I would love to know what she was thinking about at that exact moment…  Little babies are just the most beautiful things in the world!!!  I have been a Johannesburg baby photographer for more than three years and still find it absolutely exciting when I know my next client is one of these little angels. 

When taking photos of babies I would recommend that you fit your photoshoot into their routine.  I baby who is tired will NOT smile at you even if you are standing on your head, so keep this in mind.  Keep some “noisemaking” toys in your studio to grab their attention when they are tired of everyone’s faces and you might just get a few more award-winning smiles.

One more thing I have learnt with photographing babies is a few English nursery rhymes (I am Afrikaans) as they all love music and if you are able to sing a familiar song to them they will sometimes participate by clapping their hands while smiling and “dancing”…

Riani 

Johannesburg baby photographer

Photographing babies can be compared to walking into a tornado like a stormwatcher.  You need look at all the signs for instance has baby just woken up from a nap, are they hungry or are they extremely friendly right now?  And then you need to do your shoot according to how they feel.

When they are extremely happy you need to use this opportunity to get as many beautiful smiley photos as you can. Always remember to smile back at the baby who is being photographed.

Sing to them, play hide and seek behind the camera and in general just praise them for everything they do right.  If you ensure the whole photoshoot is a game they will love to be photographed and will defininitely want to come back

Riani

What is it about babies that makes us smile…?  Is it the naughty twinkle in a baby boy’s smile or the rosy cheeks of an angelic baby girl?!  Somehow they spread joy and love wherever they are (well most of the time anyway   )  This little baby boy chose today to take a break in his routine by not taking a late morning snooze.  So he wasn’t too smiley when they walked through through our doors for their professional baby photos.  But in the studio we had no trouble getting him to crack a smile and laugh from his belly   Between Mom, Granny and me we know all the secrets to getting babies to laugh when they are having their baby photos taken.  Photographing babies is all about making it about fun and games, playing peek-a-boo behind a camera and much, much more!!!  I find that the more you smile when taking photos of babies the more likely they are to smile right back at you.  So just have fun!

Riani

Photographing babies is a little bit of an art.  The studio should be heated to ensure that these little angels are comfortable enough without beong too hot.  Their tummies should be full and mom should always be in sight.  Little  J was my model this morning and gave us all different

expressions except for a very scarce smile.  I just love this photo where he is lying on his tummy, can you believe that he isn’t even 3 months old yet and he is that strong?  Baby photos are priceless memories which will be treasured for years to come.  In baby’s first year of life I would

recommend having 3 photoshoots done because they grow and change so quickly.  First photoshoot would be the newborn photoshoot when baby is a week or so old, second photoshoot when baby is 6 months old (so they are starting to sit and pushing themselves up on their arms) and the last photoshoot would be a toddler photoshoots when they are craling and then starting to walk…  Don’t miss out on capturin these memories!

Riani

There is something about babies which make my heart smile   I don’t know if it is the pure innocence or because I am a typical woman.  But there is just something so magical (mayby it is their sheer potential…)

What I enjoy most about photographing babies is that every shoot is unique.  Some babies are just naturally smiley and others require some tickling but in the end we get all of them to smile.

Photographing O was an absolute pleasure, it took a little bit of cooing to get her to smile but as you can see the reward is worth its weight in gold   Looking at this angelic face it makes realize that there is definitely some divine purpose for this earth…

Riani

Just look at this little face and tell me that this photo doesn’t make you want to smile.  Let’s all say awww together

This is what photographing babies are all about.  Capturing these innocent expressions and smiles and knowing that they don’t have a care in the world.  Holding that emotion true to your heart.

Riani

Photographing Tivesh’s 1st Birthday Party made me realize how truly blessed I am to be able to follow my passion in life…  I absolutely LOVE photography, photographing kids, photographing babies or pregnant moms-to-be   They are all unique in their own way and I feel privileged whenever someone wants me to capture their essence.  Anyways, back to the birthday party.  This birthday party was every kids fantasy, but in REAL LIFE.  There was a merry-go-round, 2 jumping castles, a little animal farm, face painting, candy floss and all the good stuff  … (well not necessarily if you are a mom who is going to have a little one with a sugar rush but moving along) The party was Mickey Mouse themed so naturally the cake was Mickey Mouse Clubhouse  (I was actually impressed because my brother’s kids watch this every morning at our house before going to school and I can even sing you the whole theme song – scary I know but that is what happens when you spend a lot of time with small kids:-)  )We had such brilliant weather on the day, and while photographing kids I thought to myself that I have the absolute best job in the world!  Photographing kids is an everyday adventure, they are all just perfectly themselves and I love capturing what they think and do.  They were all just having so much fun that it was hard not to smile when watching all of them play their hearts out.  Can you try to imagine what it was like to not have a single worry in the world?  Just playing every day away?Have a look at these faces and you can see they are absolutely innocent…  And then we’ve got the crowning glory of the day, little Tivesh.  Little man I hope there is many more happy years for you ahead!

Riani