As parent or parent-to-be, there exist a multitude of gifts you’ll be able to give your child to ensure that he or she grows up to be the fine young people you wish them to be. Yes, we’re talking about patience, kindness as well as the occasional toy. But, there exists yet another gift you can give that will ensure that the best parts of your child’s life remain immortalized.

Photographs help us appreciate our young lives, especially when we’re older. They remind us of the good moments, the bad and also where we come from.

Below we’ll acquaint you with a couple of essential photography tips and techniques that will help you, as proud parent, to capture all these moments that will, one day, help your child realize just how much you love him or her.

What To Expect

If you’re about to pick up your camera, just hold on, mom, dad. Take some time to think about photography in general: what is it that makes a good picture? Is it great technical ability? Perhaps the intuition needed to recognize a great shot when it presents itself. Or, maybe both?

In our opinion, photography is about a combination of technical skill and composition. You’ll have to learn to use your camera to its fullest extent while, at the same time, know which elements present in the frame will and won’t work.

We’ll give you a bit of advice on both to best prepare you for your photographic journey to come.

Technical Skills

Remember mom, dad: photography is all about light. And if you learn to manipulate the light entering though your camera’s lens, then you’ll be able to weave photographic magic! So let’s look at a couple of basic concepts.

A Little More About Light…

To best understand the motivation behind the fact that some types of light are good, in terms of photography, while others are less so, we have to understand what is meant by the ‘dynamic range’ of a camera.

The dynamic range refers to the differences in light or tone that can be accommodated before some aspects of the image in front of us loses detail. Our eyes have a dynamic range of about 2000:1, while the average camera only has a dynamic range of about 8:1. What this means in terms of lighting is that, when ‘wrong’ types of light are used to illuminate the subject of our photography, it will cast deep shadows that will appear black on film, even though we can make out the detail with the naked eye.

In practical terms, this means that, if you are planning on a bit of outdoor photography, you’ll do well to take your pictures either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Cloudy days are also suitable and will provide you with the necessary soft light to bring out your child’s beautiful skin tone.

The Exposure Triangle

Your camera will provide you with a host of settings that will allow you to manipulate light as it enters through the lens. The most prominent among these represent the elements of the ‘Exposure Triangle’ and include ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Let’s take a brief look at each of these separately.

ISO

At this stage we’d like to encourage parents of all very young babies to switch off the flash. Not only will the sudden bright bursts of light startle your child, but it can also be potentially damaging to his or her developing vision.

However, that doesn’t mean you should put your camera down. On the contrary, learn to use the ISO setting of your camera efficiently.

ISO is a term that is used rather loosely and refers to the film speed standard for color-negative film as maintained by the International Standards Organization. Those parents who would like a bit more information can search for ISO 5000:1987 (though be warned: you’ll be greeted with a lot of technical information).

Now while most cameras nowadays don’t use film any more, the standards still apply and is more commonly referred to as the camera’s sensitivity to light.

If you are intent on taking a picture of your baby in a low-light environment, then you’ll want to ensure that you are using a high ISO number, like 800. In a bright environment, the reverse is true: a low ISO number will suffice. Acquaint yourself with this feature of your camera by experimenting.

Aperture

The aperture of your camera is defined as the amount of light that gets admitted onto the sensor and works very much like the pupil of the human eye. We measure the diameter of the aperture in f-stop and indicate it as follows: Fn, F:n or F-n, where n is the aperture size. The higher the f-stop the smaller the aperture.

Shutter Speed

The last element of the ‘Exposure Triangle’ refers to shutter speed, which is measured in fractions of a second and seconds. As the name implies, this function determines how fast the shutter opens and closes.

Shutter speeds between 1/60 (a sixtieth of a second) and 1/000 (a thousandth of a second) and faster will allow you to hold the camera in your hand. Shutter speeds of 1/30 (one thirtieth of a second) and slower will require the use of a tripod to avoid camera shake. However, take note: certain shutter speeds can last second, minutes or even longer and will capture more light as well as movement (that’s the cool trailing effect visible on photographs of highways).

Composition

In terms of composition, there are a lot of things that can be said and a lot of rules to be expelled. But in the end, good photographic composition is a skill mastered only by practice, practice and then some more, practice.

All we’ll be able to do is to give you a couple of pointers of things to look out for that will help you recognize certain elements that will help you on the journey to photographic excellence.

Texture & Lines

Take a look around you. What do you see? All physical objects have a texture, and they have lines, too.

The edges of said objects, if not the patterns on them, will fill each photograph you take with a variety of shapes. To excel in your photographic journey, you’ll have to train yourself to pay attention to these lines, shapes and textures. Have a look at your child (if he or she has already been born) and carefully study them for the aforementioned characteristics.

When its time for another photography spell, try to employ the following guidelines:

• - Converging lines will supply your picture with a sense of depth and distance
• - Curved lines or swirls will convey a sense of calm
• - Slanting lines, on the other hand, can imply direction or action

That being said, we’d also like you to pay attention to the various colors that fill the frame of your camera. Photography 101 states that colors that belong to the same tonal range will make for a better photograph than those that seem out of odds with one another.

An Interesting Angle

Last but not least in our mini parent photography course is something present in all brilliant photographs: a good angle. Whether you take a picture over your baby’s shoulder to show what he or she was looking at the time, or whether you find it fitting to show them in a special type of light or way, it’s often the unique angle that draws us to a picture.

Remember: all photographs should tell a story that’s what sets them apart from mere pictures.

About The Author: Betty A. Muscott is an accomplished child photographer who provides tips on how to photograph children outdoors to create beautiful images and some personalized photo gift hints. She provides a review of a great Canon starter digital camera, ideas on how to create amazing babies photos onto canvas and personalized photo gift ideas..

When we use our children as photography subjects we are faced with a wide array of challenges. Maybe it’s those tricky toddlers or maybe it’s the weather that won’t comply? Whatever the challenge, though, there are ways to overcome various photography hurdles. Pictures don’t have to be perfect to be well received and treasured for years to come. It’s all about the emotion a photo evokes. Jumping the hurdles is easy, you just have to try.

• You have a child who just won’t smile or when he does smile it’s all forced and fake?
  • How about capturing him when he’s not looking. Get him drawing on the sidewalk with chalk, blowing bubbles, or jumping on the trampoline.

• The rain is relentless and you haven’t taken a picture for days because you are most interested in naturally lit photographs.
  • How about popping that flash and just snapping. You could be missing the best shots ever because you don’t want to use your flash.
    

• You have multiple children and there is always one who looks away or closes her eyes. You just want one great picture of all of them together.
  • How about following them as they walk hand-in-hand on the beach, or you get them all playing together in the yard, or swimming in their kiddie pool? There aren’t any rules that say you must have them all looking and smiling.
    

• The tantrums are plentiful and your fear is that you won’t get a decent picture of your terribly terrific toddler.
  • How about you put that bubble machine to use and capture some shots of your child playing amidst them, or maybe bath-time is a happy time and will yield some big smiles. Pick out times that your child is happy and get snappy!

Pictures that will be treasured don’t need to be posed. In this era of the digital camera we are afforded the option of taking as many pictures as our memory cards can hold. Keep those cameras within reach and start photographing the little moments, those ordinary –yet extraordinary– moments!

The snow has melted, the grass is getting greener, and spring has officially sprung.  Easter is here and that means sweet little bow ties, patent leather shoes, frilly pastel-colored dresses and matching bonnets, precious moments, and chocolate-filled baskets. It’s the perfect holiday to pull out your camera and capture loving moments before church, during an Easter egg hunt, or at a relative’s house visiting with family and loved ones.

In photography it is important to pay attention to your available lighting. The number one place to capture those stand-out portraits or even those classic snapshots will be outside, in the natural light. More often than not we, as photographers, want the light source behind us.  Sometimes, though, this may wash your subject out, and since they will probably be in soft colored clothes that wouldn’t be so good for your picture. Instead of the light source being behind you when you shoot, try to have it coming in from an angle; basically speaking, aim for [the sun] to shine over your right or left shoulder on to your subject. Also, when taking portraits inside strive to take photos near a window, for diffused lighting effect. Posing near a window, using diffused natural light, will give you a soft look to your image; making it look absolutely magical, in a frame, on your wall, or imprinted on a photo book or calendar.

Here are some tips to make your Easter portraits memorable:

• Try not to over-pose. Instead, ask your children to hold hands and follow them as they walk by a row of flowers or take a shot of them walking away from you. This creates a timeless portrait that Grandmas go crazy for.
• Have fun. One fun pose to try is where you have your children lie down, with their heads coming together, and shoot from above. Posing them this way is a different take on traditional portraits.
• Don’t worry about smiles or eye-contact.  Some of the best pictures don’t have either.
• Embrace the mess. Church is over and it’s time to dig into the Easter chocolates; don’t worry about a choco-face.  Snap away and capture the candid fun!

You don’t need “The Luck of the Irish” to take some St. Patricks Day photos and make them spectacular.  All you need are some cute little subjects (which you’ve already got) and a few inexpensive props (that you can easily and inexpensively obtain at your local party store.)   Couple those with a bright sunny day and, possibly, a field of grass or clovers, and you’ll have the perfect equation for some high quality, memory-made prints of your wee lads and lassies.

Here are some ideas for some creative St. Paddy’s portrait keepsakes:

• Balloons:  A simple bunch of green balloons is a unique way to draw attention to the picture.   Sometimes one big green balloon will add a little bit of uniqueness to your photo, too.  Against a stunning blue sky, on a bright sunny day, you are bound to create a setting that everyone will dote on.

• Hats: Local party supply stores have a lot of different styles;  Derby hats, green glittery top hats, a striped stove hat, or a charming plaid Gatsby style topper.   Add one of these hats to your baby, toddler, or older child’s precious little head, and you will definitely capture a fun mood in your shot.

• Green Feather Boa: This fun prop can be wrapped around your sleeping baby or wrapped around your diaper clad infant or toddler.  It adds texture and color, all-the-while capturing that winning photo.

While adding props to your portrait scene can really make your prints interesting and entertaining, there are a few things to remember and do that will make a good picture, a phenomenal picture.

• Lay the kids down, with their heads touching, and shoot from above.  This perspective is fun!

• Follow the “rule of thirds” by place your subjects on one of the imaginary lines that make up three vertical and horizontal columns/rows.   This rule produces an image that is very aesthetically pleasing.

• Seek motion in your picture by letting your subjects move freely while you shoot.  Sometimes this type of photography will produce that accidental image that you will treasure always.

“May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.”
~Irish Blessing

The flowers are blooming, the grass is getting greener, and the day longer. After a long winter and some definite cabin fever we are finally able to get out and enjoy the fresh air. This also means that there will be a lot of natural light for some great pictures to make prints of, for the family album. No more pictures in front of the fireplace; it’s time for pictures in front of the tulips, daffodils, and blossoming dogwood trees.

What’s more metaphorical than a newborn baby in front of freshly bloomed flowers?  What a beautiful way to create a photo keepsake or gift, to commemorate your baby’s arrival this spring. A simple wicker basket with a special blanket laid down inside would make a nice prop for such a photo shoot. It doesn’t even matter if your baby is asleep or newly wide-eyed. The natural light and blooms will make a picture such as this a family favorite for years to come.

Another spring-time renewal is the picnic. No more picnics in front of the television set; it’s time to picnic under the puffy clouds of spring. This setting calls out to be documented, whether it’s in an album or for scrapbooking.  It’s the perfect natural backdrop for a portrait of your children sitting together, eating, laughing, playing, and enjoying the day.

Some tips for making your spring-time photos flourish:

1. Take photos in the early morning hours, before the sun is at it’s highest.
2. Create “catch light” in the eyes of your subject by making sure the sun is behind you.
3. Coordinate your childrens’ outfits and stick to non-busy, distracting styles of patterns.
4. Be sure to capture your child’s energy by taking shots that are everyday but extraordinary.
5. Snap that camera a lot; you are obtaining images that will last a lifetime.

Let’s face it; your life is busy with a baby. You don’t have the time (or energy) that it takes to pack up seven outfits and head to the mall where your local portrait studio is located.    I won’t even mention the cost of some of these places and how you get suckered into buying “the big package.”

Solution:  Put some money into getting a basic DSLR (I recommend a Canon Digital XSi) or nice point-and-shoot camera, and do it yourself.

No one knows your baby, like you do! You know when baby boy is well rested, when he’s eaten, when he’s cranky, when he’s dry, when he’s clean.   And being in the comforts of your home can really make for some wonderful photo sessions.

Tip #1: Use as much natural light as possible.

Set up a shoot by a window, where you know the light comes through nicely, so that you can use it to your advantage.  Or if weather permits, go outside and take some photos of her on a favorite quilt.  Natural light will give you some super soft tones, not to mention bathe your baby’s skin in such a way that you will absolutely love the end result.

Tip #2: Go the non-traditional route.

Focus on a particular body part like sweet baby toes or wrinkly little fingers.  They grow so fast and change so quickly, that you will be thankful for up-close documentations like this.

Tip #3: Don’t worry about setting aside time for a “shoot”.

Just take pictures when baby is rested, fed, happy,  visiting with family, interacting with siblings, sleeping, etc…  Some of the best portraits are candid and not set up or posed.

Tip #4: Keep it simple.

Don’t worry about props and take away any distracting items from the shot.  Focus on your baby and just fill the frame with his precious cheeks.

In this age of digital photography we are afforded the right to take as many pictures without worrying about paying for developing. We can print what we choose to print!   And we all have the ability to document our lives, daily, all-the-while honing in on our very own creative spark. Give it a try, you’ve got nothing to lose and only photographic memories to gain!

The newborn phase passes quickly.  Before you know it they aren’t so small and crinkly, and they are starting to  fill out and are totally changed from when they were first born.   The window of opportunity to document this phase is small.   The key is to shoot often.   In this digital age you shouldn’t be afraid to fill up that whole memory card.    You are bound to have a few great shots of your new baby.  The bad shots can be easily deleted.

Here are some tips to help you take awesome photographs of your newborn baby:

• Make it a habit: take pictures all the time.   It will be wonderful to look back on the first bath, the first visit from that special relative, the first time everything and anything.   Establishing this habit early on will also ensure that you are adequately documenting your child’s life through photography.

• Taking pictures all the time means that you are snapping during those not-so-perfect, cranky times.  Babies, like the rest of us, have changing moods.  Why not capture it all?

• Use props like a special rattle or stuffed animal.  Also, make sure to use the people in your baby’s life as props.  Capture and commemorate those special moments between baby and her siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

• Light, Camera, Action:
  1. When taking pictures of newborns especially you should seek soft, diffused light. Take pictures of your baby by the window as opposed to in direct sunlight.  Overcast days are really some of  the best lighting conditions.
  2. Eliminate red eye by enabling the red eye reduction function on your camera.  Also try to divert your babies eyes from looking directly into the camera as this will help eliminate red eye, too.
  3. Surely newborns are easy to pose, but you should strive to catch your baby moving.   Set your camera to it’s sports mode so you can catch all the movements of you precious newborn.

Don’t be stingy, either.  Print those pictures up and share them with your loved ones.   Make sure to fill up baby photo albums, hang prints on your walls, or scrapbook.  This phase in life is short and you will feel so fulfilled knowing that you documented it appropriately!

The rain’s got you down.  The sun hasn’t been out for days and neither has your camera.   No pun intended, but snap out of it!   Grab your camera, get comfortable with using your flash, and stop missing those great moments around the house.   Sure, we love natural light but sometimes we just don’t have enough of it.  In the case of gloomy weather, here are a few tips and ideas to keep you shooting:

Open Umbrellas and Puddle Jumping

Find some colorful umbrellas for the kids, stand somewhere dry like a doorway, under an awning or carport, and shoot them playing and dancing in the rain.    Or have them jump into puddles while you shoot with a fast shutter speed/sports mode.  These playful portraits will be so fun to obtain. But mostly for the kids to help create.  Just make sure you have some towels in the doorway, though.

Overcast Isn’t the End of the World

Actually, it’s probably going to make for some great shots.  The clouds will act as a natural diffuser and there won’t be any harsh sunlight to contend with.  Shoot as normal in overcast conditions.   Also, after-rain skies are very dramatic.  Shoot from an angle that will catch some of the sky thus creating a very interesting background.

Let the Melodrama Roll In With the Clouds

Have your child(ren) stand with their faces up to the window, looking out on the rainy day.  Make sure to let their faces fill the frame of the shot.  This type of portrait will evoke much emotion and is great for putting on photocards.

Stop Blaming and Start Shooting

It’s easy to blame it on the rain, but when it all boils down you shouldn’t let weather deter you from taking pictures of your surroundings and your children.   Neither the weather nor your children will be the compliant all the time, but getting out there and trying is all it takes.  You will be surprised with the results you get!

A sleeping baby is a heavenly sight.  When my husband and I had our first baby we would often find ourselves standing over his crib, watching him sleep.  I found myself looking at our perfect baby boy, then at my husband, and a feeling of peace and serenity soon washed over me.   Three months later we were pregnant with our daughter.    A sleeping baby is indeed pure perfection.

One of my favorite things has always been taking pictures of our babies while they slept.    At night it’s hard to do because of the flash, so I reserved these shots for morning and during naptime.     I could take a variety of shots with my  DSLR camera and even if I had to use my point-and-shoot I would be able to turn off the flash to get some great daytime shots.   My favorite pictures are the close-ups of baby sleeping.   Most recently we used a shot of our baby sleeping for his birth announcement.   I still get compliments on that photo, to this day, and he’s almost three!

Slumbering Newborn

Newborns sleep a lot!  This is a great time to take pictures of their sweet little ears, or their pursed lips, or their crinkly fingers and toes.  They change so quickly and demand much while they are awake, that taking a sleeping portrait will give you a great document of this phase.

Stroller Sleeping

On the go, babies will fall asleep.  This would be another chance to pull out your handy-dandy digital camera and snap away.    Taking pictures, on the go, like this will also give a great documentation of daily and weekly events.  Time passes by so quickly and ventures out get forgotten.   Recording through photography is a great way to look back and remember.

When Sleep Comes

Babies have a knack for falling asleep when-ever and where-ever; that might be on the floor in a pile of toys or in her highchair eating lunch.    No matter where sleep comes there’s just another opportunity to capture that adorable sleeping shot of your little one.

Whether they are not wanting to come back inside from playtime for a nap or are refusing to take medicine, toddlers can be a tricky bunch. Their mind is set and they can be the most stubborn of creatures. Sometimes we call it the “terrible twos” but maybe we should change that to the “terrible toddler years”.

During these years it seems the hardest thing to do is capture [your toddler] in portraiture. There will be countless studio visits, tantrums during the process, failed shots due to stubborn attitudes and one track minds. However, it’s not completely impossible to capture your toddler and get that shot to hang on the wall or give to the grandparents.

Tips for Photographing Tricky Toddlers:

• Strive to take portraits when your little one is well rested and full bellied.

• Don’t place too much emphasis on getting the perfect expression. Sometimes the best expression is one that you would normally dismiss (i.e. a pout.)

• Get in their comfort zone and snap away, with your digital camera, at those playful times.

• Pay attention to the surroundings and the available lighting and nature; use it to your advantage.

• Set the scene. Pull out favorite toys and stuffed friends and get down to their level and shoot. Props can and will be very useful when trying to capture the attention of toddler kids.

• Try to stick with natural light as many toddlers have a big time aversion to flash.

• Follow their lead and just snap as they go. You’ll be surprised with the results.