Getting a good Eid family photo with a baby

Take it early

The best time for the family photo is late on Eid morning, after prayers and breakfast but before the first wave of guests, the lunch mess and the afternoon nap. Everyone’s clothes are still crisp, the light is soft, and the baby hasn’t yet been passed around twenty laps.

Tell the family the plan the night before: photo at a set time, in a set spot, before anyone leaves the house. Otherwise it gets pushed back until someone has spilled sheer khurma.

If the family is large, take the whole-family photo first, then smaller groups: parents with the baby, the siblings, the grandparents. Nobody’s patience lasts long, least of all a baby’s, so the biggest group goes while everyone is fresh.

Dress the baby last

Get the adults and older children ready first, then feed the baby, change the nappy and dress them in the Eid outfit last, just before the photo. Keep a muslin over the outfit until the camera is ready, and take the bib off at the very last moment.

If the baby is going through a stage of hating clothes, see our post on when a toddler refuses to wear their Eid clothes for ways to make the outfit less of a battle.

Coordinate, don’t clash

You don’t need matching outfits for a good family photo, but a shared palette helps. Choose two or three colours for the family and let the baby wear one of them. If the adults are in pinks and creams, a soft set like the Dusty Rose Ribbed Henley & Jogger Set fits in. If they are in greens and whites, the Sage Waffle-Knit Henley & Jogger Set does the same.

Our guide to matching family Eid outfits explains how to match by colour, fabric or a shared detail, and we can make children’s pieces to go with an adult outfit through custom orders. Whatever you choose, avoid big logos, very busy prints and neon colours on anyone in the frame, since they pull the eye away from faces.

Find good light at home

• Stand facing a large window or an open door, with the light falling on your faces, not behind you.
• A shaded courtyard or veranda gives soft, even light. Avoid harsh midday sun, which makes everyone squint.
• Turn off tube lights if you can; mixed lighting gives skin an odd colour.
• Choose a plain background, such as a wall or a curtain, so the outfits stand out.
• Seat the adult holding the baby in the middle, so the baby is the focus and well supported.

Keep the baby happy

If the baby is tired, don’t fight it. A sleepy baby on a parent’s shoulder with everyone else smiling can turn out to be the picture you love most.

• Time it after a feed and before a nap.
• Have someone stand behind the camera with a rattle or a favourite toy, just above the lens.
• Take lots of shots quickly rather than waiting for the perfect one.
• Check the baby isn’t too warm in a crowded pose, especially with layers on.

Have a backup plan

Babies spit up at the worst moments. Keep a spare top in the same colour nearby so you can swap and carry on. If the photo goes badly, try again in the evening before the dawat; the second attempt is often better.

Sources

The note on checking that a baby isn’t too warm follows general guidance from the NHS and The Lullaby Trust.

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