Photographing a baby may seem like the easiest task in the world, so tiny, innocent, that they don't move ... That's because you've never tried! If you have ever done it, you will know that it is a high-risk mission for your mental or even physical health if we talk about older babies. A baby, whether newborn or eleven months old, is going to test your patience, your creativity, your ability to plan and resolve. That said, you may have wanted to run away if you see a baby and you walk with the camera in hand or if a family member asks for a session. I do not recommend it, because despite being complicated it is most rewarding. In addition, a great test to practice photography! Are you going to miss it? Now, you can throw yourself into the ring in gayola porta plan or keep some aces under your sleeve so as not to throw in the towel at five minutes of session in despair. If you stay I tell you some simple tricks that can make the session a little easier.
1. FIND A HELPER
Photography is a hobby that you usually practice alone, alone with your camera, of course. You don't need anyone else, unless you're portraying people, but that's something else. Or that you are doing a more professional session and you need a sherpa assistant, holding the reflectors, with the flashes, and so on. The other case in which you need a helper if you do not want to end up pulling your hair is in a session with babies. It doesn't necessarily have to be someone who understands photography, but it does have kilos of patience, especially to put up with you if you get on your nervesbut especially to deal with the baby too. It can be the baby's father or mother or someone you trust who is willing or willing to hold a blanket, clean a baby's ass, watch it does not fall, make monkeys and a long etcetera ... (the more versatile your assistant better )2. PLAN THE SESSION
With babies on many occasions you should resort to improvisation, for that reason, everything you can plan in advance, better than better, so your daily dose of improvisation you leave for whatever arises, which will arise. Plan the props, the clothes, the postures, have the equipment prepared, the site ... Everything that you carry in advance will be welcome, although then there are things that you have to rethink or modify (that there will be, sure).3. WHITE NOISE
To sleep newborns there is a trick that works very well and is to use the well-known "white noise", which is a constant noise like that of a vacuum cleaner, dryer, and so on. You can plug a vacuum near or much easier: download an application like this .4. SLEEP IT WITH THE POSTURE YOU WANT
Since you are with the white noise in the background to sleep this delicious creature, if you sleep it in your arms, place it already in the posture that you want it to have for the next photo (or the closest), so you run less risk of waking up by moving or rattling it.5. USE TISSUES
We continue with the advice for newborns (until further notice). As you most likely want to take pictures without clothes (and therefore without a diaper), most likely not to say the safest thing is to pee (at least). Using a wipe is tempting, but better if you dry them with a tissue or gauze, so they will not wake up (with what it has cost you), that the wipes are very fresh and there will be time to clean your ass.6. FROM COVERED TO UNCOVERED
Newborns need to be very clothed. They have been nine months in a tiny space, tight, safe. That is why he tries to start the session with the well-wrapped newborn, for example, in a blanket, gauze or a peanut and gradually uncovering him leaving the photos without clothes for the last ones. If the baby is comfortable, he will cry less and everything will be easier.7. USE A PLASTIC CHANGING TABLE UNDER THE FIRST BLANKET
If you do not want to roll it brown at the first exchange, put a plastic changing table under the first layer of blankets on which you are going to put the newborn. In this way, when you pee you will only have to change a blanket, the puff and the rest of the textiles will be safe. If you are not going to spend more time putting washing machines than what lasts a photo shoot and its subsequent edition.8. RESORT TO "ATTENTION-CATCHING" DOLLS
I'm going to tell you tricks for babies a little bigger, who see and fix their eyes on what catches their attention. And I say about the look because there are some dolls to attach to the camera that are the sea of funny and that most likely their eyes do not resist. For example the one in the following image, although you have more here .8. MAKE USE OF BUCKETS OR BASKETS
Baskets and buckets do not have a purely decorative function. They are used with babies who are already crawling, crawling or walking so they do not escape. As quiet and tender as they may seem in the photos, they are really small earthquakes, sweet and wonderful, yes, but earthquakes Put your mini model in a bucket or a basket (put a weight on the bottom so it does not tip over) and you will save yourself have to go chasing him9. PREPARE A SURPRISE ELEMENT
By the time a little older babies start to get tired of someone chasing them with an artifact in hand, you must have a surprise element ready, say paintings, bubbles, balloons, streamers or even an animal. Any accessory that serves to attract your attention, make you smile or get a tantrum out of boredom will be welcome.10. LET THEM PLAY
They are not models, they are babies. They do not know what a camera is, or what it is to pose or stand still, therefore, you cannot pretend that they are put where and how you say. Let them play, move, explore, investigate, when they are in their sauce, shoot. Move yourself to follow them and catch their gestures, don't wait for them or them to come to you.11. SMILE IS NOT EVERYTHING
Don't be obsessed with smiling. You can achieve wonderful photos without the need for a smile, in addition, the more you smile the more your eyes close and a good look can become a great photo And if you want them to smile, don't ask them to, win it.12. PLAY WITH THEM
At the same time that you take pictures of a baby, you can play with him so that he becomes familiar with you, so that he gives you the most beautiful expressions, so that he does not get tired, so that you also have fun. Play, dance, sing ... get your craziest side and let that boy or girl who still lives in you flow. I know that I have not just given you some great tips for photographing babies, but for this you already have this entry , or the mistakes you should avoid . Today's goal was to give you little tricks to make your task easier, I hope I have succeeded, if so, this article will have been worth it. And before saying goodbye, I have to add that if it's your baby, don't forget to take a self-portrait with him. If you think these tricks can serve someone in your environment, please share it on social networks. Thank you and see you soon!