Baby portraits are the best way of preserving memories of a little one in her softest, gentlest, most innocent state. They make for wonderful keepsakes and well as great gift ideas for family members who love the little one just as much as her parents do. While the idea of having those cute pictures is fantastic and images of everyone gushing about the portraits are already in one’s mind, actual baby photography is not as simple to execute. There are different styles to choose from and each one has its pros and cons, depending mostly on the baby and her needs.

1. Environmental style in baby photography is when the shoot happens in the baby’s home or nursery, where she is most comfortable and familiar. The parents and/or the baby’s siblings usually join in the shoot to capture some moments of interaction, as well as different expressions. This is ideal of babies who are able to interact with others, and who do not get cranky right away. The portraits that come out of these shoots usually include a laughing child which is always priceless.

2. The classic style is when a baby is shot at her most serene state; usually naked, or sleeping, or both. This style of photography accentuates a baby’s fragility and vulnerability. The portraits come out very pure and delicate. This is the perfect style to use for babies who are much younger (as young as one week old), when babies do not interact a lot yet, and sleep most of the time. During sleep, most babies are very easy to position around. The key to this type of shoot is to keep the babies comfortable so their sleep (and the shoot) is uninterrupted.

3. The props style is ideal for babies who are already able to sit upright. Props can come in the form of pails, pots, baskets and other large animated objects that babies will easily fit into. Other props can be used to complete the theme of the shoot. Popular themes include gardens (where the baby sits in a flower pot and wears a flower headgear) or kitchen (where the baby wears a chef’s hat and sits inside a large stock pot).

Whatever kind of portraits one wants to achieve, the most important in baby photography is to make the shoot as comfortable and fun as possible for the baby. When a baby is comfortable and happy, awesome pictures will come from the shoot, regardless of the style used.

Baby photography has definitely grown in recent years.  What was once exclusive to those who were filthy rich is now very accessible to almost everyone.  Of course, it goes without saying that professional shots at the swankier studios still cost a lot of money.  However, in today’s modern age where everyone has their own digital cameras and laptops, creating those gorgeous baby portraits are not so difficult to achieve anymore even in the comfort of one’s own home.  Here are a few tips to creating amazing portraits and achieving natural shots.

1. As much as possible, use natural lighting.  Baby’s eyes are very sensitive to light, even when closed.  So turn off that camera flash and even that red eye reduction feature.  Move to a place in the house that gets a lot of natural lighting, like a couch near the window.  Natural lighting, as opposed to light from lamps or flashes, will complement the baby’s soft features.

2. Create a very comfortable atmosphere.  Babies like to sleep in rooms with cool temperatures, but also like to be kept warm with blankets.  Create this environment for them during the shoot.  This is especially advisable for infants who will be shot while they are asleep.  The less sleep interruption there is, the more shots the parents can take.

3. Most baby photography shoots are done with the baby naked.  Should there be a need or a want to dress the baby up, be conscious to use more muted colors instead of bright ones.  Bright colors will distract the viewer’s attention away from the baby and her features.  Muted colors will highlight them.  In this regard, it is also advisable to take some shots in black and white or sepia.  This will accentuate the baby’s soft and delicate features, and create a very natural-looking portrait.

4. Baby photography positions can make or break the shot.  A father carrying his baby in his arms while lovingly looking at the little one makes for a fantastic shot.  A mother gently cradling the baby to her chest is also great.  The most beautiful shots are often the most comfortable and natural poses.  While it is good to position the baby’s limbs a little to create a more dynamic look or a more fluid shot, the rule of thumb is that it is best to stick to instinctive poses while they are still infants.  Save the unusual poses for when they are toddlers.