How to Take Better Photos of Your Baby on Any Camera (including your phone!)
Babies are a very interesting subject in photography. Once they get out of the newborn stage, they wiggle around, but they can't yet move. That means that while you don't have to entertain them as much as a toddler, you also can't count on them sitting still the whole time you want to photograph them. So below are a few ways that you can make your baby photos a bit more interesting, no matter what type of camera you have (the above were all taken with my iPhone!)
Use a Simple Background- When we don't use our large DSLR or mirrorless cameras, we don't have a lot of bells and whistles to help out our photos. Therefore, we need them to be distraction free with a clear focus on our baby. One of the best ways to do this is to use a simple background. Whether that be a bed, crib sheets, a plain wall, a bathtub or even a piece of foam board, the simpler the background, the better!
Eliminate Distractions- Along the same lines as the above, you want to eliminate all distractions from the photos. Errant toys, a blanket in the corner of the frame that isn't meant to be there, or distracting elements in the background move the viewers eye away from the baby, which is never a good thing.
Fix One Thing- Every time you are about to take a photo, take a second to fix one thing. Whether that is moving to get better light, shooting from above to eliminate a busy background, or removing a toy, one second can make your photos so much better! In the photo above with my daughter and husband playing airplane, the initial photo was going to have a parking lot in it, unflattering light, and a mountain to the side. I chose to get lower than my subjects to remove the physical distractions, and move a little to get better light and a stronger composition.
Photograph Them at Their Best- Babies should be just fed, just changed, and preferably have just woken up for the day when taking any important photos. If they are just learning to smile, this is when they are at their best and when you will most likely get them to do all of the fun tricks they are learning like smiling, sitting up, or being happy in tummy time.
Choose the Stillest Position Possible- When we shoot busy little subjects, their appendages tend to blur. Camera phones in particular have a tough time with motion. That's why you always want to put them where they are the stillest. At the beginning, babies are still on their backs, then in tummy time, and then sitting up. Once they learn to crawl, all bets are off, so get those nice still photos while you can!
Make it Interesting- While we all love having photos of our babies looking up at us and smiling, the beauty of the digital age is that we can take as many photos as we want at no additional cost. Make sure to get detail shots of their tiny rolls and eyelashes, landscape shots to show how tiny they are in comparison to the world around them, and even detail shots without the baby. These types of photos help tell a story later in life. It may seem like there will always be binkies around your house, but there won't, so a photo to help commemorate that time in every parent's life helps you remember it. When taking these photos, don't be afraid to crop out the baby's head for a more focused composition on what you really want the viewer to see.
Get Real- Babies aren't always smiling and doing exactly what we want them to do. Make sure to capture the real moments. Whether that be them putting keys in their mouth, crawling under a bench or even crying, you'll want to remember all of those little things that drove you nuts in the moment (Of course, make sure your baby is safe and has no immediate needs BEFORE taking out the camera)
Get in the Photo!- Self explanatory, but so so important. I have a monthly reminder on my phone to make sure my husband takes at least one photo with me and my daughter in it per month. They grow so fast before they hit their one year mark, so the time is now! If you want to add some professional photos to the mix, but feel like you missed the newborn period and are in San Francisco or Marin, I can help! I am a lifestyle and family photographer who loves joyful in-home work. You can find out more about my newborn work here.
Are you wanting to up-level your photograpy game? Want to learn how exactly to get in the frame in a flattering way, or how to take pictures in challenging light?
Capturing Everyday Magic, our online photography class for parents to learn how to take better pictures and get in the frame, is for you!