Even if you’re not into baby and children photography, you’ve heard of Anne Geddes, the queen of this genre. And if you are into taking this route in your career, this fantastic video from B&H is for you! In the video, Anne gives you five essential tips for photographing babies and many beautiful examples of her work to inspire you.
1. The “KISS” Principle
The first tip Anne shares is sticking to the KISS principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid. “Don’t overcomplicate things. You’ve got a baby that’s your gold, and you’ve got your camera,” Anne says. “Whatever happens in between, there is an element of something else, but don’t crowd, don’t crowd out your gold. That little baby, the beautiful things about them.” In other words, focus on the simplicity and natural beauty of the child and avoid cluttering the scene with unnecessary elements.
2. Do one thing well
Babies will be babies – they won’t do exactly what they’re told, and they won’t be your perfectly behaved models. So, don’t try to do too much with a baby during a photoshoot. Instead, focus on capturing one aspect of their personality or behavior. “Don’t try and push them into performing at all because they don’t perform,” Anne explains. “And that’s one thing that everybody loves about photographs of babies is that they’re completely honest. What you see is what you get.”
3. Be ready for magic
The third tip leans onto the previous one: don’t approach a photo shoot with a rigid plan. Be open to unexpected moments and be ready to capture the magic that can unfold spontaneously. And with babies, lots of things happen spontaneously. “Don’t photograph with blinkers on,” Anne says. “You got to look for the magic.”
She tells a story about her image of a little baby named Philippa smiling in a bunch of roses, which is the perfect example of that. Be patient, observant, and prepared to adjust your approach based on the baby’s mood and behavior.
4. Safety first
The fourth tip isn’t strictly about photography techniques, but it’s extremely important: always prioritize safety when photographing babies. Anne emphasizes the importance of having a trusted adult present to supervise the child and ensure their well-being throughout the photoshoot. This way, when she turns away with her camera, adjusts the set, or whatever, there’s always someone to make sure the baby is perfectly safe.
5. Nurture your creativity
Make time for personal photography projects to avoid burnout and keep your creativity flowing. Anne shares an agreement she had with herself a long time ago: she would dedicate one day a month to capturing images solely for her enjoyment. “It’s just for me,” she says. “So what you need to do is have the discipline to take one day a month to do something with your creativity that you haven’t done before.” Of course, you can do this at your own pace and as often as you feel you need. But Anne suggests that you stay persistent and disciplined doing it. This will help you stay inspired and motivated, and it will make you happy.
Make sure to watch the video for plenty of wonderful examples from Anne Geddes. I even recognized a photo I had as a poster in my parent’s home when I was little… Before I replaced it with posters of my then-favorite bands. 🙂
[Baby Photography Tips with Anne Geddes | B&H]
