Try a new perspective

Get down to your baby’s eye level and see the world through their eyes. Sit on the ground, or lay down if you need to. Physically moving to their level will give you a new and unique perspective. Move around and experiment with cropping. Make sure to come in close and observe the little things in those moments too- their hands, feet, smile, etc. Play around with the perspective and you’ll find some amazing little moments to capture that you would have otherwise missed standing up!

Keep it simple

Choose solid colors, or simply patterned clothing so that the focus is on your baby and not on what they are wearing. Remove things from the frame that have logos or emblems or any other visual distractions. The more simple you keep the photograph, the more your baby will be the focus.

Turn off your flash

Even snapshot cameras have this option. When indoors, try and position your baby near a window- window light provides beautiful natural light. If the window light is not enough, bring in a lamp. The constant light from the lamp will be much more soothing to your baby than the startling light from a flash.

Go outside

Cloudy days are the best days to shoot outside, but if it is sunny, find a shaded spot. Direct sunlight causes harsh shadows and is hard on your baby’s eyes. Plus, you’ll get a much more realistic, beautiful and naturally lit image from the evenness of open shade. Put down a blanket and enjoy all the wonder and awe of nature with your baby.

Shoot in Black & White

Black and white strips away the “noise” of every day life and really brings focus to the child and the moment. It is classic, timeless, and always beautiful. Plus, if you are photographing your baby indoors, it will help you avoid the normal color shifts that occur on film when shot without a flash under standard household bulbs.

Keep the room calm

Do away with distractions and extra people. Avoid the urge to constantly talk to your baby, just silently watch and photograph his or her natural tendencies. Watch them move or look around their environment and capture their expressions. Most babies are fascinated by cameras and easily show their curiosity and intensity!

Be a part of the moment

Have one parent (or friend) photograph while the other parent participates. Embrace the opportunity to interact with your baby and be photographed with them. Don’t just stand up and smile- play, interact, and have fun. Capture the moments that mean the most to you as a parent.

Document their day

Photograph your baby when they first wake up in the morning, and continue to document them at meals, bath time, naptime, playtime, and every other major moment in their day. Pull a lamp near their crib if it’s dark, but try and keep everything very typical to their schedule. Have a proof sheet made from the film and you’ll see a full day-in-the-life story of your baby by you.

Take pictures often!

Your baby is going to change quickly. Appreciate the little things, enjoy every moment and have fun taking pictures as they grow!