88 TIPS FOR GREAT BABY PHOTOS

From lighting to posing and pacifying, here's how you get the perfect shot

There’s some irony in the fact that probably one of the most photographed subjects in the world can also be one of the most difficult. Baby photography can be a joy, but it can also be an incredibly infuriating experience, as it’s nigh on impossible to communicate that you want them to look this way, sit still, do this and do that. In this round-up we’ll be serving up 88 baby photography tips to hopefully take some of the stress away, whether you’re photographing your own baby or somebody else’s.

We’ve divided the tips into different categories; some are more appropriate for certain ages, while others apply to preparation or post-production.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A BABY PHOTOGRAPHY SHOOT

01 PICK THE BEST TIME

Unless you’re photographing a baby who’s just a couple of days old, it’s likely that he or she will have some kind of routine. The parents should know when they’re likely to be at their calmest – this is the time you should aim for (don’t be surprised if the baby spontaneously changes pattern though…)

02 KNOW THE LIGHT

Once you know what time of day (roughly) you’re going to be shooting, pick the best place to photograph. For babies you’ll want to stick to natural lighting – near a window is ideal, but the light may change depending on what time of day it is.

03 REMOVE CLOTHES AHEAD OF TIME

If you’re going to photograph a baby without any clothes on (typically newborn shoots go this way), it’s a good idea to remove clothing items ahead of time to reduce any marks or lines from the clothes on baby’s skin.

04 COLOUR PALETTE

On the other hand, if you’re going with a clothed shot, think about whether the baby’s clothes co-ordinate or clash with the background you’re going to shoot on.

05 CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT AHEAD OF TIME