6 Tips to capturing your baby photographs.

Written by myself and Natalie Michele; a pregnancy blogger and mother of two beautiful children. You can read more of her content at Maternityathome.

Taking professional photos of your baby can be some of your most treasured memories for the future. Regardless of whether he or she is a newborn, 6 months old or just celebrated their first birthday, babies are super fun and cute. Their innocent smiles and tiny personalities is something worth cherishing for a lifetime. ​

Why is it important to take baby photos? 
These moments of your child are precious and will pass you by in an instant. So capturing your child whilst they are newborn, sitting or even their first birthday will serve as a reminder as they grow up. Treasure these moments. If you are thinking of having photographs taken of your baby, consider the importance of why you should do it and what to do to get the best possible photographs of your child. 

Preserve Special Moments 
The achievement of developmental milestones and events throughout the life of your little one is a sight to be cherished in print and shared with your children later in life. Once your child is grown and can recognize themselves, they will be able to appreciate those special moments with you all over again. 

Strengthen Family Bonds 
A nicely shot photograph of your baby and the family can be kept as keepsakes for the future. Your baby’s pictures will be full of lasting memories that strengthen the family bond every time you gather around old family albums. 
A picture can capture a thousand words and multiple emotions to strengthen the love family members can have for each other. Baby photographs of events and milestones are also a way to preserve family history and heritage. 
When you want to capture or even record various events and milestones in the life of your little one, there's no better way to do this than to have a professional photographer. If you want to get the most out of having professional photos taken, there are a few tips and tricks to getting the best photography. 

Quick Tips and Tricks 
Babies are great models. However, a baby photoshoot is not easy at all. There are a lot of factors to put into consideration if you want to capture nice shots of the little one. 

Mood & Timing 
Wrong timing for the baby will not get you a good shot. Sometimes your baby may be feeling shy while sometimes he or she may be very active. Be prepared both mentally and physically to handle your baby and their schedule. Patience is key, lots of your patience will be tested time and again before you are able to capture a nice, captivating photo of the baby. 

If your baby is newborn it is best to take their photograph before they are 14 days old as this is when they're most sleepy and relaxed. Feeding your child just before your shoot is essential in making sure they're relaxed. 

Capturing the Baby’s Attention 
When trying to draw the little one's attention to the camera, you could find something that will attract him or her. The attracting object could be his or her favorite toy or nicely colored stuffed animal, or even your shiny jewellery. 

Watch your Baby’s Body Language 
Little babies may not know how to pose for the camera, but they make multiple different moves freely and naturally. The photographer should be alert to capture every adorable move the baby makes. 
Later when the photo session is over, the photographer can choose the best shots of the super cute movements the baby made. They may come up with a creative, and captivating photo book made just for you! 

Keep it Simple 
If you plan to use a background during the baby photo shoot, be sure to choose a simple background. This helps the baby remain the center of attention. Avoid using backgrounds that have loud and clashing colors or big images. Consider using something such as a background with fluffy clouds to add an angelic effect to a photo. I always make sure the baby has the proper support when staging the photo.

Get Close-Up Shots 
I will always take a variety of shots, including detail shots of their eyes, tiny hands, and little feet.

Using Natural Lighting 
My home studio is full of beautiful natural light, so I don't have distracting flash kits that can disturb your baby. Natural light with cloud coverage is usually the best time to take photos or the golden hours for photography. As you start to take more pictures of your baby, remember this is also a time for you to bond with your child. If your family is available and would like to join the baby for pictures, consider taking a family portrait. The possibilities are endless! 

​
References 
https://medium.com/@dphotofolio/know-the-importance-of-maternity-or-newborn-baby-photography-6c3b4c77b1ef 
https://contrastly.com/tips-and-tricks-for-taking-baby-photos/