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Photographing Your Baby - Part IBy: Thea Menagh, OFAE Congratulations!
You’re a mom. Or dad. And no baby will ever be as wonderful and interesting as yours! I’ve had 2 of my own and know this to be true. And your baby will never ever again look the way he or she does this very minute. The photographs you take will capture and preserve the special, everyday moments and preserve them for yourselves, your children, grandchildren and other family members & friends to enjoy. Don’t ever think you’ll do it tomorrow, because tomorrow will in all likelihood be even busier than today. Do it now!
With today’s technology and varying costs, everyone can own a digital camera. Whichever you choose, your pictures will be wonderful so long as you relax, enjoy, treasure your little ones no matter what they’re doing, or not doing, and don’t for a minute think there’s a right and wrong way to do it.
I’m often asked what ‘special’ things I do when photographing babies and older children. The notes below are in no particular order. and they’re not proven. There’s no such thing where children are concerned, but they’ve worked well for me, and it’s fun trying new things, as you’ll soon find out for yourself. The wonderful thing about working with children is that you can be just as silly and childish as you like. I think that’s what I like most about photographing little ones! And once you’re over 60, and a grandmother, believe me, it comes naturally.
Tomorrow, Today will be a Very Special Memory!
The most perfect subject for your camera lens.
And you’re going to be watching every little yawn, twist, curl of fingers and toes, craning of the multiple chins, and gas attacks anyway, so you might as well be doing something useful in the meantime. Parents have a big PLUS (Patience, Love, Understanding, Stamina) - and PLUS is a big help when photographing your little ones.
Hint #1 - Do it now and do it often. Once your child discovers TV, parks with geese, slides & wading pools, and the kids next door, you and your camera won’t stand a chance unless you're prepared to 'shoot' on the run. And while a toothless grin is priceless, the forced ear-to-ear grins from age 2 on, won’t ever again show your child in his or her natural state of these first few months.
The Album.
You’ll create a photo album to rival in viewing time and excitement the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Not only that, but you’ll want to send the images of this adorable creature to everyone in your email address book. Your bank manager is going to love them!
Hint #2 - Now would be a good time to separate your email address book into various folders, e.g. Baby, Family, Friends, Office Staff, Clients, Services, etc. so you don’t make the inadvertent mistake of sending your baby pictures to eBay - where undoubtedly enormous sums will be offered for them from bidders around the world.
Clothing.
You’ve got a closet-full of rainbow-coloured 0-3 month-sized baby clothes. If you dress this child in a new outfit every 10 minutes for the next 3 months, she’ll still outgrow more than half of them before getting the chance to show them off.
Hint #3 - Since great Aunt Mildred’s already reminded you several times that she’d like a picture of Laura Rose in each of the outfits she’s given you (all 6 hand-knitted sweaters with mitts, matching leggings with feet, and toques with pom-poms), it might be a good idea to set some time aside to drag all the tiny clothes out of the closet and have one big, continuous try-on-and-photo-session. Save the Baby GAP & Roots things for your own enjoyment ... and baby’s comfort when you’ve both had enough of the scratchy wool and stiff ribbons tied under the chin. This could last for days. Your baby will want to nap and eat at intervals. Not a problem. Just keep shooting. You have the stamina of a Trojan army. You’ll eat later ... and you’re not expecting to sleep for months, anyway! In the weeks and months to come, you’ll realize that your child will actually be most comfortable and happy in terry sleepers or a sweatshirt and sweat pants ... until about 10 years old. Throughout the teenage years (better to just think about that when the time comes), they’ll want to be ‘themselves’ and wear what all their friends are wearing (day-and-night) ... one favourite top and one pair of blue jeans (or a larger sweatshirt and sweat pants with mismatched socks and running shoes with untied laces - because with all that Velcro, you never thought to teach them about laces like we did in the ‘Olden Days’). May the cost of laundry detergent never go the way of gasoline!
Lighting & Flash.
The shadows it casts will create a variety of wonderful face-and-body features. Every little bit of your baby is cute as a button!
Hint #4 - Place your baby on differently coloured & textured blankets in different places throughout your home where you have an assortment of lights ... fluorescent, halogen, daylight (early morning, late afternoon, etc.). Try the shot with your flash; and without. Do not place the baby too close to lights, do not leave every stitch of clothing off for extended periods of time in front of cold windows or open doors, and if you have a diffuser for your flash, use it when aiming directly at your little one. These fit over the flash unit to soften the light and cut down on harsh shadows. If you can rotate your flash away from baby’s eyes or upwards towards the ceiling (for bounced lighting), so much the better. Setting the red-eye won’t help much when 46 flashes are aimed directly at your baby’s face! The eyes are going to be red and drippy no matter what functions your camera is blessed with, and your baby’s natural facial features and colour will be a great deal more appealing than if ‘flash-irritated’. If you are outside, the sun should be behind you. If you’re shooting into the sun, your baby will be a dark silhouette and you won’t be able to see much of anything.
Backdrops.
Mirrors and coloured walls or sheets make great backgrounds.
Hint #5 - If you have a large, heavy mirror or black piece of plexiglass, place it on the floor and lie your baby on top of it to achieve a great reflection. If using glass, make sure it’s not old glass, thick enough to support your baby’s weight, and will lie completely flat on the floor to ensure the stress of the baby on the glass doesn’t damage either!. Rub the surface to warm it up a bit. One screaming baby picture is more than enough for anyone, and it’s probably the second one you’ve taken ... after the sleeping one (‘cause that was so rare & exciting during those first few weeks!). Drape coloured sheets over a chair or couch and prop baby up against a pillow ... a nursing pillow (donut) is perfect. A large white terrycloth towel is wonderful, as is a fur coat or faux fur bed throw. If you want your baby curled up, roll a towel and wrap it around the back of baby’s head, back and bottom. To hold it in place, curl it into the corner of the couch or curved back chair.
Tiny hands and feet.
They’re my personal favourites, along with faces, tummies, bottoms, arms, legs, and of course, there’s nothing as wonderful as tiny toes.
Hint #6 - The best time to photograph these is just after a bath or during playtime ... which is most likely around 3am! (You won’t need to set your alarm clock. By now, you’re used to being up at nights!) A diaper only will make it easiest to get shots of fingers and toes - together, and allow baby to bend as easily as possible. Snap as many pictures as fast as you can when hands and feet are intertwined. Holding a little foot or hand with your left hand while clicking with the right will give you those great big-tiny comparison shots. These are nice with grandma or grandpa and older brothers and sisters, as well. If no-one else is around and you want something a little different, include something which gives a sense of scale, such as placing a teaspoon in baby’s fist, or placing daddy’s shoes over baby’s feet. Just be sure to use something which, when placed in baby’s hand, she can’t bang her head or poke her eyes with, since she hasn’t yet gained control over those erratic movements.
Colour.
Proper co-ordination of clothing, surroundings and props isn’t critical, but will help ‘design’ the type of photograph you want to enlarge and frame.
Hint #7 - Whites or pastels are perfect for darker skinned babies. Darker colours for light skin and light hair (if any!). Beware of anything that might obscure parts of baby’s face, and push up sleeves to show off pudgy fingers and chubby arms. Solid colors are always best. Busy patterns, stripes, and logos or text on sleepers and T-shirts are very distracting and should definitely not be the focus of your photograph. Favourite toys (teddy bears and rubber duckies) are always welcome. Try to have one outstanding colour (like the yellow rubber ducky when all other colours are subdued).
Stay tuned for Part II and Part III of this article!
About the Author - Thea Menagh owns & operates A Fitting Image Family, Business & Event Photography in Toronto (a division of B&T Graphic Communications Inc., which she also owns). She specializes in maternity, baby, child & family portraits with the trademarked slogan, ® Mummy Tummy to Tiny Toes. She also photographs weddings and events, and before forming B&T, had an over 25-year career in marketing & advertising, during which she incorporated her photography in work produced for Canadian & international clients. In addition to her photography, she also has Use Agreements with Canadian & U.S. companies who use her photographs for greeting cards. She also designs & prints high end business cards & postcards. Visit her website at: www.afittingimage.com.
Photo credit: Photography © Thea Menagh - B&T Graphic Communications Inc. |
