That is so funny...I photographed a 4 day old baby 2 days ago. After running them through the soup and printing, I wasn't overly impressed with my work this time. When explaining to a friend about the images I said, "The older he gets the more of a treasure these become because he'll never be this age again." Half the battle, some days, is just snapping the shutter. I can't wait to get my camera on him again! Lea ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert G. Earnest" <robert@earnestphoto.com> To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students" <photoforum@listserver.isc.rit.edu> Sent: Wednesday, October 02, 2002 5:25 AM Subject: Best advice ever... > 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 > > >
