How to Photograph Your Baby: Getting Closer with Your Camera and Your Heart [Hardcover]

Nick Kelsh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 26, 1999

Everyone with children -- from expectant parents to grandparents -- wants to take clear, beautiful photographs of their kids and, for the first time, Nick Kelsh shows them how to do it in this accessible, easy-to-follow guide.

In his introduction, Kelsh explains his successful approach to baby portraiture and the techniques he has developed over the years. Then, through nine beautifully designed, fold-out lessons, photographers of all levels are given a foolproof method of mastering baby portraiture. Each accessible lesson includes instructions, dos and donts, visual examples of good and bad techniques, sidebars, and quick tips.

Essential concepts covered include: mastering the close-up, utilizing natural light, ensuring agreeable and compliant subjects, and transforming locations throughout the home, or even the car, into studios for spontaneous photo shoots. Also featured are creative ways to display work and suggestions for unique photography projects.

This invaluable book reveals how to capture the essence of your special baby using the tried and true techniques of a well-known professional.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Taking professional-quality photographs of your favorite baby is within your grasp.

It's amazingly easy and fun-and you don't need a fancy camera.

The basic baby photography techniques and tips provided by Nick Kelsh, renowned photographer and best-selling author of "Naked Babies" and "Siblings," can improve the photography of people at all skill levels. Kelsh's appealing conversational style and "no tech talk" rule make this a book anyone (even sleep-deprived new parents) can learn from and enjoy. Inside find:

- 9 self-contained "lessons" with over 100 tips and ideas in a unique foldout format. Each lesson includes easy-to-follow instructions as well as helpful advice, accompanied by a wealth of visual examples of good and bad picture-taking techniques.

- Foolproof methods guaranteed to make your baby smile for photographs every time, along with Kelsh's "tricks of the trade" that will keep your baby-and you-smiling throughout every photo session.

- Engaging information on topics such as mastering the close-up, utilizing natural light, and transforming locations throughout the home-or even a car-into improvised photo studios.

- Plus: fun ways to display your masterpieces, as well as advanced ideas for people who want to take their picture-taking to a higher level.

Baby photography is easy and enjoyable. It's a promise!

About the Author

NICK KELSH is a renowned photographer whose work has been featured in numerous publications, including on the covers of several books in the prestigious Day in the Life series. He collaborated with author Anna Quindlen to create the best-selling books Naked Babies and Siblings.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang (April 26, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556708955
• ISBN-13: 978-1556708954
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 0.9 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #948,488 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

NICK KELSH is the author/photographer and brains behind www.howtophotographyourbaby.com.

He grew up in Fargo, North Dakota as the second of five babies of Bud and Joyce Kelsh. Nick learned photography on the Leica his dad brought home from World War II and knew he was going to be a professional photographer when he was fifteen.

First Nick wanted to be a war photographer. Then he wanted to be a fashion photographer. Then he wanted to be a photo illustrator, whatever that is. He finally attended the University of Missouri School of Journalism and worked as a photojournalist for several newspapers around the country finishing with The Philadelphia Inquirer. Now he's one of the country's leading experts on baby photography. This makes no sense.

Nick is the author/photographer of nine books including Naked Babies with Anna Quindlen, How to Photograph Your Baby, How to Photograph Your Life, and The Sense of Wonder by Rachel Carson. He has appeared on Oprah! and The Today Show multiple times. His photographs have appeared on several of the covers of the prestigious Day in the Life series and in dozens of major magazines.

He is currently a partner in the Philadelphia-based graphic design firm Kelsh Wilson Design.

Nick's wife, Anne, is the second of five babies of George and Linda Morgan of Walton, New York. He has three sons, Chaz, Alexander, and Teddy -- the incredible, beautiful, smiling face on the How to Photograph Your Baby DVD disc.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! What a wonderful, useful, easy-to-follow book! May 21, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I've been a [semi-]professional photographer for about 15 years, but I've mostly done forensic photography, insurance work, accident scenes, etc. Not a whole lot there to help a soon-to-be dad take a decent picture of a kid. Nick Kelsh gives us three big secrets (one of which will improve all your photos immediately, even if you do nothing else), and a bunch of littler tips which combine into a solid introduction to taking really good photos. Some of these are so simple you will be amazed you never thought of them yourself!

I've liked the work of Nick Kelsh in "Naked Babies" and "Siblings," and I was very excited to see that he's sharing some of his vast experience with us. In addition to being a great "how to" book, the photos themselves are also very nice in and of themselves.

Kelsh does all this while not overwhelming the reader with technical terminology, and in a format that busy (and tired!) parents can read in one sitting -- yet go back to over and over to improve technique.

If you have a kid and you have a camera, you really should have this book!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars QUICK to read GREAT book August 23, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I'm a person who buys a lot of books but doesn't always get around to reading them. It is impossible NOT to read this book. The length and especially the format make it irresistable to read it straight through (in less than an hour). And I had a NEWBORN at the time! The ideas are simple but very helpful and the illustrations completely get the point across. Some of the photos are beautiful enough to justify buying the book and there are plenty of shots which you could replicate before you get in the swing of thinking up your own ideas. Even with the first roll of film, I positively amazed myself with the quality of the photos I took of my new daughter and as I really got the hang of it, I was surprised I could be so creative. I emailed some photos to a friend and her coworkers thought they must have been taken by a professional (or one person thought I must have used a "bluescreen!"). People are asking me to photograph their kids! This is a very basic book written in plain (and sometimes funny) language and the ideas are completely EASY for anyone to follow. There is also an advanced section (which is also easy to read) for when you really get into it -- which is easy with this book. In addition, there are some great suggestions for ways to display your photos. I bought a few other books about photographing children and portrait photography at the same time and while I picked up a few brief ideas, the other books are mostly still lying around, largely unread. This is the only book which I have ever bothered to review (when I went online to buy it for a friend who is pregnant). Whatever the age of your child (or even just to improve your photographs of anyone or anything if you are an amateur) -- I HIGHLY recommend that you buy this book.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Changing the way you capture your baby will change your life November 30, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This book has inspired me to take beautiful photos of my baby when I never thought that I was capable of anything this artistic. I highly reccommend this book- it is fun and easy (and quick) to read, and has many practical applications. Don't miss this opportunity to remember your baby for the rest of your life!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I did it! You can too! December 7, 2000

By Amber Schnell-Davis

Format:Hardcover

My mother-in-law bought me this book. Now, I have to buy it for everyone I own, just so that I can get my own copy back!

I read it in half an hour and I reread it frequently. My pictures have never been better.

I now use 800 film, natural light, no flash and I take a whole roll. Some of my photos are tear jerkers!

This book is a must own for anyone who owns a camera. You don't even need a baby - borrow one.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good, accurate advice, simple to follow, good layout. February 26, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I bought this book as a gift for a friend for his newborn, and was rewarded 2 weeks later with some beautiful pictures he showed me. The book gives simple, easy to follow advise, with good before-and-after example pictures. All completely free from technical language. Beautifull layout; this is a great gift idea!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this and take WAY better pics of your baby. July 9, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This book describes a few simple tips for taking better pictures of your baby--with a REGULAR camera--nothing fancy. He explains a technique and then shows a couple of pictures to illustrate the point (dramatically). I always thought I was bad at taking photographs, but the very first roll I shot after reading this book (which takes just an hour or two) was really really great!! Buy this book before your baby grows up anymore!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple yet revolutionary concepts January 2, 2002

By yarden

Format:Hardcover

This book has a few simple concepts that are sure to revolutionize the way you take pictures (as well as the way you look at people). What could be simpler than the tips found in this book? We can all get closer, turn off the flash, and take a lot of pictures (a few rolls at a time). And yet, with just these basic tips, Nick Kelsh assures us that we will begin to take photos that will be treasured as instant classics.

Kelsh's tone is encouraging, conversational, and assuring. He is part-professional, part-everyphotographer. He is equally comfortable with portrait photography and snapshots. He avoids technical jargon and sticks with phrases we all like to imagine in connection with our own photos: "the envy of all your friends," "compliments on your photos," "people will ask you to photograph their children," and so on. Oh, and the principles within this book extend to photos taken of anyone, not just baby. (In fact, I read Kelsh's book about taking pictures of family, and I prefer this book).

The book is a quick read, and has stunning photos by professionals and amateurs alike. You'll love your first reading of it, and I bet it will become a favorite over time. I'm tempted to buy several copies to give to friends. So don't wait -- get it, read it, and start taking pictures of your loved ones!