Mummy Shares: Dressing Up and Photographing My Baby for Malaysia Day

I had been planning a photo session for my precious baby girl for months but couldn’t come up with a theme.

Since we are still in the spirit of national month after celebrating National Day at the end of last month and will be celebrating Malaysia Day in less than a week, I thought a national theme is just fantastic.

Not only I have a perfect theme for the photoshoot, but I am also photographing my baby’s first Malaysia Day celebration! Talk about killing two birds with one stone ;p

I thought that a cute mini dress with a Malaysian flag theme design would look adorable on my baby.

At first, I considered finding or making one for her, but I don’t have the time to sew.

I have also looked through almost all online platforms, but could not find one that appeals to me or is made for babies.

So instead, I ordered a romper with Malaysian flags print, along with matching pants, a hairband, socks, and a tutu, all of which were delivered to my house.

What a time saver, right?

Looking at other babies’ photo shoot pictures always makes me feel in awe. Especially the sleeping ones that look like baby dolls!

They are simply adorable, which is why I was excited to dress up my baby for this national theme photography.

Now that I have the opportunity, I find dressing up and photographing babies to be a lot of fun and wonderful.

Nonetheless, I was contemplating whether to take the photos outdoors or inside.

Given the current inclement weather, I decided to hold the photoshoot at home.

My baby is about 6 months old now, so it will be easier to do it indoors anyway.

Without further ado, I’d like to share with you my experience photographing my baby for Malaysia Day.

Part 1: Choosing a Colour Theme for the Photoshoot

Before I made my online purchase, I had to decide what colour of clothing I wanted for my baby’s photoshoot.

Since I’ve chosen the National theme, it makes sense to use colours from the Malaysian flag: red, white, blue, and yellow.

To be honest, I found the colour combinations simply stunning. I love how vibrant the colours are and how well they complement each other.

Back to my online shopping spree: the first thing I looked for was a top, and the only one I found with a Merdeka print design on it was a red romper.

Once I’ve decided on the top clothing, deciding on the colours for the other pieces becomes easier.

And, of course, I had to buy the Malaysian flag for the photography session.

After receiving all of the items, I set a date for the photo shoot.

Now, let’s moved on to the next part of dressing my little precious.

Part 2: Dressing Up My Baby

This is probably the most important part of all because I’ll be dressing up my baby girl in a lot of clothing.

I need to make sure she is comfortable the entire time.

Before I change my baby into her Malaysia Day-themed attire, I make the following checks:

• She has been bathed and feeling fresh for the session
• My baby is well-fed and will not be cranky during the photo shoot
• She doesn’t appear to be sleepy and it’s not yet time for her usual nap
• The clothing materials are soft and comfortable for her, and they will not irritate her skin
• My baby is in good health and in a good mood to continue with the activity
• Have her pacifier, milk, or toys on hand in case she bursts into tears or throws a tantrum

Those are pretty much some of the simple things I do to ensure that my little sunshine is not only adorable but also joyful for this photo shoot.

When she’s dressed in all of her Merdeka-themed garbs, it’s time for some photos!

Part 3: Photographing My Cutie Pie

Since my infant is only six months old, taking sleeping photos similar to newborn photos is nearly impossible.

So, to keep her awake and energetic, I have to entertain her by making funny faces, calling her name, playing peek-a-boo, and so on.

I am proud to say that my little sunshine is behaving so well for this photoshoot.

It appears that she enjoys having a camera pointed at her!

This photoshoot took a lot of time, but the results were priceless.

Here are a few images of my infant daughter wearing outfits in honour of Malaysia Day:

My heart melts every time I look at these photos!

By the way, I am no expert at taking photos. Most of the time, I just wing it.

However, I came across some very useful tips online from Exposure Guide, such as:

1. A baby’s mood and movement are unpredictable, so keep the camera rolling rather than waiting for the perfect pose or moment.
2. Take the photograph during the day, when there is plenty of natural light. Natural light creates a soft-focused look for the baby’s skin.
3. Just use a simple background; avoid cluttered or overly bright backgrounds. The main goal here is to focus more on the baby.
4. Instead of just taking pictures of the baby, take memorable photographs of him or her. Try to get a picture of the baby doing something or with family and friends.

If you enjoy taking pictures, experimenting with the gear and settings used by professionals will make your images more impressive.

You could also take it outdoor to photograph your baby at famous landmarks.

Anyway, for my session, I am just so happy that my little one cooperated really well while I was photographing her.

I can’t wait to do this again for an upcoming special occasion, most likely her birthday or the New Year.

This is a fun experience for me, and I wish that other parents would consider it as well.

This dressing up and photographing session is also a great way to bond with your child and capture those priceless moments for posterity.

If you’re planning a photoshoot, you should also check out these cute baby poses to get ideas for your next baby photography session.

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