Becoming a mom is one of life’s biggest transitions. And taking better baby photos is just as much a mental challenge as it is a technical one.
I get asked so often by my students new and old how to take their photos ‘beyond snapshots’.
This post is going to explore the technical side of taking better photos, but before we do I actually think we have to dive into something I think is even more important first.
Your Intention. Your Intuition. And WHY you take pictures in the first place.
You come home with a tiny human who you selflessly pour every ounce of your heart and soul and energy into caring for. Your precious new baby is growing and changing daily and the camera provides a way for you to see and remember with a fresh perspective. (I have photos of my daughter from the first few weeks that I don’t even remember taking!) In the fog of new motherhood photography not only provides the key to visually recording this hazy transition, but it also provides a sense autonomy, and purpose during a time when you’re giving so freely to your family 27/4.
Somedays it’s a miracle you’re still standing at the end of a long day with your kids, let alone beautifully documenting and capturing it with a camera.
The Slippery Slope of Learning Photography
I can remember during those first months of motherhood, I would spend my spare time looking at photography blogs, and forums, and Facebook pages wishing my photos had the same amazing light, colorful pop, and candid essence that theirs did.
I would go down a rabbit hole of searching for the ‘magical tip’ that would transform my photos into something amazing, but all I ended up doing was staring at beautiful professional quality photos and feeling bad about my own work.
In hindsight I realize that maybe I forgot my WHY in those moments.
Not only did I not come away from a photography research session with anything new to support me in taking better pictures, I left the experience feeling bad about myself. Yuck.
It’s why I’ve never joined any photography groups or forums. My intuition would scream at me to leave. I would peek at the images, read the advice, and the longer I would hang out in a group the quicker I would feel bad about me and my images. Plus, all the searching, and striving, and wishing for better pictures was keeping me from the real reason I snap photos of my family in the first place.
Documenting loving memories and creating deeper connections with my family.
So Wait?! Should I Stop Learning?
Heck no!
Let me be clear, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to take better baby photos.
The reason I began down the path of learning photography was because I too wanted professional quality photos of my baby and my life.
But it’s important to find the right teachers, the right experiences, and the right communities for you.
There are SO MANY great resources out there for moms to learn how to take better baby photos. During my research I was stumbling across advice that wasn’t always the right fit for me.
Learning and community are important. I TEACH photography not because I know that there are certain key elements of the photography puzzle that can quickly and simply transform the way moms document their family life in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming or discouraging.
In fact you can check out our lineup of upcoming classes and programs here.
I also believe there is such a thing as TOO MUCH learning.
You’ve got to take one or two skills at a time and practice, practice, practice. As a former educator I’m passionate about delivering photography information in a systematic way that makes sense because you’re not trying to learn every skill at once.
What Are The Essentials to Better Baby Photos?
Here’s the 3 area I’d recommend you practice if your main goal right now is snapping photos that go ‘beyond snapshot’ quality.
Light
Learning about light will immediately take your photos from just ok to amazing. Set your intention to practice photography indoors during times of day where the sun streams in through the windows. Or go out on a cloudy day to see how even the light is on your kids faces. Your camera is a big light box and as such it needs light to perform.
Composition
Thinking about how and why you frame specific shots will also uplevel your photos from snapshot to professional grade. Change perspective often: get at eye level with your kids, get in close to capture their facial expressions, go wide to take in their surroundings. Use a new lens (you can easily rent then online!) to see your view differently. A lot of times your results will vary from a pros simply because you are using a different lens than they are.
Editing
I think a BIG misconception is that professional quality photos come out of the camera looking professional already. And while decent quality light can make for a photo that requires minimal editing, certain types of shots need that extra boost post camera to really drive the amazingness of the shot home. Take sunset photos for example. We all want to preserve that golden hour of light in our images, but our camera can’t always capture the essence of ALL that golden goodness. Editing allows us to deepen the colors and boost the contrast to truly make that golden light shine.
An Argument For Snapshots
With the tips above I also want to give the disclaimer that I think snapshots have a purpose in your memory making as well.
It’s far to easy these days to fall into a trap of unrealistic desire with photography.
There’s no lack of photography advice online. From forums that can deliver instant advice (and equal amounts of criticism), to perfectly crafted Pinterest boards of beautiful golden hour light, to experts who will tell you every last technical detail and accessory you need leaving you overwhelmed not inspired.
Snapshots oftentimes to get a bad rap for being dull, boring, or technically weak. But I actually think they’re our greatest teachers on this photography journey.
My ‘bad’ photos, my snapshots, force me to ask questions about what went wrong. Snapshots foster a spirit of curiosity and are an invitation to continue practicing.
Confidence in your photography doesn’t only stem from learning new skills. It also stems from getting to the heart of WHY you love taking pictures.
Making memories.
Good quality or mediocre 5 years from now your photos will be a looking glass back in time to an age and a stage long forgotten in your mind.
You’ll be glad to have those glimpses of your life that feels ages ago, even if the photo is ‘just a snapshot’
The Answer: Get Better Baby Photos By Snapping With Intention
These days, I’m not going about my photography journey with the end goal of taking frame worthy work every time. I didn’t pick up a camera to capture our lives perfectly. I picked up a camera to remember our family life as it is.
I snap with intention. (#snapwithintention)
I know my purpose before I shoot, I know where I’d like to put my technical focus, and I gauge whether or not the moment is one where I’d really like ‘professional practice’ or not.
I started learning about my camera to gain more confidence and control over my memory preservation. I didn’t sign up for a runaway train of tips, tricks, and techniques that don’t fit with the realities of our lifestyle.
The more I can let go of my expectations for a certain photo outcomes and simply capture memories with a sense of realness, the better.
I take a minimalist approach to my photo taking. My White Balance is usually on Auto mode, I don’t use flash, I leave my 50mm lens on my camera 99% of the time, I rarely pose or stage my shots.
Sometimes the light and emotion and color and mood align just right and I immediately come away super proud of the work I’ve produced. But a lot of the time I take snapshot quality images that years from now you bet I’ll be just as proud of because they’ll allow me to remember a time of my life that years later feels like a hazy memory.
I still follow photographers who leave me inspired. I use my intuition and let it tell me if someone’s work leaves me feeling supported. I don’t try to emulate their work completely, but the work inspires me to better my own photography on my own terms.
Don’t let your photography journey stress you out, don’t let a constant stream of learning block you from actually practicing, and don’t let any advice make you feel inadequate or less than. This photography journey of yours — let it bring you to deeper levels confidence, control, and connecting in your life because that’s where the real magic in your camera will be found, OK?
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