In the many types of photography you might need to do as a photographer, babies & children may be the hardest. Even if you aren't a professional photographer, but you try to get a nice portrait of your child, getting them to cooperate is a large undertaking.
The first line to live with baby photography is that, as a matter of fact, they ARE the boss of this shoot. The whole process must be built around the mood of the child. But there are a few tricks of the trade that you can use, professional or amateur, to capture the best shot of that sweet baby.
Babies respond well when they're warm, fed & rested, with people they know & trust, and when they get all the attention. So right off the bat, you as mom or dad can see that the requirements are met. Now, it isn't always easy. If you have an appointment to take the child to get his or her portrait taken at a local photography studio, their mood may not be the way you want it to be.
That is why, if at all possible, that we would discourage getting pictures in a studio. If you can set up a shoot in your home, where there is a comfortable setting & much more that's familiar around, you'll have many more opportunities to get that smile that'll make the portrait of a lifetime. Now that calls for a "house call" by the photographer, but if they are a photographer who wants only the best shot of the child, they'll work with what you want.
Another advantage of scheduling the shoot at home is that you know when the child is usually at his best so that you can schedule when the time of day is just right. In fact, if the photographer can show up during nap time, there is plenty of time to set up the shoot before the angel wakes. By removing the car ride to the studio, you remove a significant risk of that sensitive mood going sour.
A second tip comes from the fact that babies like people they know. If the photographer has time to meet the baby, play with him or her, then they'll be more receptive to playful direction to get the image you want. You must be clever how you introduce the camera as it can either be an object of fear or seen as a toy & your child may want to play with it.
Thinking about the kind of equipment you'll use to get that perfect portrait to get a baby...you want it to be portable, so you can make the shot on the spot - that works so much better. It should be small, both for portability & to not alarm the child. Digital is the best because you can shoot many shots & never have to reload film. But make sure that it's good quality equipment that'll shoot at a high resolution so when you get the head shot, it'll transfer to a canvas print.
By setting up the room with the sort of backgrounds that'll create a good portrait, you can then have the child begin to play with her or her toys & interacting with parents, siblings or photographer in a happy way. It won't be long before the sound of clicking cameras & even the flash will become familiar & the baby won't pay it any attention.
The best pictures of the baby are laughs. Try to get on the same level with the child as he or she plays. Have Mom & Dad sing songs or games that always get a giggle, then exploit their insider knowledge to get a good shot! The baby will love to know & hear of these games from them, which will result in getting that sweet laugh or smile you want.
By learning the child's personality & how to get in sync with your child, you can coax pictures from the session that might otherwise be impossible to get. That is what you want - a portrait of a child that will last a lifetime!
