Twin Cities Baby and Newborn Photographer

"Babies make the best, as well as the worst, subjects to photograph" says Bob Dale, a Twin Cities baby and newborn photographer. They are the best for 2 reasons: (1.) People are more tolerant at looking at baby photos (2.) Babies are not aware their image is being captured and therefore they do not tend to put on the "camera face" that older children and adults typically use. On the other hand, they are the worst subjects because their behavior is unpredictable and so they show their emotions, meaning that they can just as easily cry as gurgle happily into the camera.

One of the most challenging aspects of photographing a baby is controlling the subject. On the one hand you want them relatively still but with too much control the photo will lose its impetuousness. Lighting and background are also important. You want the background as uncluttered and simple as possible for indoors photography or as natural as possible outdoors. The lighting should come from at least 2 directional sources. However, if it is too strong it will throw shadows that complicate the picture and cause you to lose the wonderful facial expressions. However, you do not want to miss those impromptu shots either. This is especially true if you have a digital camera where you can edit the background later.

It is usually helpful to restrict babies' activities. They are not portrayed at their best whenever they are crawling across the floor. Therefore, a good way to restrict them is in a highchair or by holding them in a person's arms. You should also try to take the photographs close up. Make sure that you look at the manual for your camera first to see just how close you can get. Once you have chosen the lighting and the setting, get everything set up before getting the baby situated.

Distractions in the form of noise and toys can also be good tools. However, you should always remember that a baby's emotion's are lightning fast. All of this makes for great photographs, regardless as to whether these photographs include tears of frustration, pouring a drink over your best camera or just laughing.

Babies are often easier to photograph when there are not a lot of people around because they are so easily distracted. However, you should know that babies are calmer with someone they know and in most cases that is the mother. Above all remember that photographing babies is fun. If you catch the unexpected at just the right moment, you will have some great memories. However, do make sure that you understand that control can only go so far with babies.

You also need to realize that babies are babies for only a short a period of time. Therefore, you can never have too many photographs. Here is where a digital camera can save you an enormous amount of time when it comes to film and developing it. A digital camera will also allow for you to be able to waste anything that you do not want as you can view the results immediately and easily delete the ones that you do not want. Another great advantage to digital photography is that you do not have to shoot the photograph with a little black box in front of your face. This will allow you to catch your baby's emotions and expressions perfectly since a small child will respond better when they respond to your expressions. As you can see, an LCD screen will reap huge benefits for you.

Something else that you need to understand is that professionals take great formal photographs, which is something that every baby should have at least 1 set of to keep as an adult. There are some professionals that offer annual sittings for family shots and that also supply regular updated montages specific to that family, which is a service that is hard to beat. However, this formal stylized pose is not always the answer. Somehow, since children are not camera aware they are not camera shy. Young babies are sometimes better photographed in an environment that they are entirely comfortable with and that place is often their own home. The great thing about photographing your own child is that it does not need any special equipment, special effects or any special effort. Plus, it does not involve trailing somewhere in the middle of the night to capture a beautiful dawn. All it really takes is a point and shoot camera.

Probably the most important technical point to remember whenever you are photographing a baby is that because of their size you have to get down to their height to get that wonderful close- up photograph. The easiest and least dangerous way to do this is to physically get down on the floor with them. While this is not necessarily the most dignified way, it certainly is the most rewarding way. This is great because there are no imperfections in a baby's face, so you can get as close as you want without any worries. However, you cannot engineer this type of photography. It simply has to happen. The one thing that you can do is get creative in your approach and let the baby respond to you.

Babies offer you more opportunities to photograph them in more settings than at almost any other age. However, there are very few useful props. Nevertheless, baths and potties are great since they are tools that babies are familiar with. All it takes is a little patience and these props can be put to great use. Of course, you will have to put up with getting a little wet at bath time. Above all, remember to have fun and be relaxed. You will never have the opportunity to have so many natural photos again. Therefore, take the time to be greatly rewarded.

There is no fun at all in photographing someone screaming because of fear. While every parent should have at least one set of professional photos taken, you should not rely upon someone else to capture those truly enchanting moments, especially at momentous milestones. If it is your child's first birthday, your best photographs will be those that you take yourself.