Portrait idea for babies

Back to Top

Dear Scott:
My wife and I are expecting our first child in the Spring. This event has given me the reason I have been looking for to set up a studio in my home. Do you have any tips or creative ideas for photographing babies?
Craig

Sure do:
While I don’t feel that I am ready to put a baby into a watermelon costume and press it down into a real squishy hollowed out watermelon, I do feel that there are some nice things that you can do. My favorite is one that we started a few years ago and wish we had thought about it when Jennifer was a baby. (there is a rendering of one below) The idea is really quite simple. It’s best if the baby is old enough to hold his or her head up while on their tummy. Here is the concept. Use a low table or half barrel with white bunny cloth on it. (all high key white) NEVER put a baby up on a high platform or table of any kind. ALWAYS have mom right there with the baby. Now the baby is naked and on the tummy. It’s a side view but with the baby turned slightly toward the camera. Use nice short lighting with a gentle accent or “baby bottom light” from the opposite side of the main light. Capture several nice expressions of the baby looking back toward the camera or at least in that general direction. I usually sit on the floor next to the diffusion panel so I can make a fool of my self for the babies enjoyment and he or she will be looking generally in the right direction. Ok, there is your most important shot. Now fix your camera so you can take closeup images hand held. I mean within a few inches if need be. From here you will have moms help as you make images of some of the babies tiny body parts. We always photograph tiny little hands, sometimes resting comfortably in mamas big old hand. The size comparison is really wonderful. Then we will get mom to hold up a tiny little foot so we can see those tiny toes before they start to really grow. Then we might do an extreme closeup of a tiny little ear, completely filling the frame. We might do an extreme closeup of a cute little face or just the eyes or just a little mouth. We might have mom hold the baby in a sort of standing position and get a closeup side view of a tiny little wrinkled bottom. Once all of this is done, the finishing is what makes this work so well and trust me it brings moms and dads to tears. Here is how we do it.
We get a frame that is made for an 8 X 10 and four proof size images. You can also get a ready made matte that has the same configuration from Hartcraft (see our recommended suppliers page) and then install it into a standard 11 X 14 frame with glass. The frame is usually white to match the high key images. Now you just assemble the whole thing with the best 8 X 10 in the large opening and the best closeup parts pictures in the smaller openings. Once finished it is irresistible. We price this item as if they paid for a sitting, the framing, the prints and then took a pretty nice discount off that would make it a good deal. Simple and effective. This is one of those items that you can do on your own on speculation and just about know that it will sell every time. Once mom has it in her hands and the tears are flowing, it’s a done deal. If you show a couple of these in advance, a lot of moms will commission it right up front. Just telling them about it can bring them to tears on occasion. It works really well but you will need some patience as babies don’t always want you to hold their feet or hands up in the air for photography. You need a lot of help from mom but it’s really worth the effort once you see the final item. Give it a try!

Click here to see our Kid/Group Panel.

Back to Top