Baby Photography

• use fast shutter speed
• babies do not keep still patiently - they move around their head, hands and feet constantly
• Facial expressions are changing constantly
• By using fast shutter speed (or "sports / action" setting on simplistic cameras you maximise the chance of turning a fidgeting baby into a great photograph

Deliberate Blur

• It can be fun to select a slow shutter speed when photographing kids moving
• Pan the camera keeping the child in focus as they move when you take the photograph
• This gives an interesting effect of movement and speed

Which Frame?

• The right frame will enhance a good photograph, so choose it well to complement the photo.

Wonky Photos

• Sometimes photos will be slightly on the slant, despite your best efforts
• One solution is to never quite fill the frame, allowing you room to rotate and crop the photo using software later

Black and White

• It is worth experimenting with black and white photos
• The easiest way is using photo software to adjust colours to black and white
• This can look great for classic, well dressed subjects, for example

Costumes

• Dressing kids up in costumes makes great photographs
• Don't forget occassions like fancy dress parties and Halloween
• Consider hiring or buying outfits - dressing baby up as Father Christmas can be fun
• A baby or child wearing over-sized clothes can look really interesting too - and is free

Child Photography

• Every photo of your own child is pretty good, isn't it? But what do others really think? If you make an effort, maybe everyone will think they are special.
• Try their first day with a new present, for genuine smiles and enthusiasm (hopefully!)
• Try capturing them when they are concentrating hard on something else
• Try jet-black background for an unusual baby photograph
• Capture them when they are laughing
• Get in close - but do not cut out anyone's face. Stepping back and zooming will prevent intimidating the subject, if required.
• If you are photographing other peoples kids, it is a good idea to get them involved. This is more likely to relax the kids and give better pictures.

Smile please

• Smile - and the world will smile with you

Blinking problems

• Consider taking 2-3 flash photos in succession
• Plan on using the last one
• Let people know so they do not walk off!
• Most people will have relaxed and acclimatised by the last one
• Better still - use a well lit area without flash

Emailing photographs

• Check and possibly reduce the size of photographs before emailing to friends and relatives
• They may not thank you if they have to download huge files without broadband to help
• Consider an online photograph sharing service, if you do this a lot.

Digital Camera Tips

• Take a spare battery
• If you plan to print, use high enough resolution

Traditional Film Camera Tips

• Take spare film
• Check your battery

Safety Tips

• If your photographs are to be published on the web, do not include the name of the child
• Also avoid any other distinguishing identifiers ion the background, such as street, town or school name.

Stoop to conquer

• Get down to the level of the baby or child
• Do not take the photograph looking down, unless for a special effect

Take plenty of photographs

• You know what they say about monkeys and Hamlet - the same thing applies when seeking the perfect pohotograph
• Keep taking plenty of photographs (easier with a digital camera) to maximise the number of high quality results

Background Information

• Keep the background simple and bland
• You do not want an excellent expression and otherwise perfect photograph, with concorde flying into the child's left ear!

Lighting Tips

• Easiest is outside, not indoors
• Best is first thing or last thing during daylight
• Don't forget you can still use flash or fill-flash

Red Eye Problems

• Best solution - no flash. Use a well lit area where possible
• Some cameras have a red eye reduction facility - know your camera
• Red Eye can be tweaked using software after the photograph is taken - but this is all extra work.

Software

• You can improve many pictures by careful use of software
• See below before and after pictures, getting rid of confusing background and re-eye - also slightly cropped. Colours and exposure have been improved.

Before

After

More flash problems

• Some clothing or jewellery can create unwanted flash reflection
• No easy answer - so a well lit area is normally best

Serious photographs

• If you are planning serious portrait photos, prepare first
• Prepare the area - clean it up and set any required props
• Practice with a dummy subject until results are correct
• Test the light
• Do not detain your real subject any longer than necessary - or you will be photographing frowns or an empty set.
• Provide a mirror so subject make any last minute corrections!

General Tips

• Will your picture convey a message to the viewer? Why not say something about relationships, tell an interesting story, or otherwise inspire the viewer? This often gives the best results, but requires you to think before pressing the shutter.
• Even with a brief encounter with an unknown subject, it may be possible to reveal something of the subjects character with the photograph.
• Consider turning the camera through 90 degrees, to take a portrait photo rather than landscape - it sometimes makes more sense.

Your Tips and Comments

I like taking photographs but when I had our little angel, I became more interested in it. It's amazing how you can tell a story about a single picture. Thanks for your tips, some of my unanswered problems in picture-taking now answered....