I Struggle With Three-Month-Olds

Bryce Wilson

One of the most difficult situations I find myself in is photographing 3-month-olds. They're beyond the laying still and sleeping situation, yet they aren't old enough to sit up on their own. The posing options for what I do are few and far between.

Keep in mind, with the way I book my sessions on the weekends, I have about 15 minutes to complete a session in which I try to get six different scenes and poses. This is about the best idea I've come up with for this particular age. This is a little girl. Little boys would use a more masculine prop. (I'm fond of baseball and football)

This pose has a fur fabric I purchase at a fabric store draped over a parent with the parent holding the child.

Any ideas on what to do with the between laying still and sleeping age and the sitting up age?



This is an example of a pose I tried with a little 2-month boy. As my 15-year-old would say, "It sucks". But again, what do you do with this age and the time constraints I'm under?

Bryce Wilson

Guess I'm not the only one that struggles with 3-month-olds.:D

jonh68

I think the problem is trying assembly line production. Charge more, have fewer sessions and give more time for organic shots to develop.

Other than that then be happy with what you get and hope clients understand. It's like shooting pets. I admire you can shoot that many in such a quick time because I couldn't do it.

Bryce Wilson

jonh68 wrote: »

I think the problem is trying assembly line production. Charge more, have fewer sessions and give more time for organic shots to develop.

Other than that then be happy with what you get and hope clients understand. It's like shooting pets. I admire you can shoot that many in such a quick time because I couldn't do it.

Thanks for chiming in John!

The first option of charging more with fewer sessions will blow the business model I've developed out of the water. The model works well, for now, and from the business end, I have a difficult time justifying changing it for a specific age that is only a small percentage of total business. Rather, I am really trying to find a photographic solution that will fit within the model.

This is one of the "solutions" I'm playing with. Using various items that that particular age can sit in and surrounding the subject with pillows to give them stability.

Hackbone

On that second one I often lay mom on her back and drape a cloth over her. cut a few hand holes and set the baby on her chest and she can hold them upright and they know mom is there.

Lastolite makes a neat baby pose in various sections http://www.adorama.com/LSBP.html?gclid=CK_o84TcobwCFSzNOgodAXcAXQ

Bryce Wilson

Thanks for the tip.

Wow.

That's one expensive pillow!

Tinstafl

That is a great idea Hack. I use the bucket or wagon or something I can prop them up in.

ian408

What about things like the Bumbo Bumbo which the kid sits in? That's pretty obvious but you get the idea for other items that perform similarly. Props you can assemble that support the kid. Since they cannot easily sit by themselves, some of what you're doing in the first might be your best opportunity.

divamum

I LOVE the setup in #4, Bryce - I think it fills the frame more, which I like. Just lovely!