If you have used a photographic service that specializes in portraiture for kids, you already know that it can be an expensive proposition. Furthermore you will only be offered prints from a very limited number of exposures. Even if you like the results (there’s usually at least one photo you have to have) your photographs will look like stock images. There is little creativity displayed in the portraits that come out of studios. After all, if the photographer has known your child for only a few short minutes, how can he or she capture their essence?With a little effort on your part, and some patience, it is possible to create portrait shots of your children, whether infants or toddlers, or older, that really stand out and which you will treasure for decades.Photographing InfantsUntil they can get onto their feet, or han photography basics ds and knees, and make their way out of the frame, you are dealing with an infant. This is the one great advantage that infants offer over toddlers: they aren’t going anywhere, so you can take as much time as you need to get the shot.Contrary to the approach of the professional kids photographer, the one thing you will not need to put together to get started is a studio. But you will need to gain mastery over your lighting conditions. This need not be overly difficult. Look around your home for a large window, preferably a low-set one, through which an abundance of light pours in from outside. Not direct sunlight, of course. If that’s the case, you’ll need to find another window, or do the shoot at another time of the day.You will be using the area in front of the window, about six feet back from it, as your staging area.