Amanda Dams is one of the top-ranked newborn photographers in Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby and Surrey. She is specialized in baby photography, cake smash photography and newborn photography.

05.18.22

5 Tips for Taking Awesome Photos of Your Baby

In the first year of their baby’s life, parents feel the need to document everything. And let’s be honest, it isn’t exactly easy to take a decent photo of your little one. Whether you are using an old point-and-shoot camera, or your smartphone; finding that perfect moment and snapping a picture is easier said than done. However, keeping these tips in mind will help make taking photos of your baby a little less stressful! Not everyone has a natural knack for photography, but with practice and patience, anyone can master the art of snapping shots. It’s not only about having the right camera or lighting setup; it’s about getting comfortable with your equipment and knowing what poses and angles look best. Here are five tips to get you started on snapping awesome photos of your baby:

Be prepared and know your equipment

1. Get comfortable with your camera and other equipment. A good way to start is by reading your camera’s manual or watching tutorials on YouTube. Learning how to use your camera will not only give you more confidence when taking pictures but also help you take better pictures.

2. Have a plan for the baby photography session before starting. Knowing what you want to capture in the photos is crucial for any photographer, and even more so for first-time parents who are learning the ropes of photography themselves. Make sure you know what poses and angles will look best before taking a picture, or at least have an idea of where your baby is most photogenic so that you can take advantage of their natural grins and coos!

3. Prepare an area where you can take photos with fewer background distractions than your living room or kitchen countertop. A well-lit area like a white sheet hung over a doorway or an empty wall might be just the trick to eliminate all those little distractions that ruin an otherwise perfect photo opportunity!

4. Capture happy moments as they happen – don’t wait too long! It may not be easy to get your baby to smile, but it pays off in spades when they do! Try using some funny faces or tickles (they love being tickled!) to get them into that happy mood for a moment without having to rely on their own grinning abilities!

Natural light is your best friend

In the first year of a baby’s life, they change so much that it is important to document every little detail. The easiest way to do this is by using natural lighting in your home or outdoors. The best place to take pictures in your home is near a window with light coming through. Try playing with different angles and poses for the best shot. When photographing your baby outdoors, find a shaded area with a lot of light from the sun and snap away!

Don’t be afraid to try new things

Don’t be afraid to try new things! If you have a new camera and are unsure of the different functions, play around with it. Try different poses, different angles, and all sorts of crazy ideas, because you never know what might work out.

Don’t forget the details

Have you ever been faced with the question, “What should I wear?” This can be a tricky question to answer when it comes to taking photos of your baby. You want to look casual and comfortable, but not too sloppy or too preppy. You also want your outfit to match the location you are in and the mood you are trying to capture. There is no one right answer, however, if you are looking for an easy way out; try wearing neutral colours! It will never go out of style and is universally flattering. This can be a good idea if you don’t have time to think about what to wear or if your child is napping and won’t cooperate with certain clothes.

Stay safe and have fun!

First, make sure that your space is safe for you and the baby. Staying organised and having a clear area to shoot in will help you keep yourself and the baby safe from any accidents. Always keep very young children close to you or on a surface that isn’t too high as they are still learning how to walk. Second, get creative! The best photos will be the ones that show your family’s personality and interests. Showcase your child’s favourite animal, toy or outfit in their favourite activities. Include personal items around the house to represent your family’s life together. Third, remember to take lots of pictures! You might not have time to retake a photo if they aren’t turning out right so it’s important to take many shots in order to capture that perfect moment!

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05.10.22

How to Create the Perfect Cake Smash Photo Shoot

by Amanda Dams

When it comes to capturing your baby’s first birthday, there’s no better way than a cake smash photo shoot. And the best way to make it happen is by having a cake smash baby photo shoot. A cake smash photo shoot is an ideal way to capture all the beautiful moments from your baby’s first birthday. It will give the parents and the grandparents a chance to relive the happy moments of your baby’s first birthday party. But with such a huge milestone, you might have overlooked some details as well. That’s why planning a cake smash baby photo shoot is an excellent way to capture every memory. While planning a cake smash photo shoot, you will need to follow a few simple steps.

Decide on the theme of your cake smash baby photo shoot

Cake smash photo shoots are all about capturing the moment when your baby has their first cake. So, before you go ahead and plan your cake smash baby photo shoot, you need to decide on the theme of the shoot. There are different themes that can be used for cake smash photo shoots. I offer many preselected themes in case you are not sure or don’t have anything specific in mind. Also, I can create something unique and special if you have something in your mind already. The important thing is to pick the theme that matches your taste and preference.

Decide on the time of day for your baby’s cake smash photo shoot

The time of day is a very important factor to keep in mind. We are dealing with babies and nap time is a HUGE factor in the photo session success. We always book the cake smash photo session right after nap time.

Prepare props for your cake smash baby photo shoot

Preparing props for your cake smash baby photo shoot is essential. Whether you want to go with a pre-selected theme or not, I’ll pick the right props that go well with the theme. You would also need to think about additional props — something that you have and really want to be used in the pictures—or something that will be included in the scene of your photo shoot.

Get ready for the mess

The first step would involve getting ready for the mess. One thing parents don’t realize at first is that their little one will get messy, and he/she will for sure run for their arms sometime during the session. An extra pair of clothing is great to have. A key thing to note is that it’s best if the cake has a few flavours so that the baby can enjoy eating it too. Place the cake in front of the baby and let them eat as much as they want to. You should also make sure that you wear old clothes because this will be messy and you don’t want your clothes stained with food colours.

A well-deserved bath

When it comes to capturing the cake smash photo shoot, the last and one of the funniest moments for the babies is the bathtub. It’s a great way to wash the baby while they keep having fun. It’s also a great moment when I take candid photos. The cake smash baby photo shoot is a great way to get your baby’s first birthday captured in an elegant way. It’s a tangible reminder of how much your baby has grown and will help your family remember these happy times forever!

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04.28.22

How to Take the Perfect Family Photo: 8 Tips On How To Capture Your Babies’ Cuteness

by Amanda Dams

The most magical time of your life is also the most exhausting. So much to do and so little time. Family photography is a perfect opportunity to capture all the moments of your lives, and the cutest photos of your little ones aren’t difficult to nail. All you need is a little bit of patience and some tips on how to make a perfect family photo. Read on to learn how to take a family photo that everyone in the family will love.

Make Everyone Look Their Best

The first step in taking a family photo is to look your best! Yes, yes, we’re totally aware that mom and dad are going to need to be presentable in order for their little ones to look their best as well. And, no, we’re not trying to get a fashion spread in the next issue of Vogue! We’re just saying that you need to look your best so that Amanda can capture the best photos possible. And we can’t forget to make your children’s eyes sparkle! This will make Amanda’s job much easier. And, most importantly, it will make your photos adorable!

Be Ready for a Family Photo With A Plan

Before you head out to take your family photos, it’s a good idea to have a plan in mind. This will help you get everything set up and ready to go before you head out the door. You want to be ready with a plan so that you don’t end up racing around the day of the shoot trying to get everything done on time. You want to make sure that you have plenty of time to get ready for the shoot and that you’re not rushing around trying to finish up all of your errands before the shoot starts. This will make your family photos much more successful. Take the day for the family photo shoot, and don’t worry about anything else.

Get Indoors or Outdoors, they both work great

It may be nice outside on a nice sunny day, but it’s a lot easier to get a great family photo indoors. You don’t have to be limited by the weather conditions, which is nice if you have a time crunch or if you just don’t feel like standing outside in the hot sun for a few hours. Indoors also allows you to take advantage of any background you have available. So many people are too timid to take advantage of their home’s background, or they see it as an opportunity to get rid of all their stuff and create a blank canvas. But you can definitely use your home’s background to make your photos more interesting, especially if you have a large enough space.

Find A Good Spot

Finding a good spot for your family photo shoot isn’t always as easy as it sounds. You want to find a good spot that works for you and your family because this will give you the best shot at creating great family photos. You may want to find a good spot in your backyard or the space near the pool. You may want to find a good spot near a park or in front of a historic building. There are tons of good spots in the city where we can take great family photos, and we will decide on a location together prior to your family photography session.

Get Posing… or not

When it comes to posing your family for a photo, you definitely want to take advantage of the fact that you have your little ones in the pose. They may not be able to walk, run, or skip in their very first steps, but they can pose! You may want to take advantage of your kids’ poses. But if we are doing outdoor family photography, candid photos look just as great. The kids can play around and the whole family can have fun together.

Make Your Photos Interactive

You may think that you need to get your photos as quickly and thoroughly as possible, but you don’t! You don’t need to rush through your family photo shoot. You don’t need to feel rushed or pressured in any way. You need to take your time with your photos. You need to take the time to look around and take in your surroundings. You need to take the time to smile and beam at your loved ones. You need to take the time to be present and to really enjoy being in the moment with your family.

Talk About What’s happening In The Family Photo

One of the best things you can do while posing for your family photos is to talk about what’s happening in the photo. This is one of those tips that could help you save time, but more importantly, it is a great way for you to enjoy the photo shoot and to make the photos more memorable. The kids will know what to expect, and they will feel like being part of the photo shoot. You don’t have to be a robot while posing for your family photos, so take the time to talk about the photo, and you’ll enjoy the experience much more.

Try An Out-of-the-box Family Photo

One of the things that you may want to try while posing for your family photos is an out-of-the-box shot. These types of shots are often more creative than traditional poses, and they can often lead to more creative photo captions. Whether you want to try something out-of-the-box with the setting, the pose, or both, an out-of-the-box pose can be a great way to make your photos more interesting. You don’t have to stick to the poses that you’ve seen in other photos, so don’t be afraid to try something new and different.

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04.25.22

How to Find a Good Maternity Photographer for Your Pregnancy Photos

by Amanda Dams

Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful times in your life. It’s also the most memorable time of your life, especially when it’s your first. You’ll look back on this time for the rest of your life, so why not make sure your photos are capturing the greatest memories of your pregnancy? If you’re planning on having photos taken of your pregnancy, you’re probably looking for the best maternity photography as well. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of helpful tips on how to find a good maternity photographer for your maternity photos. Not only will these tips help you find the right photographer, but they’ll also help you show off your pregnancy like a pro.

Ask Google

First, you should start your search on google. Most maternity photographers have a website and a social media presence. You can use these to ask questions and learn more about a potential photographer before you even contact them.

Look at Reviews

Next, you should check out online reviews. While you should always trust your gut on whether or not to hire someone, online reviews can be helpful when narrowing down your search. You might think of going looking for reviews on websites like Wedding Wire and The Knot– but as I’ll mention later below – wedding photographers are not maternity photographers. Google is the easiest and most trustful place to look for online reviews. You can always ask your friends and family for their advice!

amanda dams photography maternity christina

Check out the Portfolio

After you’ve done your research, it’s time to look at their maternity photography portfolio! This is a great way to get a feel for their work before you even meet in person. You can quickly go through their website portfolio to get an idea of their style. You can also try to reach out to a few photographers to get feedback on them before you decide on your favourites. This can help you narrow down your search and get a feel for their personality before you even contact them.

Hire a Professional You Trust

After you’ve found a few potential photographers, it’s time to hire a professional! Whether it be a recommendation from a friend, an online review, or another maternity photographer, find someone you trust to give you insight on your potential options. Trust is very important when hiring a professional, so don’t be afraid to ask for advice!

Make Sure the Photographer is Comfortable With Pregnancy Photos

One of the most important things to keep in mind when hiring a photographer is to make sure they’re comfortable with pregnancy photos! This is especially important if you’re planning on doing maternity photos. Most photographers are willing to work with you, but they may not be specialized in maternity shots. I specialized in maternity photography as well as newborn baby photography, but if someone contacts me to do some product photography, I will do my best to recommend them a specialized photographer than trying to do it all! You don’t want to hire a photographer who isn’t comfortable with the type of photography you are looking for.

You are ready!

Congratulations on getting to this point! If you’re reading this, it means you are ready to start your search. We’ve gone over a ton of information to help you find a good maternity photographer. The most important thing to keep in mind is that while your pregnancy is a time full of beautiful moments, it’s also a time full of change. Congratulations on your pregnancy, and congratulations on finding a great photographer!

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04.18.22

The Best Photography Tips for Newborns: A Complete Guide to Taking Amazing Photos

by Amanda Dams

The idea of newborn photography may seem scary and overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be! Getting the perfect shots of your little one takes a bit of preparation, but the results are worth it. After all, those photos will last a lifetime and record the most special moments of their lives. Ready to learn how to take great photos of your newborn? Great! In this article, you’ll find the best photography tips for capturing your baby’s precious moments as well as the gear you’ll need to pull it off.

What is newborn photography?

Newborn photography is simply the process of taking pictures of a baby’s first few weeks. Typically, these photos are for keepsakes, but they can also be used for marketing and promotional purposes.

Newborns are the most delicate and precious of all people. They often don’t have much of their own strength yet, and their bodies are completely reliant on you and their family to care for them. This is definitely a rewarding experience.

Newborns are often the center of attention and are getting used to being held or cuddled. They also aren’t used to being very mobile yet, and they have very special needs that can make taking good photos challenging. These are all reasons why it’s so important to prepare for newborn photography.

Why take photos of your newborn?

Taking the time to photograph your newborn is an important part of the whole experience. Not only does it allow you to document the sweetest moments, but it will also come in handy down the road when you realize how quickly babies change.

New parents are usually tired, getting used to this new experience and learning a lot – I mean A LOT – with these little guys. Taking some professional shots now will help with this without much effort.

What gear do you need for newborn photography?

For the most part, newborn photography only requires a few pieces of gear. Of course, the look and feel of your photos will depend on your kit, but these are the essentials.

– Camera – While you can get by with just about any camera, the best cameras for newborn photography are the ones that are specifically designed for professional photography. These will have the best image quality and will be able to capture your baby in its most vulnerable state. I photograph all my sessions with a Canon R6.

– Lens – For baby photography at my studio, I use the Canon RF 28-70mm f2 L USM Lens. It is a great lens as I can have a variety of zoom ranges without having to change lenses during the photo session.

– Lighting – With all of the action that comes with taking photos of a newborn, it’s easy to forget to focus on the baby. A good setup will include lights designed specifically for newborn photography to help you get those perfect shots.

– Backgrounds – Since newborns are often lying in a bed or wrapped in a blanket, you’ll need something to put behind them.

– Baby items – Accessories can make a good photo even better. A few baby items can bring a great photo to life and help you get the best shots.

Get ready for newborn photography

Like any other type of photography, newborn photography requires a bit of planning. Here are a few things you’ll want to do before you start.

– Read up on newborn photography – While these tips will help you out as you get ready for newborn photography, you’ll still need to do your research. There are a few different aspects to newborn photography, and you’ll want to familiarize yourself with them all.

– Prepare your baby – Babies can be fussy, and you want to make sure that you’re prepared for any tantrums or fussiness. Stock up on diapers, wipes, and breast milk (or formula), a full baby is a happy baby!

– Get your newborn photos taken – Newborn photography is all about documenting your baby’s first few weeks. While you can take your own photos and edit them, it’s best to get them professionally taken.

Tips for taking great photos of your newborn

While newborn photography might seem like a daunting task, you can take some steps to make it easier on yourself. Here are some great tips to help you get the best photos of your newborn.

– Create a safe environment – When you’re trying to get good photos of your newborn, you have to make sure that your environment is safe. This means making sure that there’s nothing in your home or in the photos that could pose a danger to your baby.

– Dress your newborn – This one seems like common sense, but it’s still an important tip. I offer many adorable newborn clothes that will look great in the photos!

– Get creative – This is what I like the most! No two sessions are the same. Each baby will like some posings better than other ones, you have to feel and find out in the first minutes when taking the first photos.

In the end, newborn photography is all about capturing those special moments. Whether you’re trying to document your baby’s first steps or their first smiles, there’s nothing like those sweet first moments.

If you’re ready to take those photos and make them better than ever before, you can’t go wrong with professional newborn photography. With these tips and the right gear, you’ll be ready to capture the most amazing moments of your baby’s life.

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Blog

5 Tips for Taking Awesome Photos of Your Baby

How to Create the Perfect Cake Smash Photo Shoot

How to Take the Perfect Family Photo: 8 Tips On How To Capture Your Babies’ Cuteness

Make Everyone Look Their Best

Be Ready for a Family Photo With A Plan

Get Indoors or Outdoors, they both work great

Find A Good Spot

Get Posing… or not

Make Your Photos Interactive

Talk About What’s happening In The Family Photo

Try An Out-of-the-box Family Photo

How to Find a Good Maternity Photographer for Your Pregnancy Photos

Ask Google

Look at Reviews

Check out the Portfolio

Hire a Professional You Trust

Make Sure the Photographer is Comfortable With Pregnancy Photos

You are ready!

The Best Photography Tips for Newborns: A Complete Guide to Taking Amazing Photos

What is newborn photography?

Why take photos of your newborn?

What gear do you need for newborn photography?

Get ready for newborn photography

Tips for taking great photos of your newborn

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