to check out the different locations and (with the client's permission) make adjustments as needed.
Depending on your baby's age, don't forget to think about the outdoors and its seasonal setting. Natural colors will provide a beautiful background in addition to giving your photo background. The traditional seasonal décor also provides a great frame of reference for your baby's photos!
13. Aim for eye contact
In most shots, the author struggles to maintain eye contact. Don't let well-meaning assistants (like other relatives) try to get the baby to look at them – the author notes that this often results in the baby staring blankly at them above or behind the camera.
Instead, the author prefers to make the baby's favorite sound, or to ask questions about other objects in the frame (what do flowers do?). What's your favorite color?) Babies will soon know that you are behind the camera, and with this technology, you can often take cute pictures of babies laughing or special expressions they make when you say their favorite words.
In other words, your baby doesn't have to be staring at the camera all the time to take good photos. A child's concentration as they research a new mystery, or the joy on a grandparent's face when they hold their child, can tell their own story.
14. Take some wider images
Building photos are images that convey the scene where the event took place, and they can be a very effective part of a baby photo! In this case, you want to tell a story about what it's like to be born with a newborn: the welcome of another little guy into an already established family unit. Each family unit is different from the next, but each is special and should be recorded as such.
For example:
- If you're filming at home, it's likely in a nursery. Take a snap! Establish the environment. It will be a family's treasure to remember what their home is like when they welcome their little sweetheart into their heart and home.
- Whether you're in the studio or on set, try to capture a picture of the whole family watching the birth of a child.
15. Edit your baby's picture
A lot of baby photos you see online make them look very slick. In fact, many babies are not so "perfect" (no matter how perfect their parents think they are). Minor scratches, sleeping in the eyes, runny nose, dry milk around the mouth, skin spots, birthmarks, and bumps are common symptoms in all babies.
You may want to have a warm, damp washbasin on hand to wipe these things off, but in some cases, they will end up in your photos.
Most of the time the author doesn't mind the photos - there's nothing wrong with the fact that they show the real face of the baby. But some parents prefer photos without such distractions, and even if you're taking pictures of your own kids, you may be inclined to do some editing on those photos that you intend to print out as a gift for someone else.
Most post-processors have some sort of grooming tool. Learn to use it, even if it's just to smooth out the most visible marks, and you'll be amazed at the results!
16. Be flexible!
When photographing babies, you have to be flexible. There are a lot of variables when it comes to photographing a tiny human, and they can be unpredictable. Remember:
- Handle every hiccup kindly. The author believes that babies can sense our nervousness and frustration, and they will react in the same way. Similarly, if we can stay calm and collected, they will also be more likely to relax.
- If you have to stop, stop! If your baby is on the verge of a complete loss of control, take a break. Let the parents step in, calm the baby, feed something, burp, change a dirty diaper, do anything. Never push a baby to the point where there is no turning back. If you let a baby go completely insane... Well, you might be out of luck and there's nothing else you can do but yourself. Be consistent with your child and let them take control.
- If the baby is just making a little fuss, you probably won't be bothered by it. On the other hand, parents can be very nervous. Part of your job is to be aware of this! Ask parents if they feel more comfortable continuing to do this after they have snuggled up a bit. The last thing you need is for parents to worry about their cubs.
- Give yourself enough time. The author never injected the baby for more than an hour or so, but the author always scheduled for two hours so that there was time to feed, change diapers, or soothe the baby if necessary.
来源：Darren Rowse