I received an e-mail this morning with advice on taking great baby pictures. The last line contained really good advice: "Remember, he or she will be a baby only for a short time. So be sure to take the best photos possible. You won't get a second chance!" I thought that was remarkably sage advice. for those interested, here is the entire column... ============================================= Taking Beautiful Baby Pictures Catching the beauty of babies can be quite a challenge. One moment, all is set for the perfect photo - they are happy, well-positioned, blowing bubbles and giggling. A moment later, their mood can mysteriously change for no reason at all - as they erupt with cries that can scare away the neighbours! Patience is everything. So don't give up. Hours of cooing and dancing around, trying to get your baby to smile, can pay off with wonderful poses. But then, all too often, it's all for nothing. Because even with the ideal pose, you don't always capture that great shot. Getting your baby to strike the perfect pose is only half the battle - getting amazing baby pictures takes a few extra tips and tricks. Make sure your baby fills up about 75% of the picture. Sounds easy, but when your subject is only a dozen or so pounds, it's easy to overestimate the amount of room they will take up in a picture. And with such tiny features, the focal point - your baby - can be thrown off easily by background distractions. Stay on the same level as the baby. Baby pictures are best shot from the baby's perspective. Pay attention to colour. Outdoor shots work well with brightly-coloured clothing. The colours and tones serve to highlight your baby and set them apart from the rest of the picture. When indoors, the opposite is true. In this situation, you should dress your baby in more conservative tones and colours, rather than bright and bold ones. More natural shades - like earth tones or pastels - help bring out the natural beauty of your baby, whereas a brighter outfit may take the focus away from the little one. Pay attention to lighting. For the best lighting, capture your pictures with some lighting from beside or in front of the baby - this way you avoid the camera's flash. As much as possible, you should also try to use natural lighting. Artificial lights tend to leave babies, children and adults looking a little washed out. Capture it with digital. Digital cameras can also help you make the most of picture-perfect moments as they let you see your picture immediately after taking it. Also, you can take as many photos as you want without worrying about wasting film. You can just delete the shots that you don't like. Remember, he or she will be a baby only for a short time. So be sure to take the best photos possible. You won't get a second chance! ======================================================================================== (reprinted without permission from a FutureShop Newsletter. I was invited to share this with you all by subscribing the PF to their newsletters but thought better of it.) r
