I'm not an "Anne Geddes" style photographer. Babies in vegetables, in flower pots and in other unexpected places aren't my thing. I've had my stint with baskets (and still enjoy them for a newborn) but what I really like to capture is little ones being little ones. A minimal amount of intervention that lets the child be who s/he is. 

This nearly 6-month old was as sweet as can be. His temperament was calm, easy going, and warm. He would sit and smile. He was easily engaged.  We took loads of photos.

And then I added this wooden old box. I thought maybe he'd hold himself up on it so he would stand in all his cuteness and we could see the outfit and cute moccasins. But what he did was to launch up on it "superman" style. 

We started to laugh. The last time I laughed this hard in the studio was with a rambunctious 4 year old girl, and I hit my forehead with the camera (and still have a lump) so this time, I brilliantly put the camera down. Catching my breath, I suggested to the mom that rather than have him balance on the edge that she try shifting him more fully on the box.

And I began to click.

It's all timing. The string of baby drool is at least four inches long when he looked right at the camera. The round shape of his head, his large round eyes and the drool. There it is. Not exactly what I expected, but more than I could have planned. Natural, unposed and completely 6 month old amazing.

Give a Baby a Box
Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/200, ISO 200, Tamron 24-70 f2.8 lens, in studio with 2 lights