If you're the parent of a baby, chances are you've already taken approximately 4,987,234 photos of your little one — and you're really happy with maybe two or three of them. Whether you're trying to take a photo for a holiday card or just grabbing a pic to post in your family Facebook group, a few simple tricks will help you get better results.
Use natural light
Hands-down, the easiest way to dramatically improve your photos is to place your baby by a window during daylight — ideally when there's not direct sunlight pouring in the window, but lots of indirect light. This way you'll get sharper photos, with even light and without a harsh flash.
Wait for the right moment
It's a recipe for disaster to decide, "Today will be the day we'll get that perfect pic!" Chill out and wait for a quiet moment when your baby's in a happy mood. That might be today, that might be next week, but it will happen (probably).
Let go of the eye-contact requirement
"Hey! Hi there! Hi cutie! Look at Mommy! Hey! Hey!" Whoa, Mom, you're stressing us all out. It's actually okay if your baby isn't looking straight at the camera: an sincere smile directed off-camera is better than a panicked grin aimed straight at the lens.
Keep it simple
Lay your baby on a light-colored blanket to eliminate visual distractions. (Note: even this may not be good enough for the passport people, as a couple in front of me at the post office the other day learned to their chagrin.)
The more the merrier
Crowding siblings, or friends, into the shot can lead to tension — but if everyone's happy, it can also create a sense of natural fun and lead to priceless family snapshots. Instead of shooing that sibling out of the way when you're taking a photo, consider letting him or her crawl into the frame and see what happens. It could be magic, or it could be a disaster — but that's life, and that's what we're aiming for, right?
Upgrade your equipment
Yes, phones take amazing photos these days — but the same technological developments that have made that possible have also reduced the price of sophisticated cameras with changeable lenses. It's still an investment — a decent semi-pro rig can run several hundred dollars — but with a little practice, you'll be amazed at the difference.
Go pro
Professional photos are also an investment — but there are many more options than the days when your mom plopped you down at ProEx. Wherever you live, you can find dozens of talented professional photographers who will come to you — and can price packages to fit your budget.
Just wait until your baby is old enough to take a selfie
Don't worry, it won't be long.
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