How to get a baby to look at the camera

Babies do not take direction. What helps is soft light, a low angle, a sound right next to the lens and, if you have it, a screen worth looking at.

Set the scene before you lift the phone

A baby looks at the camera when something interesting happens beside it and nothing else is competing. Most of the work is arranging that.

Pick your moment

Try a time when your baby is fed, rested and awake. Ten relaxed minutes beat an hour with a tired baby. At the first sign of grumpiness, stop. The photos will still be there after a nap.

Use window light

Place the baby near a window, facing it, with the light falling on their face. Daylight is soft, kind to skin and bright enough to keep things sharp. We would skip the flash close to a baby's face: daylight does the job without the glare.

Get down to their level

Kneel or lie on the floor so the lens sits at eye level or just above. Shooting from standing height gives you the top of a head and a lot of carpet. Keep the baby on a safe floor space or in someone's arms, and never leave a baby alone on a sofa, bed or changing table for the sake of a photo.

Put the noise next to the lens

Babies turn toward sound. If the rattle, the squeaker or your silliest voice comes from right beside the lens, their eyes follow it there. A second adult makes this far easier: one person entertains, the other shoots.

Shoot several frames and be patient

The look you want lasts a fraction of a second. Rather than waiting for one perfect moment, shoot several frames as the baby turns toward you and choose the keeper afterwards.

Give them something to look at

This is where AnyFront comes in. On an iPhone Duo, while the phone is open and the AnyFront camera is running, the cover screen faces the person you are photographing. You watch the viewfinder on the inner screen; the baby gets a screen of their own to look at.

You choose what it shows: a favorite photo or video from your library (a familiar face is a good bet), one of eight original attention animations such as Bubbles, Peekaboo or Fish Tank, or a live mirror, so they can see themselves in the frame. Not every baby will be fascinated by their own reflection, so treat it as something to try.

You can switch between them from the inner screen, in the Cover Screen sheet, without leaving the camera. If the fish stop holding their attention, try a video of Grandma. Keep the phone out of reach of grabbing hands.

The Fish Tank animation on the cover screen, as the person in front of the phone sees it.

The Cover Screen sheet on the inner screen: a Show on cover screen switch, tabs for Grabbers, Photo, Video and Mirror, and the eight animation tiles.

To be plain about cost: the manual camera is free on every compatible iPhone, and the cover-screen extras are a one-time unlock on iPhone Duo. The cover screen is live only while the phone is unfolded and the camera is running. For the full picture, see the cover-screen camera page and the feature list.

Manual controls that help with a wiggly baby

A faster shutter for flailing arms

Small hands move quickly. Choose SHUTTER in the control row and try about 1/250 s or faster to freeze them. A faster shutter lets in less light, so you may need to raise ISO a little indoors. A touch of grain beats a blurry smile.

Exposure compensation for bright windows

If the baby sits in front of a window, the camera may expose for the bright glass and leave the face dark. Raise EV (exposure compensation) until the face looks right, and check the live histogram and zebras so the window does not wash out entirely.

Check the eyes with focus peaking

Focus peaking highlights the edges that are in focus. Look for it on the eyes and lashes, not the nose or the ear. Once the eyes are sharp, use AE/AF lock so the camera stops hunting while you wait for that look.

An iPhone viewfinder with zebras marking the bright sun and focus peaking outlining the horizon.

White balance for lamp light

Evening lamps can turn skin orange. Adjust white balance (temperature and tint) until skin looks like skin.

Quick checklist

Baby fed, rested and in a good mood.
Soft window light on their face, no flash close to their eyes.
Lens at eye level or a little above, baby safe on the floor or in arms.
Sound or toy right beside the lens, ideally with a helper.
Shutter around 1/250 s or faster for movement.
EV raised if the background is brighter than the face.
Focus peaking on the eyes, then AE/AF lock.
Shoot several frames, stop after a few minutes.

The short version

Good light, a low angle and a sound beside the lens do most of the work; a screen to look at does the rest. Babies grow into toddlers fast, so when you are ready, read photographing toddlers and kids. Got a furry family member as well? See how to get a dog or cat to look at the camera. Want to be in the picture yourself? Try selfies with the rear cameras. Questions? The FAQ has answers.