The Superbaby

How to set up The Superbaby

1. Set the frame before anyone moves. The Superbaby wants a waist-up frame, with 2 people already close enough to touch. A parent lies on the back and lifts the baby above them. Babies love it and the parent's smile reflects back.
2. Get them into the lying shape, then say this once and stop directing: "Lift her up like she's flying and look up into her eyes."
3. While they hold it, make one flatter change and shoot again. Shoot from behind the parent's head so you see the baby's face and the parent's profile.
4. If the first frame feels stiff, do not rebuild the group. Try this next: Baby kisses parent's nose.

Who it suits

The Superbaby is a baby pose. Support and warmth come before the composition. It suits 2 people and a lying down shape. It is beginner: one clear sentence is enough direction. If the group feels crowded, drop to the closest variation instead of backing everyone away from each other.

Where to shoot and how to light it

Shoot The Superbaby indoors (indoor). A sofa, bed, table, window or step you already have is the set. Clear the background directly behind the heads so the newborn photo poses subject stays the subject. You do not need a studio wall.

For The Superbaby, face a window and turn the ceiling light off. Light from the side sculpts faces. Overhead light puts eyes in shadow and flattens the lying shape. If the window is behind them, they will be silhouettes, which is only right when the pose is meant to be a silhouette.

The usual miss on The Superbaby is a gap, a straight line of heads, or a face waiting for the next instruction. Shoot from behind the parent's head so you see the baby's face and the parent's profile. Then take the frame before anyone resets.

Variations

• Baby kisses parent's nose
• Both parents lying side by side
• Gentle bounce for a giggle