Having my own little one at home has been an adventure in understanding photos from the mom's perspective! There is so much I want to capture on a daily basis and I try to have mini photo shoots at least every few days to capture this time that I know will go too fast.
Here are some tips for capturing these moments at home:
1. Find a good light source
The most important thing is a good light source. You want your baby to be facing the light, so it falls on them. A large window is perfect.
2. Be ready
I can never predict when my little one is going to be in the mood for photos. When he was just born he hated being put down for any reason, so when I had a moment, I needed to be ready! I keep the bed in front of the window with a simple white bedspread and have my camera nearby so I can just plop him down on the bed and I'm ready!
3. Keep the background simple
I have my setup with simple items in the background so it's not too distracting. By using a camera with a low f-stop and shooting "wide open", it blurs the background so you can't really see what's going on back there. If you are using your phone, using "portrait mode" will give this same effect.
If it's a hot mess back there, you can set up some pillows behind the baby and drap the bedspread over them so it forms a "wall" behind them and you just see the bedspread.
4. Use what you have
Bedspreads, blankets, swaddles, quilts, etc all work well to put the baby down on and have an instantly good backdrop. Textures and patterns can add something different and give depth to the photo.
5. Pick out your favorite outfit
These little guys grow out of clothes so fast, so use your photoshoot time to capture that outfit he may only wear once! Textures are great here too- play with hoodies, hats, headbands, etc. Sometimes just going with the diaper shows off those cute baby rolls!
6. Don't forget the details
We all want to capture those sweet eyes and endearing smile, but don't forget to capture those little hands, sweet feet, and anything you want to remember and know you can't hold onto!
