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As any experienced portrait photographer will tell you,
working with children can be both challenging and
rewarding. When things aren’t going well, the shoot can
come to a crashing halt—but when they come together
well, the results can be amazing depictions that families will
cherish for generations to come.
I n this book, we’ll look at poses for the very youngest
(and most frequently photographed) of child portrait subjects:
newborns and toddlers. Obviously, poses that work
with a sleepy newborn are quite different from those that
suit an adventurous toddler, so why group these kids into
one book? There are some good reasons.
F irst, much of early childhood photography involves
documenting developmental milestones—the newborn
holding her head up, the child’s ability to sit up unassisted,
the toddler taking his first steps, etc. These are best understood
when viewed in the context of what came before
(what the younger child couldn’t yet do) and what will
come later (what only an older child can do).
A second common thread in these portraits is an emphasis
on relationships. More than with any other age
group, very young children are commonly depicted with
their parents or siblings. These portraits offer special posing
challenges and opportunities, so a section of the book is
devoted to images with more than one subject. The child’s
relationship with their environment is a related theme, so
children are often shown interacting with props. Props can
assist with posing, but they also need to be managed carefully
and never allowed to overwhelm the small subject.
A final—and critical—common thread is the need for
speed and efficiency. Portrait sessions with infants and toddlers
are generally not long, drawn-out affairs. While flexibility
is important, walking into the session with a few great
ideas ready to go can help make the session a success.
F illed with images by accomplished portrait, fashion,
and editorial photographers, this book provides a resource
for photographers seeking inspiration. Stuck on what to do
with a particular child? Flip through the sample portraits,
pick something you like, then adapt it as needed to suit
your tastes. Looking to spice up your work with some new
poses? Find a sample that appeals to you and look for ways
to implement it (or some element of it) with your subject.
For ease of use, the portraits are grouped according to the
age of the subject, and further delineated by the type of
pose (seated, standing, with a parent, etc.).
I t can be difficult to remain creative day after day, year
after year, but sometimes all you need to break through a
slump is a little spark. In this book, you’ll find a plethora of
images designed to provide just that.