Kids grow up really fast. As eager parents, one of the best ways to bond and be part of their children's development is through photography.
However, working with a child can sometimes be a feat as little tykes generally have shorter attention spans. They also react to things differently at different stages of their growth. The fundamentals of child photography are therefore patience and love. The key to great child photography is to know how to work with them at different ages.
1. Up to 12 weeks
It's best to take his pictures just the way he is, considering there isn't much a baby can do except lie in a flat position. However, there are still several methods to make the shot look more interesting. You could put baby flat on his back on something low and shoot directly down, drawing focus on his head. Alternatively, you can place baby in a bassinet and tilt your camera for a shot upwards. At this age, baby's not too active so it would be best to use available, natural light to capture his healthy glow.
2. 3 to 6 months
At this age, your baby most probably can hold up his own head or lie on his tummy and manage a few simple gestures, such as propping up his head with his chubby arms for a while. He would most probably enjoy tugging and clutching at objects and would probably chuckle to soft melodies quite readily.
Have you seen photos of babies where their eyes just sparkle? You can capture the same sparkly look by placing baby on his tummy and having his favourite toy in hand. Slowly dangle his toy in front of him to capture his attention. When he responds, move the toy around and his eyes will most probably follow suit. That's when you snap!
Want a smile from the little sweetheart? Here's how you do it. Use a piece of tissue paper and tickle baby around the lips. Entertain him further by placing his favourite toy near him and allowing him to grasp it. Doing all this is bound to make him react. Remember, though: You must shoot fast as babies tend to tire easily.
3. 6 to 9 months
At this age, baby becomes fairly alert and can start bracing himself for short periods of time. He tends to respond well to squeaky toys, noises of bells and rattles. One of the tricks you can execute to make baby beam is to gently massage and pat his tummy, rolling him back and forth in a slow motion. Babies tend to react to this activity pretty quickly. So when you find him getting spontaneous, be ready to stand back and shoot quickly.
4. 9 months to 1 year
Peek-a-boo! Toddlers this age are mostly imitative and constantly crave attention. Playing peek-a-boo with him may be the best way to get him going. He will become restless, so to make him stay put you should give him some paper, rags or books to play with. To put him at ease, you may want to consider taking off his shoes or enlist the help of his mother if the need arises. At this age, it would be best not to have too many people around when shooting. You can try playing games with him. Simple gestures such as throwing a toy at him to pick up while you toss him another would prompt him to throw the toy back, prepping him for a candid moment.
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