Taking sharp baby pictures is no easy task—babies are constantly in motion, with tiny, unpredictable movements that make photography a real challenge. And let’s be honest, they’re not exactly trying to help the photographer either!
We learned a few things this weekend while attempting macro photography with Chiara, which was very much hit or miss (mostly miss). Here’s what worked for us:
- Photograph while baby sleeps: For things like hands or feet, it’s much easier when they’re still.
- Fast shutter speed (Tv Priority): Anything faster than 1/300s helped freeze movement. We used a 100mm macro lens for close-ups.
- Patience, like birdwatching: Pick your spot, wait, and hope the baby moves into the perfect position.
- Capturing smiles: Tricky! Smiles fade fast—by the time I grabbed the camera, her mouth was already closing.
Despite the challenges, here are a few shots we managed to capture this weekend!
Macro Chiara – EOS 5DmkII – EF 100mm f2.8 + Holga effect in Lightroom (except top left)
On Saturday, we visited Laetitia, Gabriele, Carla, and Bruno in Wimbledon. Carla and Bruno were completely fascinated by Chiara, asking endless questions and taking such good care of her. We hardly had to touch the pram during our park outing—Carla took charge and pushed it the whole way! She even helped with changing and feeding Chiara beforehand. A true little helper!
Here are two portraits of our future babysitters !
Carla and Chiara (left) – Bruno posing outside (right). EOS 5DmkII – EF 24-70mm f2.8