Babies are brand new to the world, and because of this, they aren’t yet aware of what to do when someone points a camera at them and says ‘cheese’!
So although it feels like it should be easy to make a baby smile for a picture, some families find it’s harder than they expect.
These are some of the best ways to ensure your baby is smiling for pictures!
Ensure All of Their Needs Are Met First
The hardest thing to do is make a fussy baby perk up and smile for a photo.
When you’re deciding to take pictures, try to plan ahead so you can ensure your baby is in the best situation possible so that they won’t have anything to cry over.
This means covering the obvious, like ensuring they’re recently fed and burped, but also to make sure you’re not interrupting a time when they’d usually be asleep.
Throwing off their schedule is sure to make them throw a fit.
There Are So Many New Noises for Babies
One of the most powerful tools parents have in their collection is noise! Babies are discovering a world of new sounds, so it’s a good idea to use as many of these as possible to try and get them to smile.
This could mean blowing raspberries into the air or singing to your baby.
It may seem a little silly, but that’s the point! The silliness of it might help inspire your baby to laugh or smile.
Make a Face That Would Make Anyone Laugh
All of your baby’s senses are fresh to the world, so another option is to give them something surprising to look at
Avoid making faces in front of them for a few days before the pictures, and then make the funniest faces you can when it’s time for photos.
These faces will surprise and delight your child and make them laugh and smile for the pictures.
Play a Game of Peek-A-Boo
Peek-a-boo is awesome because it combines both sound and visuals while playing with the fact that a baby doesn’t quite understand object permanence yet.
Play a game of peek-a-boo behind the camera so that they’ll look at it and try to make them laugh. More exaggerated movements and faces can help with this!
Work With A Professional Baby Photographer
Babies are a tough audience! This can be especially difficult if this is your first child and you haven’t had to go through this song and dance yet.
Find a newborn photographer who’s worked with plenty of children before and understands the tricks and things they can do to make your child react without scaring them.
They’re an awesome tool to use, plus you get the perk of getting fantastic photos out of it!
Your Baby’s Photos are a Timeless Keepsake
Regardless of how many kids you have: their photos are a timeless keepsake that you’ll want to cherish for as long as possible.
By trying some of these tips, you can ensure the photo catches your child’s best side so you can remember it for years to come!