How do I photograph babies? Tips for taking pictures of newborns. Can newborns be photographed? Basic rules for photographing babies at home Features of photographing children of different ages

Why, when we show plump photo albums with the image of our child to friends or relatives, their interest is lost already on the third page? Is there something wrong with the baby? Why don't they like him? But you and I know that our baby is the best, beautiful, talented ... in general, the very best! Or maybe it's the photos themselves? How to photograph children correctly?

We shoot while playing

What could be more beautiful than a child who is keen on playing? But, here's the bad luck, in the pictures you get the back, then the top of the head, or even the back of the fidget's head, and you can't really figure out what he's playing there at all. Familiar situation? Let's fix it.

Consider that you are not only a photographer but also a filmmaker. Therefore, offer your kid your own rules of the game. Not all games are created equally well for shooting. If only because it is very difficult to focus on a running and jumping child, and calm drawing threatens that in the frame, in addition to pencils and paper, there will be only the hair of a young creator. What to do?

First, take your dad, grandmother, or someone else as your assistants, who will not only play with the child, but also make sure that he is well positioned in relation to the camera, and also is not dirty, sweaty, disheveled ... the baby will definitely not be up to his own appearance. Second, choose a game. A ball game is fine. At the same time, the kid stands still and catches a ball thrown by an adult. The version of hide and seek under the code name "ku-ku" looks funny. The kid hides from the adult behind a tree (wall, wardrobe), periodically looking out with a perky "peek-a-boo". By the way, your assistant should be located as close to you as possible. Not that quiet games are not at all suitable for shooting. Suitable, but in order to take a picture, you will have to constantly interrupt your baby from an exciting activity. He should look at you! And drawing or constructors require care.

If you just want to be a paparazzi and take pictures of the baby for his everyday games, try to photograph from the level of his eyes and not distract the child too much.

Taking pictures at home

I must admit that most often it is necessary to photograph at home. Did you know that this is one of the most difficult conditions for photographing children? It doesn't matter if you own an expensive DSLR or a simple compact, you will still face the same problems, which, by the way, can be solved. Typically, home photos are taken with a flash. And in vain, because the light from the built-in flash completely kills the volume, texture of the skin, overexposes the forehead or nose, is the cause of "red eyes", and just makes the picture everyday and uninteresting. Ditch this "useful" feature in the camera and you will see how much more interesting portraits of your baby will look.

Does the sun ever peep into your room? Fine! It's time to be photographed! Does your apartment have windows? Even in cloudy weather, there is a delightful light near the window. Just invite your child to play by the windowsill. You ask what to do in winter, when it gets dark at three o'clock in the afternoon, and the light is constantly on in the room? Carry more bulbs! Table sconces, do not forget to turn on the overhead light - everything will do, and the more powerful, the better! Just remember to switch the white balance to incandescent mode and raise the sensitivity to ISO 800 just in case.

In the bright sun

Let's go outside ... Sometimes it is worth turning your usual walk into an exciting photo session, taking your camera with you. A sunny day (and preferably evening or morning - at this time the best light) is perfect for shooting. The only thing that should not be forgotten is the black shadows on the side opposite from the sun. We were taught from childhood that you cannot shoot against the sun. It is quite possible that this rule arose from the natural economy of our ancestors: in 9 cases out of 10 people, shot against the sun, turned into a black silhouette ... the frame was rejected, but the film is a pity ... However, there was one more case when a surprisingly unusual photo came out. You might, for example, remember that your camera has a “harmful” flash. It will illuminate the face, and the delicate curls on your baby's head will glow in the sun. By the way, a rare case when it is really needed!

You can think of something more complicated. For example, take a piece of foil with you and, reflecting the sun's rays, highlight the shadows on the child's face. I do not urge you to shoot exclusively against the sun, let the baby spin as he wants and play for his own pleasure: your task is not to lose his face from the frame and remember that details in the shadows should be highlighted.

Portrait with parents

Has it become too quiet on Odnoklassniki? Share your new portrait with toddler! A flurry of fives and comments is guaranteed. It would also be nice if this portrait was successful.

If you are thinking of a self-portrait, a mirror is your best assistant. Position yourself opposite him so that you can see how you are filming the child at play. The more natural the situation looks, the better. You can do without it by setting the camera to a 10-second timer and jumping to the baby in time, but here you run the risk of not only getting an unnatural plot, but also losing one of the models altogether. During this time, the child will have time to run to the kitchen itself. I recommend taking pictures of yourself with outstretched arms only if you have everything in order with a sense of humor, and you are not ashamed to show your friends two strongly distorted faces. The fact is that from such a close distance, both of you will fit into the frame only if the camera is at the minimum zoom. In this zoom position, everything close to the camera becomes exaggeratedly large compared to what is farther away. Want an example? Take a look at the samovar!

As for portraits with grandmothers, grandfathers and other relatives - there is nothing worse than a staged photo with a child in her arms against the background of a carpet. What is the correct way to photograph babies with your family? Let Granny sit on the floor. Let the grandfather throw the granddaughter high, high (and will not forget to catch it!), Let the dad make a stupid grimace to his daughter! Do not hesitate to photograph life, then, looking at these photos, you will get a lot of positive emotions.

Water games

Toddlers love to swim. And how great it is to play in the water! You must remember: the more emotion, the more interesting the pictures. Owners of compacts in this case will be luckier than those who have a DSLR, simply because a waterproof case on a compact is sheer trifles, but with SLR camera in this regard, it is more difficult.

Why do we need a case? Not only in order to protect the camera from splashes - and where without them, this is the most beautiful (of course, after your child) - but also so that, filming a splashing fidget, you can lower the camera into the water. Top class - to capture the moment when half of the frame is in the water and the other half is on land. Although, you will have to make a lot of duplicates. If you are filming a child with someone else, just ask them to play, while you yourself go in circles and click. Precisely in circles. Don't stand still for a second. This will help you find the most interesting angle. If there is no one to help you, you will have to take the blow. Have your child splash you from head to toe. He will do it with great pleasure. And don't forget to douse it back. Without ceasing to shoot, of course!

The first photo session in my life

Everything we've talked about so far applies to pretty adult babies one year old and older. But what about the crumbs? How to photograph children under one year old? How do I photograph babies?

Do not be afraid to photograph them from the very first day. As we said before, it's best to ditch the flash. Not even because the harsh sudden light can scare the baby, but because the result will leave much to be desired. Therefore, try to use only natural light.

Babies up to two months old sleep a lot, which we will take advantage of, remembering the masterpieces of Anna Geddes. It is important not to forget that each frame must be thought out. Few people will be interested in a child filmed through the bed bars, but if you lay him on a green blanket and put a hat with caterpillar horns on his head - that's a completely different matter. Remember that it all depends on your imagination. Come up with interesting plots, sew or buy costumes and props and take advantage of the fact that your darling still does not know how to run away from you.

If the baby is awake, he should be in good mood, namely, dry, well-fed, sleepy and healthy. If something doesn't go as you would like, postpone filming for a couple of hours, or even a day. The model's mood is the law.

What if it's dark?

We have already talked about what to do if you have to shoot in a poorly lit apartment. And if there is no way to increase the amount of light?

We'll have to turn to the camera itself for help. Do not zoom out or bring the camera too close to your child. Better to capture the excess in the frame, then you can always crop. Set your camera to shutter priority mode, if available. In some it is denoted by the letters Tv, in some - S. The child is a mobile creature, so the shutter speed (that is, the time the shutter is open) should be no longer than 1/30 of a second. And the more mobile the child is, the shorter set the shutter speed.

Plus, it’s better if you put the camera in continuous shooting mode and click bursts. A couple of shots from the series are sure to be sharp.

As for the built-in flash, you can turn it on only if you want to take not a picture, but documentary evidence of your child's prank. In this case, we are not talking about the artistry of photography. And one more thing: the lighter the baby's clothes are, the better.

Poses for shooting

Who said that u good photographer no templates? They are, there are just a lot of them. Shooting poses are one example of a template. Those that are best suited for the first year of life. So from the very beginning. how to photograph small children?

Infants up to one and a half to two months: of course, lying down, but not from above, as we are used to photographing, but from eye level. Either in the arms of mom or dad. You can remove the face of the baby peeking out from behind the mother's shoulder from behind. From two to five months: at this age, the baby already holds his head well and even tries to get on all fours, and therefore put him on his tummy, and lie down in front of him and show him something interesting. The sitting posture is just as good, only the child must have something in his hands, otherwise the fidget will not even let you focus. Six to nine months: Toddler crawls briskly on all fours and even gets up on his feet. This is what we will photograph, not forgetting to lie down on the floor. Ten months and older: the baby is confidently standing or running, but we are still taking the knee-elbow position with the camera and trying to catch up with the fleeing baby.

As you have already noticed, we almost always lean as low as possible, so that the shooting point is not higher than the child, but there is an exception. If the child is sitting still and doing something, you can call him so that he lifts his head and looks at you, and take a picture from above. In this case, it is very important that there are no unnecessary items around the baby. Only what matches the idea of the frame.

Details are important too

With what surprise in a year or two you will be looking at the old caps-sandals of your beloved. How small he was! All this can be reflected in the photo, if you pay attention to the details. For example, take a photo of a tiny leg in daddy's palms. Or delicate fingers gripping your finger or something else, the size of which is well known to you. More attention to detail - then you will have something to remember. And in general, such pictures look very touching.

Are we posing?

All children are different: someone can fiddle with a toy for hours, while someone finds it difficult to sit for a minute. But this does not mean that the second case is hopeless for shooting. Quite the opposite! The more lively and active the child, the richer his facial expressions, the more interesting the pictures will be. And in any case, do not force the baby to pose for you. At best, you will get lifeless shots with a stony expression, and at worst, your little model's persistent aversion to photography. Play, have fun, have fun, and who knows, maybe photography will become not only your hobby, but also your kid's favorite fun.

The author of the photos in this article is children's photographer Lyalya Garbuz. Take advantage of a unique opportunity learn from Lyalya on the course “

Toddlers from 1 to 3 years old are restless, curious and still do not know how to pose. However, this, perhaps, is the main charm of such children's photos. Based on the unique course “Children's photography. Basics "experts of Fotoshkola.net especially for the readers of the magazine" Mom and Baby "have prepared 7 simple recommendations that will help you make wonderful shots with babies in the lead role. Let's get started!

1. Thoroughly prepare for children's photography.Here is a small checklist:

Charge the camera battery;
Make sure there is enough space on the memory cards;
Make sure all the props are within walking distance of you.

Children at this age are impatient and restless, you just need to catch the moment! Therefore, it is better if everything is ready.

2. Take pictures at the level of your baby's eyes. So you will capture even momentary emotions and you will see the world as a child sees it.

Photo: Anastasia Gureeva, student of Fotoshkola.net

3. Try to tell about the child and his hobbies within the frame. If he loves to draw, be sure to take a picture of him with paints, “cook” with kitchen utensils, and play dad’s guitar with a guitar.

4. There is a mathematical rule that applies to such a creative direction as photography - the rule of thirds. This is a very powerful compositional technique. In short and simplified: move the main subject from the center closer to the edges of the third frame, and the picture will become more interesting.

Of course, at this age, the child does not stand still, he is interested in exploring everything around him, and catching him in the frame, taking into account all the rules, is not an easy task. However, you can press the camera shutter button, "catching" the baby in the center of the frame, and then simply frame the picture in any photo editor.

5. Understand your camera settings in advance. The child runs, jumps and plays, so the parameters must be adjusted so that the frame does not turn out blurry. It is best to shoot a child in Shutter Priority (Tv) mode, which is ideal for such scenes and will allow you to get more sharp shots:

6. Don't be discouraged if something doesn't go according to plan. Sometimes we get wonderful shots where we did not expect. For example, the story of one photo: “We went to the farm to make a card with pumpkins, we even put on a special jacket. But the child refused to pose on the pumpkins, but he managed to make a few shots with apples. " And after all, you see, an excellent shot:

At the age of one to three, children do not know how to pose, clearly fulfilling the wishes of the photographer. But this is a big plus! Emotions in the frame are "lively", natural. Therefore, there are no instructions, just a game and a pleasure from the process.

7. Take a lot of pictures! The photo session that you arrange for the child will become a wonderful joint leisure - bright, memorable and exciting. And the more frames you take, the greater the chance of getting interesting photos.

Until new pictures!

The birth of a baby is a significant event for any family. Most parents try to capture in a photo every moment of a baby's life, starting from the first minutes. Taking really high quality pictures of a baby is not easy. A small child can be capricious, you cannot ask him to stand up beautifully, to take some kind of pose. How to photograph newborn babies, let's try to figure it out with the help of the article.

Can I take pictures of children under one year old?

In many countries, there are signs that prohibit showing babies to strangers. It is especially widespread among the older generation. Parents are often afraid of disease, germs, damage, evil eye, envy. From the point of view of psychology, such fears are understandable: fear for the life of a child is one of the strongest parental phobias.

From the medical point of view, this rule has a reasonable explanation: a newborn needs time to adapt to new conditions. First, he develops immunity at home, among loved ones, then this circle gradually expands. It is also believed that young children are especially vulnerable to people with poor energy.

The ban has a religious explanation. According to Christian tradition, on the 40th day from the moment of birth, it is customary to conduct a baptismal ceremony. New person receives a name and a heavenly patron who will protect him until the end of his life - this is what Orthodox believers believe. While his guardian angel is gone, the Christian is vulnerable to the forces of evil.

Whether it is possible to photograph newborns is up to the parents. Over time, many details are forgotten if not captured on film. It is not necessary to arrange photo sessions with a large number of relatives or put all the photos on public display. The main thing is to preserve important, touching moments for history.

Photo shoot style

There are two main types of family photography: staged photography and casual photography. Consider the pros and cons of each.

Staged shooting

When staged shooting, the details of the future photography are thought out to the smallest detail. This format allows you to embody a lot original ideas, create real masterpieces for your home photo album. Often, a professional photographer is invited to shoot staged shots, who knows how to set the right light, take the right angle.

Minuses

It will take time to implement the idea, sometimes a long one (prepare the props, arrange the shooting location correctly, prepare the baby, paint up the mother). The work can take several hours, you will have to take breaks for feeding and hygiene procedures. If the kid is naughty, the shooting will have to be postponed, the preparations will be in vain.

pros

A professionally shot frame will best of all convey the atmosphere of the first months of your baby's life: mother's love, father's care, happiness from his birth. Usually, these are the most presentable photographs of the family archive.

Everyday photos

The challenge of everyday photography is to capture the moment ordinary life child. Here, much less attention is paid to details, it is more important to catch a good shot. First smile, first toy, first walk, meeting grandmother. You can find a reason to shoot every day, the main thing is to keep your camera ready.

Minuses

Most often, such photographs are shown only to loved ones. There may be unnecessary details in the frame (house mess, unmade bed) or moments that are usually hidden from prying eyes (breastfeeding, bathing together). The photographer makes mistakes: poor focus, blurry background, incorrect lighting.

pros

Everyday photos evoke especially tender emotions over time. They keep the most dear memories.

Shooting rules

Let's figure out how to photograph babies so that the shooting will bring pleasure to all participants in the process.

Choose places or objects that are familiar to babies (crib, parents' hands, favorite rattles, pets); among them, the baby will feel calm, his behavior will be as natural as possible;
When shooting is planned for a long time, pre-feed the baby, change the diaper;
If you are taking pictures of a child naked, place an oilcloth under the main fabric to protect the furniture from "surprises";
Check in advance the sounds your technique makes. Sometimes the shutter clicks loudly enough to wake up or even scare the baby; do not forget to turn off the flash;
Make sure that the surface on which the baby lies is soft, pleasant for delicate skin; on a perfectly flat plane, the child will not be too comfortable, put soft toys, pillows under the head and back;
Choose a plain background with small bright details for the photo shoot, otherwise the small body will be "lost" among the colorful objects;
It is more convenient to photograph babies asleep, as they are less active, almost do not cause trouble;
Set the camera to a burst mode when you photograph a baby in motion (on different models it can be called "sports", "burst", "continuous"); the camera takes up to 3-4 frames per second; the pictures will not be blurry, and from a large number of photos there will always be a few particularly successful ones;
Do not forget to process the received images in a graphic editor; even on the most best personnel sometimes it is worth fixing the light or removing unnecessary visual noise.

Safety precautions when taking pictures of a newborn

Sometimes, in pursuit of the camera, adults forget about safety measures during a photo shoot. At first glance, objects that are harmless can cause inconvenience to the baby or create a traumatic situation. What seems like a trifle to us can make the baby nervous, experience serious discomfort. How to take pictures of babies without risk to health?

Let's figure out the basic rules for safe shooting.

Room microclimate	The optimum room temperature should be 23-25 ° C. If you are taking pictures of a child naked, the air should be warmed up to 27-28 ° C. Ventilate the area before taking long shots. If there is an air conditioner, you should not turn it on in front of a child.
Outdoor weather	An outdoor photo session can only be held in a comfortable calm weather. In the summer, make sure that the shooting does not lead to sunburn (awnings and clouds do not protect from ultraviolet radiation, and the delicate skin of a newborn burns out very quickly).
Lighting	Doctors ask that parents not take pictures of the newborn with a flash, it can scare the baby, injure the delicate retina of the eye. Do not install too bright artificial lighting. Choose as natural light as possible. It is strictly forbidden to photograph newborns in a dark room using automatic flash.
Props for shooting	Everything around the baby should be safe. Babies are characterized by sharp involuntary movements, flapping hands, which is why you cannot photograph newborns surrounded by heavy or traumatic things. Soft toys, light objects without sharp corners, without prickly parts are well suited. Use natural fabrics, they do not cause irritation, do not accumulate static electricity. Remember to thoroughly wash anything that your child might put in his mouth, especially when the props belong to strangers (a photographer, for example).
Insurance	As safe as the situation may seem, one of the adults is within arm's reach. Newborn reactions are unpredictable. A sudden sound can cause a sudden jerk. Babies are intimidated by their own chaotic muscle contractions or hiccups. Any careless movement in the absence of guards can result in a fall, even a small height can lead to injury. Taking pictures of newborn children in the arms of younger brothers and sisters is possible only with parental safety net.
Custom plans and poses	V recent times non-standard plans came into vogue: in cabbage, in a basket, in gift box... The “frog” pose is very popular, when the baby lies on his stomach with his arms and legs tucked under him. Many people tend to imitate famous photographers, not knowing that most of these pictures are Photoshop. In all non-standard poses, the baby is firmly held by a parent or assistant from different sides, then one is mounted from several shots, removing the adults' hands with the help of Photoshop. They take pictures of the baby during sleep so as not to scare him with an unusual situation.

Baby photography ideas

Close-up

Photos, which show close-ups of individual parts of the baby's body, are not often found in the home album. However, with the right focus, they allow you to fully convey the charm and fragility of a little creature: a thin fluff on the cheek, soft folds of the palms, tiny fingers. The hands of parents next to the baby look especially touching.

Take a close-up shot of the little feet in daddy's palms, or the expression on the baby's face when she sleeps in her mom's arms. Such photos do not require special preparation, because only your baby will be in focus, and a slight mess or unkempt mother will remain behind the scenes.

Usually, for such photos, use the macro mode, which allows you to capture the smallest details. The final shot is often taken in black and white to emphasize the main idea.

Family photos

Often, parents photograph only a baby, forgetting about the value of family photographs. Excuses are different: mom after giving birth got fat, dad is too lazy to change his T-shirt, wrong day, wrong mood. But think about the fact that years later, your child will be very interested to know how you were when he was born. Don't take away his family history.

It is not necessary to turn a photograph of a family into an exhibition piece, where everyone looks like mannequins. Take vivid pictures of everyday life. Excellent shots can be caught when a child plays with older children, looks at a pet, smiles at mom or sleeps with dad.

Fantasy photos

Sleeping babies are an excellent basis for creating fantasy stories. In 2-3 hours you will have time to unfold real magic around the baby, the main thing is to come up with a plot in advance. Any safe items will serve as decorations.

For example, we make a stargazer out of a baby. We spread a dark blue or black blanket of suitable sizes, put the sleeping baby on its side or back approximately in the center. Carefully lay out the stars and planets cut from foil or multi-colored paper around it. Tinsel will serve as a comet's tail, my mother's handkerchief will become a cloak. We make a stargazer out of a soft plastic straw from the juice, carefully insert it into the cam. We photograph the resulting picture.

Most of the decorations can be folded from multi-colored pieces of fabric (blue sea, green meadow, blue sky) or cut out of paper; snow and clouds are obtained from cotton wool, tree trunks from twisted knitwear. Unleash your imagination and you will create the best fairy tale for your treasure.

Minimalism

A photograph in which there is nothing but the baby himself requires a special aesthetics. If you observe all the subtleties of light, color and texture, you get a masterpiece worthy of a separate photo frame.

Usually, for such a picture, a minimum of clothing is left on the baby: a hat and panties. The background is chosen in a discreet color (better than warm pastel shades), but with a pronounced texture: a large knit blanket, an animal skin, a fabric or a rug with a well-defined pile. The photo must have an object on which the attention of the audience will focus: a bright hat, a large soft toy or a baby's name laid out in cubes.

Baby photos are a source of fond family memories on long years forward. Take pictures of your baby as often as possible, because before the age of one year, he transforms literally every week.

In this article, we'll offer you ten tips for capturing your little one in a wide variety of situations. Maybe you will recognize your previous mistakes and your photos will become more interesting next time. Filming while playing What can be more beautiful than a child who is keen on playing? But, here's the bad luck, in the pictures you get the back, then the top of the head, or even the back of the fidget's head, and you can't really figure out what he's playing there at all. Familiar situation? Let's fix it.

Photographer at home It must be admitted that most often you have to take pictures at home. Did you know that this is one of the most difficult conditions for photographing children? It doesn't matter if you own an expensive DSLR or a simple compact, you will still face the same problems, which, by the way, can be solved. Typically, home photos are taken with a flash. And in vain, because the light from the built-in flash completely kills the volume, texture of the skin, overexposes the forehead or nose, is the cause of "red eyes", and just makes the picture everyday and uninteresting. Ditch this "useful" feature in the camera and you will see how much more interesting portraits of your baby will look.

In the bright sun

Sometimes it is worth turning your usual walk into an exciting photo session, taking your camera with you. A sunny day (or better evening or morning) is perfect for shooting. The only thing that should not be forgotten is the black shadows on the side opposite from the sun. We were taught from childhood that you cannot shoot against the sun. It is quite possible that this rule arose from the natural economy of our ancestors: in 9 cases out of 10 people, shot against the sun, turned into a black silhouette ... the frame was rejected, but the film is a pity ... However, there was one more case when a surprisingly unusual photo came out. You might, for example, remember that your camera has a “harmful” flash. It will illuminate the face, and the delicate curls on your baby's head will glow in the sun. By the way, a rare case when it is really needed!

Portrait with parents

Has it become too quiet on Odnoklassniki? Share your new portrait with toddler! A flurry of fives and comments is guaranteed. It would also be nice if this portrait was successful. If you are thinking of a self-portrait, a mirror is your best assistant. Position yourself opposite him so that you can see how you are filming the child at play. The more natural the situation looks, the better. You can do without it by setting the camera to a 10-second timer and jumping to the baby in time, but here you run the risk of not only getting an unnatural plot, but also losing one of the models altogether. During this time, the child will have time to run to the kitchen itself. I recommend taking pictures of yourself with outstretched arms only if you have everything in order with a sense of humor, and you are not ashamed to show your friends two strongly distorted faces. The fact is that from such a close distance, both of you will fit into the frame only if the camera is at the minimum zoom. In this zoom position, everything close to the camera becomes exaggeratedly large compared to what is farther away. Want an example? Take a look at the samovar!

As for portraits with grandmothers, grandfathers and other relatives - there is nothing worse than a staged photo with a child in her arms against the background of a carpet. Let Granny sit on the floor. Let the grandfather throw the granddaughter high, high (and will not forget to catch it!), Let the dad make a stupid grimace to his daughter! Do not hesitate to photograph life, then, looking at these photos, you will get a lot of positive emotions.

Water games Babies love to swim. And how great it is to play in the water! You must remember: the more emotion, the more interesting the pictures. Owners of compacts in this case will be more fortunate than those who have a DSLR, simply because a waterproof case for a compact is sheer trifles, but with a DSLR it is more difficult in this regard. Why do we need a case? Not only in order to protect the camera from splashes - and where without them, this is the most beautiful (of course, after your child) - but also so that, filming a splashing fidget, you can lower the camera into the water. Top class - to capture the moment when half of the frame is in the water and the other half is on land. Although, you will have to make a lot of duplicates. If you are filming a child with someone else, just ask them to play, while you yourself go in circles and click. Precisely in circles. Don't stand still for a second. This will help you find the most interesting angle. If there is no one to help you, you will have to take the blow. Have your child splash you from head to toe. He will do it with great pleasure. And don't forget to douse it back. Without ceasing to shoot, of course!

The first photo session in my life Everything that we have talked about so far refers to fairly adult babies from one year old and older. But what about the crumbs? They grow so fast and change every day.

Do not be afraid to photograph them from the very first day.

As we said before, it's best to ditch the flash. Not even because the harsh sudden light can scare the baby, but because the result will leave much to be desired. Therefore, try to use only natural light. Babies up to two months old sleep a lot, which we will take advantage of, remembering the masterpieces of Anna Geddes. It is important not to forget that each frame must be thought out. Few people will be interested in a child filmed through the bed bars, but if you lay him on a green blanket and put a hat with caterpillar horns on his head - that's a completely different matter. Remember that it all depends on your imagination. Come up with interesting plots, sew or buy costumes and props and take advantage of the fact that your darling still does not know how to run away from you.

If the baby is awake, he must be in a good mood, namely, dry, well-fed, sleepy and healthy. If something doesn't go as you would like, postpone filming for a couple of hours, or even a day. The model's mood is the law. What if it's dark? We have already talked about what to do if you have to shoot in a poorly lit apartment. And if there is no way to increase the amount of light? We'll have to turn to the camera itself for help. Do not zoom out or bring the camera too close to your child. Better to capture the excess in the frame, then you can always crop. Set your camera to shutter priority mode, if available. In some it is denoted by the letters Tv, in some - S. The child is a mobile creature, so the shutter speed (that is, the time the shutter is open) should be no longer than 1/30 of a second. And the more mobile the child is, the shorter set the shutter speed.

The sensitivity should be quite high. 400, 800 or even higher. Yes, due to the high sensitivity, unpleasant artifacts in the form of noise appear in the picture, but this is better than smeared surrealism instead of a child at play. Plus, it’s better if you put the camera in continuous shooting mode and click bursts. A couple of shots from the series are sure to be sharp.

Poses for shooting

Who Said Good Photographers Don't Have Templates? They are, there are just a lot of them. Shooting poses are one example of a template. Those that are best suited for the first year of life. So from the very beginning. Infants up to one and a half to two months: of course, lying down, but not from above, as we are used to photographing, but from eye level. Either in the arms of mom or dad. You can remove the face of the baby peeking out from behind the mother's shoulder from behind. From two to five months: at this age, the baby already holds his head well and even tries to get on all fours, and therefore put him on his tummy, and lie down in front of him and show him something interesting. The sitting posture is just as good, only the child must have something in his hands, otherwise the fidget will not even let you focus. Six to nine months: Toddler crawls briskly on all fours and even gets up on his feet. This is what we will photograph, not forgetting to lie down on the floor. Ten months and older: the baby is confidently standing or running, but we are still taking the knee-elbow position with the camera and trying to catch up with the fleeing baby.

Details are also important What surprise in a year or two you will be looking at the old hats-sandals of your beloved. How small he was! All this can be reflected in the photo, if you pay attention to the details. For example, take a photo of a tiny leg in daddy's palms. Or delicate fingers gripping your finger or something else, the size of which is well known to you. More attention to detail - then you will have something to remember. And in general, such pictures look very touching.

Are we posing? All children are different: someone can fiddle with a toy for hours, while someone finds it difficult to sit for a minute. But this does not mean that the second case is hopeless for shooting. Quite the opposite! The more lively and active the child, the richer his facial expressions, the more interesting the pictures will be. And in any case, do not force the baby to pose for you. At best, you will get lifeless shots with a stony expression, and at worst, your little model's persistent aversion to photography. Play, have fun, have fun, and who knows, maybe photography will become not only your hobby, but also your kid's favorite fun.

It is important to know the developmental stages of children when photographing. Shooting a newborn baby, for example, is completely different from shooting a 6 to 9 month old baby. It's such a fun transition from a tiny newborn lump to a giggling, nimble little man... Photographing a baby at six months old can be a real joy! The family has already formed, everyone is accustomed to the fact that there is a child in the house, and individual family traits are reflected in it.

Set yourself up for success.

Be sure to talk to the parents before filming, make sure you pick the right time for filming when the child is rested and has a good meal. There is nothing worse than trying to make a tired and capricious child smile - he will writhe, cry, be capricious. Believe me, nothing good will come of it.

Often times, if different people try to draw the child's attention in different directions, he will look confused, you will spend much more time shooting, and the child will become more tired. If the child is naughty, have mom or dad hold him to calm him down, and you can take a picture over his shoulder. Focus on the eyes, they reflect curiosity and a great desire to explore the world.

Quick game.

Babies six to nine months old do not have much patience. You can take a toy and “make noise” with it, and then take a picture. If you try to get the perfect appearance, you will lose the patience of the child and parents, and you will be the most unpopular person in the room.

What else can you do with a six month old baby?

First of all, let's talk about a six month old baby. Most children find it difficult to sit still at this stage. You must take care that the child does not fall or bump. If the child is already seated, make sure that he is well balanced and has a safety net - be it a soft pillow or a mom who is next to the child. Never leave your child unattended. If the child is not yet seated, you can sit him in a corner or next to a pillow and place toys next to him.

You can let the older sister hug the baby for an adorable sibling shot. Make sure you are on their level and photographing their point of view.

Another one interesting idea for a child who has not yet walked, it is lying on his tummy. This can be exhausting for the child, so make sure you take a quick photo and carry the toys to get their attention. If you are shooting indoors, you may want to use a flash, make sure it does not get in the way of your child.

Nine months is fun in the sun.

A child of nine months is very interesting to photograph, he already knows about many things, but still remains obedient. They don't even realize that they are taking pictures, so they just have fun with mom and dad. Many babies don't walk by 9 months yet, but they try. Try going downstairs to take a picture of the baby taking his first steps while his parents are holding his hands.