This little doll was so sweet and very expressive!  And it was a treat to watch new parents, Kevin and Emily, as they loved on Lydia – thanks for inviting me to share this morning with you!

Also, I have many friends who are across Canada and the US who have just had babies and are asking for tips on taking photos of their little ones.  So, here are a few tips for you:

1.  A full tummy makes for a happy baby – feed them just before you shoot them (I couldn’t resist!)

2.  The parents should wear black – it makes for a nice backdrop to have the baby against

3.  Show the baby skin – it’s cute to have those little legs, tummies, shoulder blades on display

4.  Use objects such a favorite stuffed toys, the parents’ hands, the parents’ feet, to show perspective

5.  One of the poses I really love is the baby up against the mom’s shoulder, nestled in, with the mom’s chin gently resting against the head.  It’s flattering for the mom and the baby.

6.  Crying babies are cute.

7.  Find the best light in your house and use it.

8.  If you’re using auto settings on your camera, select the portrait setting (sometimes looks like a person’s head).  This will allow you to focus on the baby and have a blurry background.

9.  If you’re using manual settings, set your aperture wide (a low number) to have the focus on the baby with the blurry background.

10.  Remember that they’re a baby, so you can’t go wrong.  They’re going to look cute in any picture you take!  Just make sure to take the time to do the photos, because they grow quickly!  The first two weeks are typically the window of time you have before baby acne sets in and they aren’t sleeping as heavily (allowing for the sleeping photos where you’re able to place the baby in different poses without waking them).  If you have missed this window, still take pictures!  I recommend the book by MeRa Koh called “Your Baby in Pictures,” which breaks the first year down into stages, and suggestions of what to capture at each one.