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.