Babys First Year Blog
Taking Photos of Baby: Tip #4
And we’re back for some more photo tips!
This post is part of a weekly series called “Taking Photos of Baby” to teach you a few tips/tricks I’ve picked up along the way. (I’m a photographer and I teach.)
If you need to catch up, here’s what you missed:
Otherwise, click continue for this week’s tip!
Shoot with Simple Style
I’ve received heat in the past for my opinions about this, but I’m sticking to them. I have students interested in learning more about my style and aside from exposure and light, it really comes down to three things: backgrounds, clothing and props.
I am a big believer in clean photography. Meaning, I like my photos to be about my subject only so I will choose backgrounds, clothing and props that complement, not detract from my subject.
Backgrounds
Backgrounds can make or break your shot. Here are some helpful tips:
• Does the background make sense? Should a newborn really be photographed on train tracks? Does that give the viewer a feeling of calm and serenity? What? Danger you say? Try to find backgrounds that make sense and complement your baby.
• Don’t shoot into walls, trees or fences. (Subject pressed against it.) Instead, shoot alongside them for color and texture. Please, please, please… stay away from graffiti. Unless you are photographing the graffiti artist, it just doesn’t make sense and your viewer will try to read the F-words instead of looking into your subject’s sweet, angelic face.
• To diminish the background and get great background blur, pull your subject several feet away from the background.
• For more visual interest, try covering grocery store foam boards using wallpaper, wrapping paper, paint or fabric.
Clothing
Take it or leave it, but these tips will help keep your images classic and hopefully, timeless:
• Avoid oversized headbands. Not only do they look silly, but they will again detract from your baby’s sweet face.
• Other noticeable funny trends: leg warmers, tiny hats, tutus (though great for 2 yr old dress-up princesses).
• Clothing doesn’t have to be boring, but classic pieces will keep your images frame-worthy for decades. Here are my favorite brands (you can find good and bad though, so warning!): Janie & Jack, BabyGap, Angel Dear, Right Bank Babies, Kicky Pants, Kissy Kissy, H&M, and Zara Baby.
Props
• Again ask, “Does it make sense?” Should a baby be in a basket on the train tracks? (This is obviously, my favorite example.)
• Have a small collection of new, classic wooden toys that can keep baby’s interest and still be pretty enough not to ruin the photo. I’ve gotten loads of wooden cars and trucks from Target’s dollar bin. IKEA also has mini stuffed animals around $.50 each.
• I love blankets. Not the hairy or bumpy kind though (you know what I’m talking about), but cozy blankets to wrap baby are the best.
Again, these are my opinions. I am in no way saying that this is the only way to shoot, but hope that these will help you create beautiful, classic photos to enjoy for generations to come. Happy Shooting!
photos © nicole hill gerulat
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13 Comments
Shannon commented on Jul 25 11 at 2:49 pmI love your advice! My pictures have come out so much better since I’ve been reading your columns. I totally agree with the notion of props/backgrounds/clothes that make sense. Ever since I first took my son to get his picture taken for the first time at 4 months, I’ve tried to choose outfits that won’t look cheesy in 10 or 20 years. Striped rompers, overalls, things that are pretty classic. And I would also suggest not ruling out ideas for pictures without trying them first. I never thought I would take a picture of my baby in a basket (corny cliche!), but the photographer talked me into it. The picture of my little boy in a basket, holding his lovey and grinning for the camera is one of my all-time favorites and I’m really glad I went for it.
Kellan commented on Jul 25 11 at 5:39 pmPlease keep them coming, Nicole! I have yet to try them, but I love photography, so taking pictures when I can drag out my camera (I have a bigger one that is primarily a video camera, but takes sweet still frames as well), I’d really like to put these to good use by snapping some of my daughter using your tricks of the trade. The background tips are the best – I learned them in 4-H. Thanks for blogging on such a fun topic!
Ellen commented on Jul 25 11 at 6:45 pmI agree, Right Bank Babies has some amazing timeless clothing pieces. One more tip – to get your child to smile use their favorite stuffed animal behind the camera. You can have the animal tickle them and then pull it away and snap the photo. You get some great giggles.
Melissa Yoder commented on Jul 27 11 at 11:36 amI agree! So glad there’s other people out there who aren’t fussed with having trendy backgrounds/colors/clothes, etc. People go so overboard nowadays.
kelly commented on Jul 27 11 at 1:09 pmAmen to this post Nicole. Great advice and a great reminder. I was just thinking last night how much I dislike seeing sweet little babies posed into uncomfortable and strange places.
Nicole commented on Jul 27 11 at 1:12 pmYou work really is amazing
Randi commented on Jul 27 11 at 7:04 pmBut big flower headbands and tutu’s are fun for Halloween!!! ;-)
Good advice, I don’t like things to look to fussy or staged, I’m more of a candid’s kind of girl… so these fit in line with my style pretty nicely.
Like it.
Cristina commented on Jul 29 11 at 11:12 amthank you so much for your photography tips, they’re great! please keep them coming!
the emily commented on Aug 03 11 at 3:02 pmThe graffiti. What’s with the graffiti??
Katelyn commented on Aug 07 11 at 9:51 amI am so glad you mention the giant, oversized flower headband. That drives me crazy when I see that in photographs. It takes away from their sweet face. I love every bit of advice you gave in this! Thanks for the tips – keep them coming because you are amazing!
catie commented on Aug 07 11 at 1:38 pmi love love your advice! you are fantastic.
our office was across from a big wall of
graffiti and every day without fail there were
all kinds of pictures being taken in front of it…
so bad! brides, babies, pregnant women doing belly pictures. yikes.
Jessica commented on Oct 07 11 at 12:21 pmlove these tips! they are fantastic! and I am laughing as I am agreeing with each one. keep them coming!!
Jessica commented on Oct 07 11 at 12:28 pmAlso I am wondering if you could show me an example of:
“instead, shoot alongside them for color and texture.”
I love this tip and want to make sure I am remembering this. I am sure that I am putting a kid in front of a back yard fence every now and then!!
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