ON LOCATION SHOOT WINDOW-LIGHT BABY PORTRAITS 03 04 06 01 05 02

Use natural light for flattering baby photos and master key camera settings for indoor portraits

01 WINDOW LIGHT

Window light is ideal for baby photography. The window acts like a giant softbox for flattering, even light. A skylight like this is great when the subject is lying down because it lights them from the top. If the baby is sitting up, try using a large window or bay door to illuminate them.

02 CAMERA SETTINGS

When photographing babies – or any portrait – it’s best to have a set-and-forget exposure so you can concentrate on the subject without fiddling with the camera. A good place to start with window-lit shots is Manual mode, aperture f/2.8 (or similarly wide), shutter speed 1/200 sec, Auto ISO.

03 BABY SPOTTER

At six months old, our tiny subject here can just about sit up, but he is rather wobbly. If there’s a danger that the baby might topple over, it’s essential to have a helper on hand to watch them while you take photos. Place pillows around them to ensure a soft landing if they do tumble.

04 MOOD SWINGS

When photographing babies, you need to work around their schedules and moods. They’re often most happy around mid-morning, although this depends on their sleep and feeding patterns. Ask the parents when their baby is usually at their happiest, and be ready to shoot.

05 LENS CHOICE

A prime lens such as a 50mm or 100mm is very useful for portraits, especially when shooting with window light. Primes usually have wide apertures such as f/2.8 or f/1.8, which not only gives you lovely shallow focus, but also enables you to shoot with lower ISO values in low-light indoors.

06 BACKDROPS & BLANKETS

Frame to include a plain backdrop, such as a wall or door, and if necessary hang a blanket or roll of paper behind the subject. This gives you an uncluttered backdrop and enables the subject to stand out. It’s also very helpful if you intend to cut out the subject later on to make a composite.