If you wish to snap on a baby, prepare your self on the following component:

1. A large memory card storage
2. DSLR with correct ISO exposure and make sure you are using auto focus.
3. Get an assistant (Probably baby’s mother or someone she/he is fond of)
4. Get some toys to attract the baby’s attention

Shooting a 6-12 months old baby is kinda challenging. This is due to the baby can crawl, move around and do not understand what you are saying to him/her.

However, the best results from this is that you can get the pure and original facial expression which is precious. When shooting, your assistant will take an important role where he/she will need to find a way to attract the baby attention towards you. And you as a photographer, try to find more angles by moving around and trying on the lens.

If you are skillful enough, definitely yo can play around with the aperture or others features in your camera for special effects.

Here is some hint on taking a baby photograph:

1. close up potrait
2. shoot with wide angle
3. shoot together with mom

Baby skin is smooth and soft which is a natural gift for him/her. You may have no problem on shooting close up to the baby’s face. Even you might not need to spend time to do touch up like what you need to do for the adults.

Most important thing of all, make sure the baby is good in mood. For my baby, she is in a very good mood just right after she wake up from sleep.

Just share with you on my baby photos which taken using my EOS:

I been to the Penang Toy Museum, which is located near Paradise hotel. For those who likes to snap static object, you may consider to visit this Museum. Though it is a small museum, but it do have a lot toys in various sizes and time. Many toys in this museum reminds me on many sweet memories when I was small as that is the cartoon charaters that I watched.

Their toys is updated when I was there, you can even see the smeagol (Lord of the Ring) statue there. They do have characters like batman, starwars, doraemon, pooh, popeye and etc. They do have Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, Mr Bean and some other movie actors’ miniature as well.

I spend the entire noon from 1pm to 6pm just to take all the shots.

There is a biggest challenge when I am in there…the place is having low light and all the toys are kept in the cabinet covered by a transparent pastic which will reflects your camera flashes. I know it can be easier with tripods, unfortunately, I forget to bring one. Further more, the passage in the museum is kinda narrow which is not suitable for tripods as you will be blocking other visitors as well.

To prevent the image snapped under exposed due to low light and to prevent reflection, I snap the toys closely and uses my flash gun instead of the built in flash. This is for me to be able to adjust how the flash light going to flash the object.

If you wish to learn on the AV and TV function, this is the right time where you can practice and try out the combination without using flash light.

Here is some of my collections for the toy snapping:

Different users having different needs on the accessories. Some wish to snap micro object, definitely Macro lenses will be in their list when purchasing it. Some wish to snap object far a way when they can zoom, then the telephoto lense will be in their list.

However, among all the accessories in the list, below is the basic accessories which I recommend you to have if you do own a DSLR camera:

1. Basic lense. At least 18 - 55mm lense.
2. Camera Bag ( Keep your camera and accessories ..lol )
3. Lense cleaning set and blower ( Use it when the lense is dirty )
4. Tripod ( For better still photos )
5. UV Filter ( Protect your lense from scracthes or liquid )
6. Flash gun ( optional )
7. Extra batteries ( optional )

After getting the basic needs, subscribes for Digital photography magazines to learn new techniques. Practice is the most important of all. Try all the features your DLSR is having and familiarize it.

As the time passes by, your accessories list will grow when you wish to explore indepth on photography worlds where you will find that the basic accessories no longer satisfied your desire.

There are a bunch of digital cameras out there which do has its own unique selling point. To choose which camera suits you best, the first thing you will need to do is to ask your self on some various questions such as :

1. What is the size and weight of the camera?
2. What are the features in the camera that you desire?
3. What is your budget?
4. What is the purpose that you need a camera for?
5. What is the physical criteria that the camera that you need?

Of course, the available digital camera out there might not have all the criteria or features that you are looking for, there for it is up to your decision on weighing which feature or criteria which is important to you when using the camera.

Choosing a camera is like choosing your life partner as well, choose the one which you will not regret after the buying. The most but not least, the digital users concern about is the quality of the image taken during day and night.

When doing a survey online, search for the feedbacks on those user who already use the digital camera models that you wish to buy. I would suggest that you go to the shop and experience live. You may also request them to transfer the testing image taken to their computer so that u can see how the real quality is rather than just rate it by the small screen the camera is having.

Here is some models that you may be consider about:

1. Sony DSC-T2/B Cyber-shot T2
2. Sony DSC-T100/B Digital CameraDSC-T100
3. Canon Powershot Pro

If you wish to shoot like professionals who snaps photos in studio, what you are looking for will be DSLR cameras. DSLR Cameras itself is not expensive, the body may range from RM 1699 and above depending on which categories or features that you are looking for. The most expensive part will be the accessories such as lenses, flashes, bouncer, and etc.. You will wont be using the same kit forever and if you do, please dont buy DSLR.

For me, I choose Canon. Due to my budget and limited skills on photography, I started with low entry DSLR which is EOS 350D (now, 10 April 2008, Canon is launching EOS 450D). The DLSR costs me RM3600 with some basic accessories. It was a great feeling when using the DSLR. The fast snaps over the camera and manual adjustable lenses will definitely enlighten you and there will be no way you wish to switch to non-slr cameras.�