Aren??t baby photographs just the best? They bring back good memories, make you laugh, look fantastic on greeting cards and are probably one of the toughest pictures to take.

All of us have to photograph a baby some time or the other in our lives. Be it our little cousin bro.s son, the neighbours little one or our own bundle of joy. Photographing baby??s is just one of those things you have to do sooner or later.

However, for a job which so ordinary and regular it is far too underestimated. Not too many people really know the nuances of taking a good baby picture. Even a lot of photographers who will probably make your little ol?? grandmother look like Sandra Bullock in brilliantly shot photographs tend to get a little flumoxed when it comes to babies.

Below therefore we compile a list of the things you need to do in order to get that perfect shot of a little one, read on:

First things first. Make sure your camera is loaded up with fresh new batteries. Get your CF card ready in case of a digi-cam.

Get a fresh new roll of film if you are using a regular camera. Ensure that the film is new, not something which has been lying around somewhere for the last few months.

Make sure the film is at a constant temperature.

Use pastel shades, soft light, softer focus etc, when photographing little ones. These will ensure that the photograph??s primary focus remains on the child and doen??t get disturbed by other peripheral objects like the background or clothes.

When choosing what clothes to photograph your baby in remember to go for something which will show of your child??s nice healthy rotundity. The beautiful rounded hands and legs all work very well in baby pictures.

Make sure you pay enough attention to the child??s limbs these are in general very picturesque and look great in photographs.

Make sure your lights are soft else they will make the baby squint and look awful in the picture. If you are photographing indoors put your baby next to the window or under some dim light, like say a night lamp. While shooting outdoors remember to check the level of light available. The light during sundown,or twilight or right at the time of dawn are ideally the best sort of illumination required for photographing a baby.

Make sure your baby is well-rested, fed and bathed when you are taking his/her pictures else you will end up capturing a dirty, cranky, crying baby on film.

While developing the photographs remember to keep enough prints for all members of the family (I would advice you to write all their names down in advance).

Make sure you date or mark your photographs in some way since baby photographs just keep coming once you have a new baby in the house. Under the circumstances therefore some sort of labelling or means of compilation is important.

Be careful with how you store your CD or negatives. Keep them in a moisture free environment.

Select your favourite snap and put it in your album as as possible to keep your collection up to date.

Photographing a baby is an important part of watching him/her grow up. To ensure you get all the shots of little exciting moments which you are likely to lose track of keep a portable camera handy in his/her diaper bag or some such place you will have immediate access to. And then when he/she gives you their first toothy grin,or takes their first shaky step you will be ready with your camera eager to say cheese.