Welcoming a new baby into your life is a whirlwind of joy, excitement, and countless precious moments. Every month brings new growth and discoveries, making it the perfect opportunity to document these cherished moments in a way that is both beautiful and meaningful. In this article, I’ll guide you through the art of capturing your baby’s monthly milestone photos with expert tips and creative ideas. Get ready to turn those fleeting moments into beautiful, lasting memories!

Lighting

Lighting is one of the most crucial elements in photography, profoundly influencing the mood, clarity, and overall quality of an image. In choosing where to take milestone photos, you will want to examine the rooms in your home that provide the best natural light.

How do I know if a room has good natural lighting? Great question! Look for rooms where you see direct pockets of sunlight coming through. These are usually the best lit rooms! If you have a cat, take note of where they like to sunbathe. They are great at finding those pockets of sunlight! Another thing to look for is a room that, even when there is no direct sunlight pouring in, is still well lit enough that it does not require artificial light.

Why can’t I just use overhead lighting in my home? Overhead lights in your home often have a fixed color temperature which can impact the color quality in your photos. While you can use them, depending on how warm or cool the light is, it can give your photos a yellow-orange or blue tint to your photos. Natural light is the most flattering light!

Timing

Once you’ve made note of which rooms have the best lighting, the next step is to find the right time to take the milestone photos. As a parent you know that your baby’s mood can vary whether they are hungry or sleepy or simply in need of diaper change. So, you will want to pick a time to do this when your baby is the most content. Whether that is after a nap or after a feeding, choose a time that makes the most sense for you and your baby so that your baby is happy during the photos.

Note that timing photos usually goes hand in hand with lighting. You may notice that certain rooms have great natural light in the morning whereas other rooms have great natural light in the evening. Choose your photo spot with the time of day in mind. I also recommend keeping a consistent time from month to month so that the lighting in your photos between months remains consistent.

Background & Set Up

You’ll want to consider the background in your chosen spot and the ease of set up. Depending on the level of effort you want for set up, you may prefer a room’s existing background to something like using a backdrop.

If you use an existing space in your room, I recommend a background that is minimal so that it doesn’t distract from your baby in the photos. For example, if you are taking your baby’s photos on a bed, avoid an overly patterned comforter or blanket. If you are capturing more than just the bed, make sure that any night stand or object in the background is free of clutter.

Another option you can do is use a backdrop like a milestone blanket or create your own backdrop. This is my personal preference as it allows for more control over the set up and lets me position the backdrop with the best lighting. An easy way to create your own backdrop is to use a bedsheet and drape it over the side of a bed, crib, bassinet, etc. When I do this, I will also place a blanket or bassinet mattress under the sheet to make it more comfortable for baby.

Positioning

Don’t be afraid to experiment taking photos of your baby in different positions and angles! Of course you’ll want those full body shots, but consider all the important skills that your baby has learned this month and capture them. Maybe your little one has started to grab and hold on to things – hand them a toy or milestone marker and take photos of those little hands! Or maybe your little one has discovered their feet and is constantly bringing their toes to their mouth – snap some photos of their little wiggling toes. If they’ve started smiling, get a close up of their face as they smile up at you! Capture everything that is important to you!

Take a Lot of Photos

Babies move and squirm so often, and you do not want to miss an opportunity for a great photo! My tip for this is to take a lot of photos, in rapid succession. Do not wait around for the perfect moment, because you may not find it. You can always go back and delete photos, but you can not turn back time to capture a fleeting moment. And who knows, your favorite photo may be one you never intended to capture, but got in a stroke of luck!

As you embark on the journey of capturing your baby’s monthly milestones, remember that the goal is to create lasting memories rather than perfect images. Embrace the spontaneity and imperfections that come with photographing a growing baby, and focus on the joy and love in each moment. Use these tips to help elevate the experience and most importantly, have fun! Happy photographing!