Making Eyes with Baby

     Baby photography is delicate... you have to balance an infant (who may or may not want to cooperate with the process of a photo shoot) with the desire of the parents to get a gorgeous shot of their precious child.  Sometimes, this is not easy... depending on the temperament of your client, how they are feeling that day, or whether or not they are hungry or poopy. 
     However, you can make the process much easier on yourself and the family by taking a few simple steps:

• Prepare the family beforehand on what to expect.  Let them know how you will prop the baby, how you will set up lights, and what they can expect you to do while shooting pictures.
• Talk with parents about their expectations, and bring up anything you think may be unreasonable or unsafe.  Safety is of utmost concern when shooting infants, as they have trouble with head and trunk control.  Let the family know you will never put baby in a position or setting that is dangerous.
• Allow plenty of time between sessions in the event of the unexpected.  Babies poop, get hungry, and get tired.  Take time for breaks when necessary and come back to it when baby is ready.
• Know what behaviors to look for that indicate that baby is overstimulated.  Fussiness not related to being hungry or having a dirty diaper will tell you that baby is ready to take a break.  If you push too much, baby will shut down and melt down.
• Have lots of ideas for various settings/props, but try not to do them all in one sitting.  Babies have a short attention span and low tolerance level, so be aware that 20 minutes to half an hour is about the maximum amount of time you will have to work with them.