Families with Babies

I was surprised that I had taken / made so many portraits of young families w/ babies still in diapers. For a long time I resisted working w/ babies on the Polaroid 20×24. The camera was too slow and my hand/mind was too slow. But little by little, I got less afraid of those babies. Before each shoot, I worry how the shoot will go. How the baby and I and the parents will do. I meditate and work to stay mellow. I pray. And when the baby and parents come to my studio w/ all the gear that is involved w/ babies these days, I stay as calm as I can.

Babies of course don’t know their names and getting them to look at the camera is all up to chance. The 20×24 looks like nothing they have ever seen and if they are looking at ME, they aren’t looking at the lens. To me, each picture of a baby looking anywhere near the camera is a miracle. I love howling babies, but i’ve rarely met a family who wanted to buy a portrait w/ their howling kid. Sleeping maybe. Howling no.