4 tips to take great pics of babies

Here are some simple tips to follow to take great photos of babies.

Shooting a photo of a baby on your own can be difficult. Ask someone to help you position the child and set up the portrait scene, as well as help entertain the baby while you take photographs. Babies can be a handful, and an assistant can help do the wrangling while you handle the techie side of things to make sure you get the best shot.

Babies are unpredictable. They can be cute and smiling one moment while sad and crying the next. Therefore, you shouldn't take too long waiting for the perfect facial expression or pose to snap a photo. Keep the camera clicking while pointed at the baby and you'll be sure to capture a great moment before a baby gets fussy or impatient.

It can be hard to get the right angle while shooting a baby, since they wriggle and move so much. One tip to ensure the angle and focus of the camera is okay is to shoot closeups of a baby's face. Try filling the frame with the baby's face and a bit of background, leaving out props, furniture, or scenes. An up-close portrait of a baby is not only a great way to take a good photo, but also to capture the personality of the baby.

Getting a baby to smile and laugh is much harder than an older child or adult, since you can't simply direct a subject to smile and you can't tell a funny joke. Instead, try being a ham to make the baby laugh. Make big, grand gestures and funny sounds to elicit a laugh. You can also try using props like stuffed animals and instruments to capture the baby's attention and make him or her smile.