Get help from a friend
It’s hard to convince a toddler to smile when you have a camera blocking your face. Try recruiting a friend to stand behind you and amuse your subjects by making noises or waving toys — or whatever happens to work. In this shot, the photographer’s wife got the kids to smile by jumping around the bathroom.
Capture the moment
Kids are often at their cutest when they don’t realize they’re being photographed. Instead of orchestrating a picture, keep your camera handy and start shooting when the moment is right. It’s worth investing in a good zoom lens, so you can easily capture the action from afar.
Anticipate their mood
Children are moody little creatures. If they’re sleepy, hungry or hyped up on sugar, the most angelic kids are liable to become nightmare photography subjects. Do your best to control for these factors when planning a shoot. If you know something that consistently brings a smile to your child’s face, be it playing in the yard or eating chocolate ice cream, use it to your advantage.
Shoot your everyday life
If you’re busy being a parent, it’s hard to make time to photograph everyday life. Don’t forget to document things you’ll want to remember down the road, like nightly bedtime stories, bath time or dolls at the breakfast table. Kids don’t always have to be perfectly dressed or looking at the camera in order for you to take a great picture.
Focus on the details
Babies and toddlers don’t stay small for long. Be sure to capture those tiny toes and button noses before the cuteness disappears. For super-close detail shots, we recommend shooting while your subject is sleeping (preferably near a window, for the best light).
Choose a theme
Everything from a staged tea party to a Yankees baseball theme could be a cute concept for a do-it-yourself photo session. This photographer dressed her twins in matching tutus and scattered heart candies over a white blanket to create a simple, yet undeniably cute, Valentine’s Day photo.
Create a home studio
You don’t need tons of professional gear to create a makeshift photography studio in your home. In most cases, arranging a backdrop of sheets near a bright window will do just fine. In this image, the parents orchestrated a “cake smash” photo to celebrate their son’s first birthday.
