Infant Photography Tips Which Capture Your Baby’s Developmental Stages During Their First Year

At three months old your baby should be lying on their tummy and holding their head up nice and strong. Some babies will do this at 2 ½ months and some later. Each baby is different so don’t worry. This is also a time when your baby will not like clothing changes. Try laying baby on his/her tummy and when they raise their head take the picture. A B&W photo at this time is a classic and sure to be a keeper!

Six months old is a wonderful time! Your baby should be sitting up without assistance. Don’t be fooled by what we call a “tripod” position where your baby sits up but leans forward. This is a great time to photograph your baby with a favorite stuffed animal, in a special infant chair, or with a sibling. Expressions at this stage are priceless.

At the nine month stage your baby will be going through major teething and drooling so keep plenty of drool rags nearby. They may also experience separation or stranger anxiety… It takes a lot of patience to capture this stage. Do not always expect smiles on this time. They just have a lot on their mind and will usually just look at the camera with a sweet face like a porcelain doll. We call this THE NINE MONTH STARE! This stage is also when your baby is standing and holding on to things. This is known as cruising. Try photographing your baby standing barefoot and with shorts on to show those cute, chubby little legs.

At twelve months, your baby might be standing by their self or even walking. Be sure, if you choose to put shoes on your baby, that they are cleaned and polished. Always check the bottoms of the shoes! At this stage, the child will be easily distracted by their surroundings. It works best to engage the child in an activity. Many times the best images at this age, the child will not be looking at the camera. This is to be expected and is considered a very artful image.

I cannot stress enough, the importance of documenting your baby’s stages during the first year. Whether you take the photos yourself or use a professional photographer, this time cannot be repeated.

The following are some tips for better photographs

1) Use natural light (without flash) as much as possible to avoid the dreaded red-eye.
2) Move in close and be quick, watching for those once-in-a-lifetime expressions.
3) Photograph outdoors in the shade to avoid the harshness of the sunlight.
4) Never face a child with the sun in their eyes. They will squint (wouldn’t you?).
5) Always, always, always have a camera with you.
6) Consider using the services of a professional photographer especially for the 3, 6, 9, and 12 month sessions.