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..

We hear it all the time from moms, “Why do they grow up so fast?”

In order to remember various stages and phases we take a billion pictures of our children.  We make prints to hang on our walls.  We put together photo and scrapbooks.   We post them online to share them with family and friends.   We continuously pick up our cameras to document these changes that seemingly happen all too fast.

An interesting way to document minute changes is to use close-up photography.  Zooming in and focusing on a particular part of your child’s face–such as his extra long eyelashes, or one of her sweet scrumptious ears, or his cute-as-a-button nose,  or her big gummy grin–is a unique way to remember their features at various stages.    Focusing on the face isn’t the only way, though; don’t forget to take close ups of fingers, toes, and that cute little belly button!

Tips for taking great close-up shots of your children:

• Fill the entire frame with your close-up subject,
• Your camera should have a nice, sharp focus,
• Shoot from different angles,
• Use the macro setting on your digital camera,
• Don’t be afraid to use flash if the lighting isn’t adequate enough,
• Have fun and get creative; that’s the beauty of digital photography!

If you are wondering how you can take better baby pictures then you will want to follow some of the great advice you will find below.

1. Pay attention to your lighting. Whenever possible use natural lighting for your photographs but be careful that you do not have shadows overpowering your little one’s sweet smile. The right lighting can make a good picture phenomenal at the same time it can also ruin a perfect photo opportunity. If you have a digital camera with really good quality photo editing software and a firm knowledge of how to use that to your advantage lighting is still important but not as critically important. The truth is that very few of us have that benefit in our corner so it is better to err on the side of abundant natural lighting whenever possible.
2. Make sure your baby is comfortable. Believe it or not this often gets overlooked in the process. If your baby has a wet or dirty diaper he is much less likely to be cooperative when it comes to giving those elusive smiles. The same holds true for days after vaccinations or when teething. You also want to avoid taking photos around your baby’s traditional naptime as this tends to be a time when your baby is trying to settle down according to his routine and photos may prove to be disturbing. Choose your photo moments carefully in order to insure a happy baby.
3. Whenever possible try to choose your background. There are times when a great picture simply presents itself and you would be crazy not to take it. However, there are other times when choosing the right background will insure that the focus remains on your beautiful baby rather than getting lost in busy things going on in the back. The simpler the background for your baby photos, the better.
4. Take plenty of photos so that you can go through and weed out those you aren’t pleased with. You may just find that there are times when you hit the jackpot with that one special shot. This is especially easy if you are fortunate enough to have a digital camera as you have essentially unlimited mulligans when it comes to baby pictures.
5. Take photos at the level of your little one rather than looking down on him through the camera lens. This will make you seem less threatening and the prospect of your being behind the camera far less intimidating to your little one. Also remember to interact with your baby during this process so that he will respond to your voice and act accordingly.

While these five tips may not tell you how to take the perfect baby pictures every single time they offer practical advice that is a great place for any photographer to begin when it comes to taking pictures of baby.

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.

How to “Set the Stage”
The first thing you want to keep in mind is that you want a stage upon which your baby can act not a setting for cameras and camera angles. You will want to include toys that are sure to delight your baby, make sure there is plenty of natural lighting (outdoor settings are great for a project such as this) and that your baby is well rested and in a good temper. If you choose a natural setting you should keep in mind that nature is its own stage to some degree. Capture your baby doing the things he or she loves to do and take plenty of photographs in the moments. Even if your baby is simply throwing sand in the air and running through it you will be amazed at how much his or her personality shines through those moments of glee when captured on film.

As a matter of fact, these moments are the stuff that baby photo contests are made of. When setting a stage upon which to take those perfect baby pictures you will want to make sure that the background doesn’t distract from the object of your affection. The less elaborate the background the better. You want your baby and her personality to shine in these photos. You should also make sure that she is interested in the process and having fun. Her personality will be the star if she is truly having fun.

Interaction and attention are great motivators when it comes to taking pictures of babies. If you want them to react to you and not the camera capture their interest and if at all possible keep the camera away from your face. This allows her to babble and play with you while doing it for the camera. Play with her toys in order to get her to begin playing with them. Once she’s engaged in the activity or the ‘play’ you can snap photos as fast as your fingers and your camera will allow in order to have plenty of selection while showing the most possible personality.

Diminish the Distractions
The pros will tell you one of the best tips for getting a great professional style shot of your baby is to keep the distractions at a distance – or better yet, completely at bay. Noises such as the TV or radio in addition to pets and other people roaming around will distract your little subject and make it much more difficult to get that perfect shot you’re after. So keep the environment calm, serene and uncluttered and only have the elements you really want included in that space while you’re shooting the photo.

Limit the Lighting
Bright lights will not only result in an unprofessional looking photo, but they can also annoy, distract, and hurt your baby’s eyes. Do your best to limit the use of a flash by taking pictures outside whenever possible and away from direct sunlight. If shooting at home in the evening hours, position any lamps in a flattering manner while ensuring enough, but not too much, light on your little one. Dimmer switches can be your best friend in these circumstances as well.

Distance Yourself
Even though you want to capture every detail of your baby’s precious expression, getting too close can completely ruin your shot – it may very well result in a blurred and/or fuzzy photo that pretty much defeats the purpose of your efforts. Step back and use a zoom lens and if your camera is equipped with a manual focus feature – use it. Don’t be afraid to put some distance between yourself and baby and snap multiple pictures, especially if the result is going to be that fantastic shot.

Mood Means Everything
This element of getting a professional style shot is really more up to your baby than you. You want to be completely aware of your little one’s mood before you start clicking that shutter button. If your baby is cranky or worse yet crying, even though you feel the surroundings or that little outfit they’re wearing today is just perfect, do both yourselves a favor and wait for a better moment. Your baby will be much more cooperative and you’ll be much happier with the results of the photos.

As in any new endeavor, trial and error is part of the learning experience. By following these simple steps, including making a few mistakes, it won’t take you very long to realize what makes for a great professional style shot. And once you accomplish that feat, you’ll be able to easily capture and preserve those precious memories more effortlessly than you ever thought possible.