GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

Try to keep them awake a couple hours prior to the shoot. That way you can get lots of facial expressions for an while, then the infant will naturally go to sleep and you can then "mold" the baby into many poses. Sort of like most of the ones you see on the internet.

Basically the only cranky infants are the hungry ones and times when they're annoyed like when you use your flash a lot... so don't use it. (Figure they came from nine months of darkness so you can expect that.)

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

Things turned out pretty good for the shoot.

As for your response, nothing! I was just talking since the Ugly Hedgehog is for more than people looking for technical answers.

MCoomber Loc: Hamilton ontario

Not sure why you are so upset? Are you one of these photographers who only want to pass on what they think is relevant and not give a proper answer to the question that has been posed.

fotoman150

I did infants for several years in my studio. I found that the newborns cry much more. I stopped photographing newborns and would only start photographing at three months. I don't care for the newborn pictures where the baby is asleep in weird positions like propped up on his elbows. It's way overdone.

I ask all my mommies to bring the baby in the morning because I find that they are fresher and happier in the morning. There are several things that will make a baby cry every time. One is if the baby is tired. Two is the baby is hungry. Three is if the diaper on a young baby is the slightest bit wet even if she just change the baby 15 minutes ago, the baby will cry.

So in my studio I did one baby at a time. There were no other people in the room and I allowed an hour to an hour and a half per shoot. If the baby is tired I have the mother rock the baby to sleep and feed if necessary. If the baby is hungry, I have her feed him. Usually the baby will fall asleep. If the baby is rested and has just been fed, it may have tummy bubbles and needs to be burped. The other thing that will make a baby cry is if they have tummy bubbles that won't pop and put pressure on the babies tummy. You will be able to tell this because the baby will be very fussy and seem to be in pain. They sell baby gasx medicine at the pharmacy. The biggest challenge is getting the mother to except the fact that the baby needs the Gas-X. Only use the small Gas-X dropper on one baby
and give the medicine to the mother to keep.

I had a changing table in the camera room with free diapers and wipes and supplies.

So I shoot 50 to 100 shots in four different poses for each session. I start out with a mommy and me session at three months. Followed quickly by three months, six months, nine months, 12 month session. Then I make A panel of the three, six, nine, 12 month shots of her choice.

I also shoot the face the hands the bottom the feet and make a nine square panel baby parts compilation. I do this during the mommy and me session.

Something that helps with the crying is if you find in the Disney store in the mall there are these little pushbutton like spinning things that you hold in your hand. When the baby fusses press the button and spin the light around in the Globe and he will immediately stop crying. Hurry then and snap a few quick shots. After a while the baby will get used to the device and no longer cooperate. So use it sparingly.

Sorry so long hope this helps. Anymore questions let me know and I will try to help. Everyone photographs babies differently so hopefully you can get a variety of advice.