EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
Early Years
|
||||
|
He's just about to take a step. You've got the camera poised and ready to go. Flash. Click. Zoom. Click again. Within minutes you're congratulating yourself for capturing another milestone on film. Unfortunately, when the pictures are developed, you're reminded yet again why photography is not your strong suit. Even with today's auto-focus, auto-flash, auto-everything cameras, getting the best shot can be challenging. Ask any new parent and they'll tell you that photographing a curious, emotional, non-stop baby and toddler is especially difficult. With attention spans of less than a minute, you've got to move fast to catch their precious moments on film. And at the rate babies grow, you've got to catch those moments before they're gone forever. Here's the key: Don't be intimidated by the camera, or disappointed by the results. Follow these simple tips from the experts and you can start filling up your family portrait wall with your own photographic works of art. And by all means, use a professional photographer for the portraits and other special moments that will last forever. Be prepared. Lisa Baker, of Lisa Renee Photography in San Juan Capistrano, advises parents to always keep a camera within arm's reach to make certain you can catch your baby at those picture-perfect moments. A simple point-and-shoot model is all that's required. "I have a 10-month-old, and when I'm at home I'm just like every other mom. I don't pull out my professional equipment," says Baker. Follow your baby's lead. Generally the best time of day to catch babies in a good mood for pictures is early in the morning. However, you know your baby best. If you're trying to stage a photo session at home, plan it around your baby's schedule. You'll know soon enough if she's in the mood for pictures. Baker advises taking shots of your little bundle from day one. "That way, they get used to the camera, and before you know it they'll start hamming it up every time you pull it out." Keep it simple. If you're trying to capture a holiday theme, party, or other event with pictures, go ahead and have fun with props, but stay away from wild patterns and lots of clutter in the background. The goal of the photo is to capture your baby's face, not the stripes on the sofa, the design on her dress or the decorations on the wall. Look beyond the smiles. It's always nice to catch your baby grinning widely with those two little front teeth showing, but there are many memorable shots that don't include smiles. The nice thing about a serious look is that a baby's eyes usually look so big and beautiful, says Baker. "I had the cutest picture of a baby crying once. Why not try to capture all their moods?" Zoom in. In his book, "How to Photograph Your Baby" (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 1999), photographer Nick Kelsh suggests that parents can get the best shots of their babies and toddler by just getting closer to them. How many times have you taken a picture of your toddler only to capture the entire back yard...and not much else? Try capturing the expression, and don't worry if you only get part of her face. The result will likely be more interesting than your old standards. Since taking close-ups isn't common practice for most amateur photographers, Kelsh suggests spending a role of film on a "focus test" (taking pictures from different distances) in order to learn how your camera works best. Lighten things up. There are two theories on using light for your home pictures. Baker suggests using your flash at all times, except when you're in direct sunlight. This works great for all those spontaneous shots. However, if you are trying to set up some photo ops with your baby, Kelsh believes that natural light, through a door or window, creates a "warm and inviting" effect on subjects. Again, this is a technique that will probably require a little practice. Shoot away. Although film and developing charges can add up quickly, Kelsh urges parents to take as many pictures as they can when trying to catch their baby in an irresistible pose. After all, it makes sense statistically that if you take more photos, you'll end up with more keepers. Hopefully these tips have inspired you to get back on the bandwagon of taking pictures of your tiny tot. As a mother of three, I admit that it gets harder to keep up with the pictures with each consecutive child. As a matter of fact, I had better go snap a few shots now so I can catch the baby before he heads off to college. Michele Piazzoni is a freelance writer and mother of three living in Folsom. She is a regular contributor. By e-mail: mpiazzoni@hotmail.com. |
||||
RSS Subscribe
Digg This ArticleSEARCH THE SITE
