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!

Turn Off Your Flash
Have your blinds open giving a lot of extra light to the area that your baby plays in the most. Have your baby set up close to a window that the light shines on your baby at approximately a 45 degree angle. Keep in mind that the time of day will determine the amount of sunlight coming in the window. Experiment at different times of the day to find the right light with your view finder, and to determine how much extra light you will need to leave on in your house.

Get Close-up Shots
Use a telephoto lens or stand directly in front of the baby’s hands, face or feet to get an extreme close-up. Don’t always try to get full body shots, shoot for that precious close up shot that will get the twinkle in your baby’s eye. Get down on the babies level and you will be able to catch some of the most precious facial moments that you won’t get from up above your baby. It is definitely possible to capture your baby’s personality on film so take advantage of it. Get pictures of all the different facial expressions, including when your baby is crying or mad.

Variety
Most people tend to take most of our photos horizontally. Try some vertical or angled shots as well. This can help fill in those empty spots in your scrapbook and will give a whole different look to your picture.

Remove Distractions
Keep your backgrounds simple and free of distractions. If you use a blanket to add texture, be sure that it is a simple color and that it doesn’t take away from your babies face. Don’t use a heavily patterned background that will take the attention away from your baby.

Black & White
Experiment with black and white pictures to give your baby a different look. Even sepia shots can give a great, old timey look to a special photo. Take pictures with toys in different formats.

Review Your Photos
When you look at your photos you will see what needs to be improved and you can work on those areas on future pictures. You will see what techniques worked out great, and what techniques didn’t deliver the picture that you were looking for.

These techniques are good for both digital and regular cameras. Remember that everyday your baby is going to be doing things that you will want to get a picture of so be prepared! In twenty years, you will be glad you were.

1. Use high resolution.
For photos that you do not want to print, low resolution is great! But if you are taking a picture that you are going to want to print out for your album or scrapbook, or to give as a gift to your mother for her upcoming birthday, you will get a better printed image with a higher resolution. If you need to buy an extra memory card so that you have the storage room, splurge on yourself and buy one.

2: Get close up.
Create impact by getting up close. The picture will look totally different with your subject up close and personal than it will with them just fitting into the background.

3. Don’t use the “Auto” setting.
Take control of your camera and your pictures. Doing it manually you are likely to get different and more interesting shots. For portraits, use low aperture – around 2.8. For landscapes, use high aperture – around 16. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

4. Change your angle.
Don’t just stand in front of your subject. Try kneeling down in front of your subject, laying down and taking the picture from the ground, or standing up high on a chair or on a second floor balcony. Have your family stand on the stairs and take pictures from the side as well as the bottom of the stairs.

5. Don’t center your picture.
There is no rule that your friend or family member have to be in the center of the picture. You can get a great picture by angling it so that your subject is to the left or right side. You can have him sit on top of a sturdy table and take the picture so that the table is included and your subject is just in the top frame of the picture. Play around, experiment and have fun!

So, do you get the big picture or do you move in for the close up shot and that look of sheer concentration on your baby’s face? The choice and answer are yours. If you feel that you won’t interrupt the moment by doing so, I recommend that you attempt to get both photos.

While I adore close up baby shots that allow you to feel the emotion of the baby pouring through the camera and onto the snapshot, there is something about seeing a child at play that is simply adorable. I often joke that I can see the wheels turning behind the eyes of each of my children and yet they each turn so differently. They have such different interests and are still so very much alike. I like to capture them at play with those things they treasure most at different stages in their lives. By taking bigger pictures, I will always have a reminder of a favorite toy or book, long after that toy, that book, and that particular interest are long gone.

In addition to giving you options for enjoyment when taking multiple shots at various distances, you will also find that it gives you more opportunities in which to get that perfect shot. You will also find that it allows plenty of extras from which relatives can often choose their favorites. Taking multiple shots at various distances over time will also give you a glimpse of which angles feature your baby’s smile the best and which distances are too far to show of her eyes. There are things you can learn about your photographic skills and your baby’s photographic nature by playing around with panoramic photos as well as close up baby pictures.

Another important thing you will want to do as you are learning about distance and taking those photos at different distances is to study the results and see how much you can learn about focusing on your baby rather than the background in your photos. This is an important skill to learn over time and one that will serve you well. While you are playing with distances be sure to play with a few angles too. Remember that it is virtually impossible to have too many baby pictures and you can have so much fun in pursuit of the perfect baby picture. While you want to have some great photos of your baby for years to come you also want to be able to simply enjoy the memory of the time you spent taking pictures of your baby as well. Don’t get so caught up in the process of taking great photographs that you forget to enjoy the time you are spending with your little one.