My Baby Photos!

Baby Feet

Showing off your new baby in his or her best light (pun intended) is a matter of many things, but proper lighting is right up there with them. When photographing babies, lighting is extremely important because it affects the baby’s skin tones. Softer light shading and tones such as those present in the early morning, late evening or in the shadier areas of your home and yard can work well in baby photography. Here then, without further adieu (or anything else for that matter) are some lighting tips to help you capture those unique moments in the first year of your baby’s life.

1. When dealing with low light, one of the best ways to avoid shutter speed and aperture problems is to catch your baby while asleep (the baby, not you). A stationery subject will help to avoid the kind of blurry images that often result when a lens is left open too long. A sleeping infant is perfect because not only is the child still, you are also free to frame the shot as you wish and take your time in doing so.

Baby With Hat

2. The late Jackie Gleason once referred to the indirect lighting in his childhood as the light that reflected from the streetlight off the trash can outside the window of the Brooklyn tenement where he was raised. For photographing babies in indirect light, a flash should be used, albeit in such a manner that it will not blind or startle the child. One solution is to use a flash in a “bounce flash” way. This means shooting it up to the ceiling, which insures that the lighting will be indirect and it will also greatly diffuse the light.

3. If you don’t have or don’t want to use a bounceable flash, reset the camera’s image sensor (ISO) by increasing the aperture setting. This translates into not needing a flash at all, especially if there is even a little natural light in the room. You can also consider scattering the effects of flash by either placing some tissue over it by turning on the other lights in the room.

4. Try to avoid the harsh light of the noonday sun. (High Noon only works in the movies anyway.) If possible, select a spot by a window or patio or glass door, as natural light is always more flattering any time of day. Avoid shooting at night when you will have to rely entirely on indoor light.

Sleeping Baby

5. Remember that using regular indoor lighting without benefit of a flash may result in photos with an overly yellow hue. (This can be digitally corrected.) Not enough light can cause photos to be blurry creating a delicate balance of decisions. (If this is making you think that you should look before leap and still not forget that he who hesitates is lost, you have good reason.)

6. Consider converting your baby photos to black and white. This will compensate for the color distortions that sometimes occur in low light conditions. Although most digital cameras offer the option to shoot in black and white, it might be better to shoot first in color and them convert to black and white after the fact. There are free online programs that can help you do that, namely Google’s Picasa.

So take these tips to heart when capturing images of your new little one. You may uncover some others along the way. Trial and error is the only way to learn, but hurry. Your baby grows older every day and, by the way, so do you and your camera!

Happy baby shots!

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• The Art of Lighting – Baby Style
• Tips for Taking Great Black and White Maternity Photos
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• What The Heck Is White Balance?
• How To Use Flash - Part 2 of 3