Melbourne Baby and toddler Photographer
Having a newborn baby is often daunting and just the thought of getting out and about with the pressure of having. a lens pointing at you, can be daunting. If you didn’t have a newborn session and you baby is now a few months old, it’s still totally fine to have a baby photography session at home. My favourite age is between 3 and 6 months, when bubs are in a more predictable routine and they are starting to sit down. One of the bigger development milestones around this age is separation anxiety, so having your session at home makes perfect sense as they will be in a familiar environment and it will be easier to distract them in case of meltdown.
I remember the early days of childhood with my girls and having 18months in between them, I had to quickly become an octopus to be able to juggle a newborn and a toddler and any expedition out of the house seemed like a trip to the moon and back, with all the things I had to carry for both of them. If you wonder how I juggle a toddlers and babies at the same time during a session this is a guide to give you an insight into it.
Baby photography: How do I get my toddler to cooperate for pictures?
1.- Become friends with the older sibling:
I always make a big effort at the beginning of every session to give all my attention to the older sibling: most of the times a toddler. When I am greeted at the door, I go down to their eye level and I greet them asking them to show mw around. If they are super shy then I tend to move slow, giving them as much time and space as I can. I ask them to show me their room and their favourite toys, later on I will ask them to show me their baby. By giving all of my attention to them at the beginning of the session, they trust me and they know that they are also important in this session, and it’s not all about baby.
2.- What are their Interest?
Just a couple of weeks ago, the entire world used to turn around them, and all of a sudden things change very quickly and they can probably feel those changes, and it will be reflected in their behaviour. Everyone reacts differently to the arrival of a sibling so it’s important to keep an open mind. If they are old enough to talk, then ask them about kinder, ask them about their teachers, their favourite toys or their favourite characters (Bluey is a big one in my neck of the woods). Ask them what they think about their baby, do they sing any songs? Just remember to follow their lead and this will help you to connect with them.
3.- Siblings make great helpers in a lifestyle photography session at home
If you have more than one sibling, remember that they are little and most of the time they are curious. I find my engagement works best when I ask them to be help me, they can hold something, or maybe even sometimes they will take some photos themselves and then run back to the group. We will do this a few time, and make it a game.
4.- Give them choices to make them feel in control
I tend to navigate my sessions like someone navigates a little boat: if something is not working, I move on and come back to it later or try the same game later on. By giving choices and options you tend to follow their lead and they will then enjoy themselves and engage a lot more than if you bark orders to them.
Some choices could be:
Do you want to be on this side or that side of mum?
Do you want to look out the window or jump in bed?
Should mummy kiss you or cuddle you?
Do you want to sing the wheels on the bus or twinkle twinkle little star?
5.- Have a snack and water break
Even if my average session lasts one hour, I always ask to bring some snacks or have some snacks available to make sure that we can have a break if things start going pear shape. Sometimes everyone is a little bit on edge because we all have expectations of what we want our family to look like, and because let’s face it “ who is this lady that just got here and she is telling me what to do!”. A snack break is always a great way to calm down the spirits, this is when I will concentrate on bub and mum.
6.- Expectations: Prepare your toddler for their session
Talk to your child about the session, and tell them what will happen. There is no need to be smiling all the time at the camera, I will ask them questions and sometimes their natural expression is the best part.
7.- Rewards and praise
Before your session try to have some rewards in hand. Keep them secret until I get there and then give them to me: if they are given out too early then we run the risk of not having any cooperation until the end, and if given to late then we might loose all engagement.Most times a reward can be something to eat or also an experience, like finishing our session at a playground.
I hope That this guide will help you while planning our session! I can’t wait to meet you and your gorgeous family!
Melbourne Toddler and baby Photographer: How to photograph your own toddler.
Toddlers can be wild, but when you tame them the best stories are made. Over the years I have photograph numerous families and I have learned a few things along the way. Here is a guide to help you start recording your own family, if you want to consider making memories of your own every day life. You don’t need any fancy equipment to get started, you can use these tips and get started with your phone.
1.- Follow their lead:
Toddlers come in all shapes and sizes, and their personalities can be tamed but also wild. Wild toddlers are a lot of fun because of the wild range of emotions and activities they want to get through on the day. One of the most important things is to take on their suggestions and make them feel part of the shoot. I always have a few activities in mind, but if they don’t want to engage, then we will move on and come back to the activity again later on. `
2.- Get them busy:
Part of photographing your store is the interaction between each member of your family. For this to happen we need to share an activity that encourages your family to interact with each other. Some of my favourite activities are block building, cubby houses made of sheets in bed, Lego and flying a kite or any ball sport.
3.- Place their toys in a strategically well lit place:
Some of my first dabbles into photography were with my own girls, and soon the novelty wore off and they would resist to my camera, while I was eager to learn new things. I quickly learned to leave them be, and to learn how I could navigate around them trying to get the image I had in my mind without disrupting their game or the scene. This minimal interference allowed me to shoot for a lot longer.
4.- Become the fly in the wall:
Resist the urge to tell them what to do and to follow instructions. One of my biggest lessons and challenges was to find an interesting frame while following without intervening their play. I had to think outside the box and they slowly forgot about me.
5.- Choose a simple space and texture:
Simple spaces make it easier to be able to tell a story. Eliminating busy background and scenes will allow the viewer to concentrate on facial expressions and shape instead of everything else going on in your scene.
I hope that this guide will help you to start photographing your own family, and give you an insight on how I photograph.
Lifestyle family photography
Toddler photography: What is the best lens to photograph my child?
I still remember vividly the moment I realised how short the first year of a human being can be: I wanted to keep every little moment of this tiny humans in my hands and hopefully make it last a little longer through photographs. That was the moment when I decided to up my photography game and capture the beauty in our everyday lives. Through these little recommendations I hope that you will find the courage to record your own everyday life and make incredible memories that you can hold on to for a little longer.
1.- 50mm lens : the portraits lens
This lens is a great option, as it provides faltering portraits with minimal distortion. This lens works well indoors (with the lower aperture you will be able to use higher ISO). You will be able to get relatively close but you will need a Macro lens to capture close up details.
2.- 35 mm or 28mm: the wide lens
This is a great option if you want to capture a wild toddler. This is a wide lens, and therefore you will be able to fit more of your scene in your frame. Having the option to shoot wide is a great option to be able to build a story and to capture complex scenes.
3.- Incredible blury background: the 85mm lens
This lens has an incredible bokeh, but the downside is: you will have to be far away from your subject, and therefore you will have to shout or it will be harder to communicate with them if you want to capture genuine emotion and moments.
4.- It's all in the details: ;100mm macro lens
If you want to capture incredible details like little noses and details on hands or flowers then this is your lens. This is more of a luxury item and a great complement if you already have a kit you shoot with.
I hope that this little guide will help you to navigate the ins and outs if you would like to get your own photography kit. The beginning is always the hardest, but you will treasure these images in years to come. I really hope that you’ll sum up the courage and be part of your family’s story through a photography session one day soon.
