Take Your Best Shot

Fancy yourself an amateur photographer? Longing to see some of those sleek, artistic photos of your baby, toddler or pregnant belly up on the mantle, but reluctant to pay the sitting fee?

Read on. We asked three Ottawa photographers for their top tips on taking the best baby, toddler and maternity photos so you can get better results in your own backyard or living room.

Babies
Danielle Whalen, owner of Sugar Pea Creative, says newborns photograph best in their first two weeks of life. They’re still very sleepy, so you can usually place them in the poses you like without much protest. She suggests placing them near a window and turning off your camera flash for a natural effect.

Amber Shereen, owner of Amber Shereen Photography, recommends photographing newborns without diapers for a more artistic image. After the newborn phase the next best age at which to capture your baby is six or seven months, since babies this age are developing their personalities and respond well to visual and vocal cues. You can pose her sitting up, on her tummy or back or grabbing her toes. Shereen advises using a macro lens, if you can, to capture baby’s feet, toes, long eyelashes and other fine details up close.

Toddlers and Preschoolers
A toddler is the boss in any picture-taking situation. Marilyn Mikkelsen of Marilyn Mikkelsen Photography recommends involving your toddler in an activity that will hold their interest, like a puzzle or favorite toy. Eventually they will look up proudly to show you what they’re doing—be ready to snap. Getting silly with children is also a great way to hold their attention.

As for poses, Whalen suggests standing your toddler up in a box: sometimes he or she will stay there for a moment before trying to climb out. Shereen likes the idea of what she calls the “implied parent,” where the child is photographed with a portion of the parent—for example, holding on to Daddy’s leg or being held by the hands between both parents. The key for this age group is making the child believe that whatever he is doing, it was his own idea.

Maternity
Growing another baby? Whalen advises taking maternity photos around the 32nd week of pregnancy—you want to be round, but not too big. Again, natural light is best, so make use of windows and turn off the flash. You may get better results from capturing just the belly rather than trying for a full-body photo. Remember, your hands will be front and centre, so a pre-shoot manicure may be in order.

Mikkelsen recommends using side-light to emphasize the belly when shooting straight on. Taking photos from every angle offers you lots of choice. Shereen advises using moody, dramatic lighting for maternity portraits. Try suspending a large piece of black velvet at a right angle to a window for a low-key backdrop.

If all of this advice has made you a more confident photographer, fabulous! If it has made you want to hire Whalen, Mikkelsen or Shereen, you might want to know a bit more about how they (and other Ottawa photographers) work. Sitting fees can range from $150 to $600 depending on the photographer. Some will come to your house, which can be more relaxing and lets you include elements of your living space in the photos. Others will have you come to their studio, where the lighting is better and the photographer can manipulate the backdrop and set. Some will give you the choice.

Either way, your children are changing before your eyes, and the next thing you know, they’ll be turning 16—so this is time or money well spent. Happy shooting!

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