Taking the perfect baby photo can be hard work but is absolutely worth it as you will have captured a treasured memory forever so here are five tips for taking that cute baby photo.
Tip 1) Lighting- No doubt your baby is cute whatever he/she is doing so it doesn't matter what they are doing whether it is sleeping, playing or you are staging a photo. An important thing to remember is lighting...Think about the mood you want to create; soft,warm natural light from the sun is often better than harsh bright lighting that some light bulbs give out. Natural light will make your baby look peaceful and soft but make sure you are not taking a photo with the sun directly behind them as the light will silhouette the baby.
If your baby has light directly pointed at them it will possible make them squint or keep moving to get it out of their eyes.
I like to have my baby positioned so the light is coming in from the side or above. Remember editing software can help change lighting in photos; "Gimp" allows you to add and change the direction of the light while software such as"Picnik" has functions like "Lomo-ish" and "Soften" to change the light to softer warmer tones.
Tip 2) Focusing baby's gaze for a portrait- Babies move lots so while taking photos of bub moving around can be great for a natural look...if you are wanting a still portrait shot try direct your bubs attention by holding their favourite toy where you want them to be looking or make a noise where you want them to look if that fails what I sometimes do is put on bubs favourite DVD and while she is sitting gazing contently at the TV on the wall I snap away from all angles.
Tip 3) Composition & Position- When you position your baby next to their favourite toys it often looks very cute in photos. Another great position is capturing them while they are asleep they look so cute and often their natural pose lets you snap away for that "
cutest photo ever" however once baby is asleep you can move them into a different position or move them into a staged area. Composition is important try have interesting shapes, line and shadows in your photo that attract your eye and lead you into the photo.Try positioning your baby on props such as Sheepskin rugs, little chairs, on their baby blanket, or holding a toy.
Tip 4) Think about colour- Think about which colours will be in the photo like the colours of your baby's clothing and colours of items around them for example if you are wanting a natural,soft, harmonious photo probably best if your little loved one is not dress in a fluorescent onesie. Most photo editing software allows you to change the colour of things once you have taken your cute baby photo. Don't be afraid to play around testing what your image looks like in black and white, sepia or a even black and white with colour to high light certain aspects. Moods and emotions can be portrayed through the colours you use. Warm colours like yellow, red and orange appear closer to the viewer and are said to arouse or stimulate the viewer and cool colours like blue, greens and violets recede and are said to calm and relax the viewer.
Tip 5) Personality- Capture your baby's personality, If you have an active, lively baby I suggest you capture them being exactly that...active! If you have a relaxed sleepy baby take photos of them asleep.Capture their character in a shot and you will have that image to recall what your baby was like as a youngster that is going to evoke memories for years to come.
Shoot your baby doing something that interests them and you will see their personality show through in the image. Try capture that cheeky grin, that look in their eyes when they see you, a laugh or their reactions to new things. Snap to it!!!
