Baby Photos: Five tips for posing infants

 Newborns are delicate and older babies are wiggly (not to mention spit-up, diapers and crying)—which is why taking pictures of infants can be so challenging. I've wasted precious smile time trying to find the right pose for my son's age. Picking the right pose can help you snap some better photos within your baby's attention span.

 

Use a U-shaped pillow.

I found a less common use for my Boppy—as a baby prop. With brand new babies, I tuck the pillow under the backdrop to prop a baby's head up, either while lying on his back or his belly. As he got older, I used it to keep him from tipping over as he was learning to sit up.

 

Uses poses to show off new skills.

I take monthly photos of my son, and I love using different poses to show his new skills. I switched up poses when he was holding his head up by himself and sitting up by himself—and soon, I'll snap a few of him crawling.

 

Add a bit of Mom or Dad.

One of my favorite newborn pictures I've taken is of my niece, fit perfectly snug in her mom's outstretched arms. Its a great pose for remembering later how tiny she was. Older infants can also be photographed walking with the aid of a parent or grandparent's hands.

 

Use a few different poses—but start with the most comfortable.

I love to use a few different poses to get a variety of shots—but I've often made the mistake of not starting on the right one. Begin where your baby is comfortable. If she doesn't like tummy time, don't start trying to imitate a cute shot on her tummy—once she's mad, you may not be able to try any other poses.

 

Get in close.

I love baby feet—and so I've taken a few close-ups of just toes. After you have a few good overall poses, try snapping some of just feet or fingers. Capture that tiny wisp of hair or the blue in her eyes.

Finding the right pose to get the best shot of a baby can be challenging. With a pillow or extra person to help with propping and a few ideas (and a lot of patience), taking baby photos can be a bit easier.

Writing Prompt: Character Traits

 As a new mom, I've been amazed at how someone so young can still display quite a bit of their very own personality. My son, at eight months old, is curious. He loves to go new places—his arms will stick right out and he'll just shake, which is his crazy way of showing that he's excited. He's always looking around, grabbing anything within reach, and he. Never. Stops. Wiggling.

For this writing prompt, pick one personality trait, and write a few paragraphs about how it fits your child. Be specific—share a humorous or touching incident that illustrates his or her personality best. Like what you wrote? Share it in the comments section.

Props Under $10: Diggin' into Summer

Dirt (as per the cliché) is cheap, but it makes a great photo element for the summer. For less than $10, I picked up a few items for photo props that ended up being one of my favorite sets. Here's what I purchased:

• Chalkboard Joann Fabric and Craft $2.49
• Chalk Springrove Variety Store $0.94
• Medium Clay Pot Meijer $1.79
• Small Clay Pot Meijer $0.94

Total: $5.22

I also had some potting soil and plants already purchased, but the photo would've worked without them too.

I took my son and camera outside to a spot that was already dirt, then added a bit of potting soil for a deeper color. I added a phrase I had admired from somewhere earlier to the chalkboard, then arranged the pots, plant and chalkboard. I started with a cute outfit, then just figured the diaper-only shots would work better with the props. My mom and sister helped make him smile (and kept him from actually eating the dirt).

This set could also work for a girl if you added some flowers and used a different phrase on the chalkboard. Watering cans and gardening tools would also work well in this shot—just be careful not to make it too busy.