When I saw the web site of Janet Moran, a photographer in the Chicago area, I immediately fell in love with this image. Assuming that this family values their piano, I thought that it was a brilliant idea to include your first baby in a portrait along with your new (real) baby. Whether your first baby is your Vespa scooter, your 12 year-old cat, or a carefully tended vegetable garden, take a picture that includes your two loves.
I emailed Janet and she explained, “A precious family asked me to come over and take pictures of their new baby. When I walked into the home the first thing I saw was the piano – dad is a musician among other things. What better place for a sleeping three week-old than the piano bench (newborn babies are pros at sleeping in whatever position you place them)”
She offered these fantastic tips for rookie moms and wannabe photographers:
Environment
When taking pictures it’s great to look at your home with a fresh perspective. Is there a family heirloom that you can sit your toddler on or inside? What was your favorite pastime or talent before baby? Do
you collect anything? Arrange your collection on the floor and allow your child to explore while you photograph.
Lighting
natural light makes all the difference when taking pictures. Choose the room in your house with the most sunlight. The best time to have a photo adventure outside is early morning or late afternoon when the sunlight is warm and soft. Turn that flash off and go outside even if it means you have to take Aunt Betty’s winged-back chair out the front door with you.
Clothing
Chose an outfit you’ll miss seeing when they grow out of it. Color is the key; high on contrast and texture – low on logos and graphics (leave elmo and dora at home). Shoot, shoot, shoot! Digital means you can take lots of pictures for free.
I wish I lived around Janet so I could hire her!
The best picture we’ve taken of our oldest daughter, so far, was taken when she first started to sit up. We took all of her stuffed animals and put them in the crib, sitting up and facing the camera (big guys in the back, small ones in the front), and then took my daughter and stuck her in the crib, too. We didn’t put her in the middle, that would’ve been too obvious. She’s off to the side a bit, and smiling like crazy. It’s almost like a “Where’s Waldo,” or that scene in “ET.” When you first look at it, you see a crib full of toys. Then your eyes lock on to her big brown eyes and her grin. We have gotten a thousand compliments on this picture, and it was easy, easy, easy to set up. I wish I had a website where I could post it to show the world.
I also love hats in pictures. Again, I have girls, so I’m very into playing dress up, etc. but even little boys in hats (fireman’s hats, etc.) look adorable. It doesn’t matter if the hats are too big, in fact, sometimes that’s better. The best recent pictures we’ve done are the “dress up” pictures, definitely. She’s 20 months old, and just starting to become aware of herself as a fashion goddess. Ha ha. She was a flower girl in a wedding, and I had to bribe her to get her out of the dress. Now I let her play in it. After all, it’s not like she’s going to wear it again. We have dozens of adorable pictures in that dress.
I think the main component in taking great photos is to have the camera available so that you can take a picture when they surprise you by doing something adorable. If you have to dig it out and find the batteries first, the moment will have passed.
your blog button is up on my mother’s day blogroll!
http://modmom.blogspot.com
One of my favorite pictures of my son is of him and our two dogs all together. We took it in December, just after Finn learned to pull himself up. All three of them are standing at the window in our living room, staring outside. Finn has on a santa hat that is too big for him, and we sent it out to friends and family with the caption, “Searching for Santa.” It was so cute, because all of their heads were at the same level, just above the window ledge, and it is simple because its from behind them. I love it!
I wrote some tips on my blog and linked to this article. : )
http://www.mamaknj.blogspot.com
[...] Compose a picture with your other babies – still need to do this. [...]