Once you are ready to shoot, it is helpful to have the baby's mom or dad standing right over your shoulder to get his or her attention. If you are alone, you will have a hard time engaging the baby since you are behind your camera. Take detailed, close up shots (remember, no flash) of the baby's face, especially as he or she reacts to something that Mom or Dad is doing. Close ups of the little hands and/or feet are also great shots, especially when you can add a parent's hand or foot in the shot as well to show the contrast between the two. Finally, if the baby is old enough, place him or her on a blanket, and allow the baby to naturally prop up on their belly using their arms. Position yourself in between the window and the baby, so he or she is looking at you and the natural light from behind is hitting him or her. This is a classic baby shot, a must-have for all parents!
Once you've gotten the shot, use post-production tools to warm up the color tones (I will talk about post-production tools in upcoming posts), and try converting some to black and white for the perfect, timeless baby shot. But above all else, remember to be patient, and take frequent breaks as needed (the baby will let you know when he or she needs a break!).
