Best way to shoot a baby?

[SUB1IM388]

How would you go about getting good shots of you child, or any child? Would it be best to get candid shots, or a backdrop and let them do there thing? tonight i got my daughter, but i pretty much set her up. What do you guys prefer? All incite is welcome!

[Cinbika]

I totally let them do their thing. I will give them a prop like chair, or blocks, or tea set so on and so forth. Let them explore, play and express themselves. As a photographer I try to get the essence of the child or adult and the best way to do that is let them be them.

[SUB1IM388]

Thats primarily what i thought seems more natural.

[AndreaBFS]

There is merit in both. I like candids, but I also love a nice clean studio portrait that purely shows the child without other distractions. Why limit yourself? Film is free. ;)

[Rudeofus]

That totally depends on how old your kid is and what you are trying to express. The older a kid gets, the more meaningful a candid shot will be (2 month olds don't do much, do they?). At some age (9 months or so) studio shots are difficult because the kids aren't overly cooperative (of course experienced pro photogs can handle this, but I'm talking about first time amateur level shootings).

Please tell us how old your daughter is, it's much easier for us to give advice!

[cdifoto]

Babies don't really do much so you kinda have to take what you can get.

[bobbyz]

My wife was burping my son and I liked the way he was looking at me. I had my light close by so I turned them on, got the camera and here are couple of shots that I got. Couldn't have done these without flash.

http://www.bobbyzphotography.com/img/v4/p408746293-4.jpg
http://www.bobbyzphotography.com/img/v4/p291660027-4.jpg