Amateur shutterbugs often find themselves wondering how to remove red eye in their baby pictures. Red eye is caused by the flash on your camera reflecting off the retina of a subject's eyes and back into the camera lens. The result makes even the sweetest baby look slightly devilish.
Fixing Baby Photos by Using a Red Eye Removal Pen
If you have your baby photos printed in a lab before adding them to your baby scrapbook, red eye can often be removed for a small fee. However, you can also fix your photos with a red eye removal pen purchased from any major craft store. Red eye removal pens are often located near the scrapbook supplies. Use the pen to darken the red area in your photo, but be careful to work around the catch lights in your child's eyes. (Catch lights are the white highlights in a subject's eyes reflecting from the light source; they give a photo subject a "spark" and sense of personality.)
If your photo includes your baby with a pet, don't attempt to use the red eye removal pen to fix your pet's eyes. The glow in an animal's eyes is slightly green, so a red eye pen will make the eyes seem unnaturally dark. It is best to use a pen made specifically for pet eye correction.
Red Eye Removal on Your Computer
Digital scrapbookers and parents who prefer to print their baby pictures at home can fix red eye by using digital image editing software. Some programs will allow you to select the pupil size and the color you want to use to correct the problem, while others have an automatic red eye removal tool. In Adobe Photoshop Elements 9, for example, the "Enhance" menu contains an "Auto Red Eye Fix" option.
Tips for Avoiding Red Eye in Your Baby Pictures
Although it's possible to fix red eye in pictures you've already taken, it's best to simply avoid this problem in the first place. Since the flash on your camera is what causes red eye, try to avoid the need for flash photography. Take baby photos in brightly lit outdoor areas whenever possible. If you're inside your home, open a window or turn on a few extra lamps to provide sufficient lighting for your baby pictures.
If you must use your flash, using the red eye reduction setting on your digital camera will help eliminate red eye in many situations. The symbol for this setting typically looks like an eye with a lightning bolt through the pupil area. Check your owner's manual for more information.
When taking baby photos, it is best to move in as close as possible. This will result in better composition as well as less risk of red eye. You want to have your subject looking slightly off to the side instead of directly at the camera. For pictures of your baby, try to divert her attention with a rattle or enlist the help of a family member to get her to glance in the appropriate direction.