Taking great photos of your baby

As you know, though, keeping up with your baby can be quite a challenge. Here are a few baby photography tips to make sure that each shot is perfect, and the memories never fade:

Be prepared

The Boy Scouts were right. Always have your digital camera out and ready to go with your batteries charged so you never miss a moment. Unexpected moments often make the best photos.

Teamwork pays off

One moment, baby is posed perfectly and the next, she's crawling away! Babies are easily distracted, so have a relative or friend keep baby's attention with a toy or noise while you capture the moment.

See eye-to-eye

Don't take photos from grown-up level. Instead, get down to baby's level so that you can catch shots from a new perspective.

Light of your life

Choose or use a camera with Scene Modes. Some digital cameras have pre-programmed settings to capture the perfect picture of baby under difficult situations such as dawn or dusk, bright sunlight or near darkness.

You may never see red-eye again

Baby's bright eyes are more likely to produce "red-eye" so try to choose and use a camera that has the In-Camera Red-Eye Fix feature to show your child's true "baby blues."

It's a family affair

Baby might be the shining star these days, but don't forget the rest of the family. Be sure to jump in some shots yourself .these are the days to remember.

Get more photo advice:

• 10 tips for taking memorable pictures
• Snap-happy Mamas message board: Tips, lessons and more
• Five ways to improve your photos
• More photography features and tips here!