You Can't Direct a Baby
You can't direct a baby. What you can do is read the room, direct the parent (or the adult talent), and stay nimble enough to catch the moment when it happens.
Working with babies is part intuition, part logistics puzzle. Backup talent on standby. Time limits on how long a baby can be on set or in front of the camera. A producer you trust completely and are in constant conversation with. I always shoot this work handheld, responding to what's happening rather than fully dictating it.
Controlled chaos, in the most beautiful way.
What comes through is real: a baby's actual reaction, a parent's actual tenderness. It's my favorite kind of work.