Heritage

Fine art of baby photography

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To Shama who has done this for two years now, little is more. PHOTO | COURTESY

Celebrities have for years made a killing from selling thos precious first images of their children. Others have ‘broken the internet’ posting the adorable images of their infants moments after birth.

The ability of a camera to immortalise the first precious days or weeks of a baby’s life is one all parents go gaga over not to mention cherish for a lifetime.

It is for this reason that Shama Kassim, makes efforts to capture priceless moments that come with pregnancy and milestones of a baby.

This mother of one and a stylist has made it her life’s work to document in a retro and classy style with a touch of African design, the early stages of a child’s life.

For new-born photo sessions, she recommends that it be done within the first 15 days of birth as this is when the baby can be positioned in all those adorable squishy poses.

“Also, note that baby acne tends to kick in around the second week and while I will retouch blemishes out of your final image excessive acne can be difficult to remove entirely,” says Shama whose passion for photography was ignited with being a mother.

Among props used in the new born sessions are blankets, hats, headbands, backdrops and flooring.

Props and lights

If the baby is a girl, depending on the parents’ preference, the theme can be princessive. If it’s a boy and the parents love the violin, they can incorporate the violin theme into the shoot.

To Shama who has done this for two years now, little is more. It explains why her photography leans towards natural and soft-box lights with preference for minimal props.

“At the end of the shoot, what I want to achieve is a photo that would make anyone stop and stare,” she says.

A newborn session would last at least two and a half hours while a milestone session -which typically incorporates light props like benches and buckets- takes at least an hour.

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If it’s a boy and the parents love the violin, they can incorporate the violin theme into the shoot. PHOTO | COURTESY

Birthday photo shoot

For first-birthday sessions Shama prefers outdoor and natural backdrop with props such as shaggy furs, stools, benches and a cake that matches the selected theme.

Here, a few clean photos of the baby are taken before the child gets messy. Her prowess in fine art was sharpened during her four-year stint at an advertising agency where she mastered the art of creative thinking.

Occasionally, she visits antique and fabric shops to pick items that inspire her creativity. These are the things that Shama has at her home studio where some of the photo sessions take pace.

The soft skills in designing she picked from watching her mom who is a designer by profession.

“But really what made me venture into this niche of photography is the difficulty I had finding someone who could capture my pregnancy and newborn moments professionally,” she says.

Career change

She quit her job in the advertising industry to raise her daughter, capture her development milestones and give new parents timeless pieces in the form of photography.

Prior to the real shoot, clients are briefed and asked to share their preferences and desires before signing of contract.

As a prop master, Shama guides the photographer on unique angles that would best capture the special moments.