Babies grow fast--as grandparents would always say--so documenting the pudgy hands and fatty toes phase of the little one is always a good idea. With the right tools and some advice from professional photographers, you can create frame-worthy photos of your baby. Here’s how:
1. Love the light
For a DIY photoshoot, pick the best part of your home with the most natural light: by the window, outdoors, or anywhere with a good light source. Even a plain white wall can be a good photo spot if you have proper illumination.
All you need is a chair, a colorful wall, and good lighting. Tip: If natural light is scarce, find a nice lamp or use a ring light!
If you're capturing a milestone of a baby (less than 1 year old), no backdrop like your best bed sheet!
2. Of colors and props
If you’d like to document your baby’s growth, you can DIY monthly photoshoots at home using a powerful camera phone. As pandemic persists and it remains risky to let in photographers at home (or you going to a studio), you may invest in items that you can also use as props.
For your newborn, swaddles and blankets are a must-have. Pick a swaddle that will be a good backdrop for your monthly milestone shot. Try this fun-looking heart and polka design or this reversible colorful blanket. Want to go extra? Try this colorful lemon nest as a background for your newborn.
You can also try the “Watch me grow” theme that is perfect for timelapses. Use only one item for a size reference and get surprised at how fast your baby outgrows a plush or stuffed toy.
You may also try using Baby milestone cards--no caption needed for those photos! You can also let the baby wear a onesie that doubles as a costume, like this cutesy unicorn hoodie.
3. Highlight details
Apart from conventional photos, you can take unusual angles of your baby. Baby’s foot fitting the palm of your hand is a classic yet unconventional take: it shows how fragile and tiny your baby is, yet it’s like having the world in the palm of your hand. 
You can also try “cropped” shots for those tender moments like this one:
4. Themes and more
Baby animals, careers, events, magazine covers, timeline? You can make your baby a little cupid in February or a sleepy superhero in any month that you’ll pick. You can also have a theme for your baby’s I-can-stand or first solids milestones. Here are some ideas that’s easy on the budget (and less work for a sleepy, tired momma):
- Hooray! Baby can stand fiesta buntings:
- “Baby bookworm” is easy to do. Take a look:
6. Combine pictorial and play for toddlers
Those milestone photoshoots get harder as they grow older. If you will photograph your toddler, it’s definitely not a piece of cake. You CANNOT make them sit still; they will either get your phone or go clingy, or worse, throw tantrums! Before you lose your cool, here are some ideas how they can get distracted while you take those precious shots.
- Messy but will definitely keep them busy! Toddlers like sensory play. Go get washable paint and let children have the time of their lives.
- Bubbly babies with bubbles. Bond with your toddler and have fun chasing bubbles. Don’t forget to adjust your camera’s aperture and shutter speed to capture those moments.
When you’re done documenting those happy days, sort the shots and have them printed in a Photobook. Here are some deals you should not miss.
