Skills Needed for Baby Photography
While some might say it's hard to take a bad photo of a baby given the subject matter, it actually takes considerable skill to take a good one. The subjects themselves can be quite unpredictable, requiring a photographer to be organized, on top of the game and flexible from start to finish. Possessing a full command of camera equipment, a good understanding of lighting and portraiture, and multiple thought out shot ideas prior to a shoot will most likely result in outstanding baby photographs.
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Organizational Skills
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Because babies have a knack for unpredictability and are able to go from calm and easygoing to fussy or out of control in a matter of seconds, it's important that a photographer trying to capture the right image be prepared. This means setting up any backgrounds and lighting prior to the baby's arrival and making sure all camera equipment is set and ready for a continuous shooting session, including batteries and digital storage discs. When photographing other people's babies, preparation also entails knowing ahead of time what type of photos they envision. For example, some parents prefer their babies dressed in their best clothes while others don't mind nude portraiture.
Styling Skills
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According to baby photographer Cate Scaglione, the best baby photographs aren't over-styled or overly-propped, but simple so as to highlight, rather than detract from, the baby. Having an eye for a striking image and understanding what makes a good picture within the frame are invaluable skills for baby photographers. A general rule of thumb toward simplicity is to keep a one-prop minimum and make sure that the single prop enhances the story being told in the photograph, rather than appearing superfluous. The tried and true close-up of a baby's hand in his or her parent's utilizes the parent's hand as a prop while conveying a familial moment in time to the viewer.
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Lighting Skills
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Many baby photographers prefer using natural light whenever it's available. If it's not, lighting skills become important. The photographer can try to simulate natural light as much as possible by setting up lights and reflective surfaces around the shoot. While lighting equipment requires a serious investment, it can be the difference between a strong photo and a poor one, and bad lighting can't be easily Photoshop-corrected in most cases. Standard, non-professional flash lighting should be avoided in baby photography, as it can give a blue hue to the baby's skin and highlight skin flaws.
Camera Skills
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Strong camera equipment skills are a must. Due to the fact that babies are unpredictable and move around a lot, the best way to capture a split-second smile or a moment of recognition in the eyes is to shoot continually and with a fast shutter speed. Slow shutter speeds result in blurry images when the baby moves. A good baby photographer is also prepared to quickly change camera settings to capture a fleeting moment. Knowing the ins and outs of the camera until it's just an extension of the photographer makes the work portion of the art easier.
Portraiture Skills
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In the end, baby photography is portrait photography, and the basic artistic skills of portraiture apply. The best portrait artists draw attention to a subject's details without blatantly drawing attention to those details. It's a subtle art, and classes in portrait photography can help to hone such skills, as can studying the work of famous portrait photographers to discern why their pictures work and how their ideas could be applied to babies.
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References
- Photo Credit baby image by Yvonne Bogdanski from Fotolia.com
