Monday, January 4, 2010

Nine Months, a Great Time

Happy New Year to all! I'm committed to regular posting in the new year. Let's see how I do. As always, if there is anything you'd like me to clarify or cover in future posts, please send an email to barry@portraitlighting.net. Don't be shy about adding your perspectives, corrections, or requests in the comments section. If you think something is amiss, chances are you're not alone.

First-time parents often ask what is the best time to photograph their baby. I don't think there is one right answer to the question, as you can get memorable images at any age. Nevertheless, I usually suggest 9 months if they'll only be photographing them once in their first year.

Why do I say nine months? Well, actually I should say between 7 months and 11 months, depending on the child's rate of development. The reasons are:


The child can sit up unaided.

The child is not yet inclined to immediately crawl away once seated.

The child is not yet inclined to immediately crawl away when placed on their tummy.

The child has not yet developed an elevated fear of strangers.

The child will usually interact emotionally with the photographer (expressions).

The child is more inclined to smile than at other stages.

The child can be safely propped in a variety of ways.


These are just some of the reasons I'll never pass up an opportunity to photograph a 9 month old. One and two year old children are another story, and a suitable subject for a future post.

Expect a more technically-oriented post later in this week.

2 comments:

  1. I have been asked to do some portraits of an 18 month old kid. Any tips would be appreciated. So if you need any motivation for that future post on one to two year olds maybe this is it.

    Thanks,

    Mike

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi!

    Is this blog still active?

    ReplyDelete