Photographing newborns... Help!
Sep 23, 2012 01:16:19 #
A friend of mine does babies. take a look at her site to get some ideas. She does have all the lighting gear, bur light is light. From a window or softbox. The big difference is one can control the output and position from studio strobes. But windows work great - you just have to position the subject instead of moving the light(s).
http://www.karenrubin.com/galleries/babies/
http://www.karenrubin.com/galleries/babies/
Sep 23, 2012 01:27:16 #
Sep 23, 2012 01:32:46 #
Newborns are such tiny creatures - and so simple. Consider taking closeups. A hand or a foot. Take a profile or an ear. The little hand holding a finger. Maybe Mom kissing a tiny foot. Available light is preferred. Over time props no longer seem genuine - the baby is oblivious to them.
It is a fun time and a great time to keep it simple
It is a fun time and a great time to keep it simple
Sep 23, 2012 01:50:46 #
Thank you for the tips.. I think your right about keeping it simple and natural.
Sep 23, 2012 03:17:04 #
Sep 23, 2012 05:59:59 #
Somegirl77 wrote:
I'm gonna be taking some photos for a friend within the next month. I have never taken pix of newborns and was wondering if anyone had any advise for photographing these little peanuts. I am new to photography and have no additional lighting other than natural sunshine, and have a Nikon D3000 with a basic 18 - 55mm lens.
I would suggest a new lens, the Nikon version of the 50mm f/1.8. It's a great lens for natural, indoor light photography.
My son's family recently welcomed a new child, now 23 days old and I shot this with my Canon dslr and my 50mm f/1.8 in natural indoor window light.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimsphotostuff/7947455540/in/photostream
The one piece of advice I can give is be ready to reset your ISO. I used
200, 400 and 800 on this shoot. I was also very close to the my grandson, just a couple of feet. I set the camera to program and let it make the exposure / shutter decisions. Because the shutter is slower there could be blur when the child moves but don't give up.
I shot well over 100 shots on this particular day and kept 32 but I was still successful because I got several good ones. The one above is my favorite of him from that day.
Another thing, flash startles babies so I really advise against using it at all.
You'll end up with a crying child and you can imagine what that means.
Good luck. This kind of shooting isn't easy but it can be done. I stress,
get that new lens, you won't regret it.
Sep 23, 2012 06:07:35 #
patvet
Loc: Scotland
I've taken a fair few of my Grandsons when they were tiny - and my favourite is one of my grandsons tiny fingers clutching hold of his Dad's index finger - so don't forget little hands and feet - perhaps with something for comparison. Towelling - white or pale blue works well as background
Sep 23, 2012 06:09:40 #
saichiez
Loc: Beautiful Central Oregon
Bmac wrote:
The only advice I can give you is to wait a few months before you take the pictures. Newborns are mostly expressionless and very ugly. 8-)
HEAVY ON the "Mostly" and on the "Very".
Take a shot... lose a friend. Freeze those ugly little moments in time for posterity. Think...."used to be my friend".
Get a signed model release from the kid.
Sep 23, 2012 06:11:17 #
saichiez
Loc: Beautiful Central Oregon
patvet wrote:
I've taken a fair few of my Grandsons when they were tiny - and my favourite is one of my grandsons tiny fingers clutching hold of his Dad's index finger - so don't forget little hands and feet - perhaps with something for comparison. Towelling - white or pale blue works well as background
Now, that might work. Stay away from the ugly (face) and shoot the cute (fingers).
Do not shoot a flash into a baby's eyes. Those little cones are sensitive.
Oh yes, and get one good one (w flash) of an open, messy diaper on the changing table. Too bad there's no way to preserve that smell. Really tugs at the old memory centers in 15-16 years, and junior and his girlfriend will appreciate the moment frozen in time.
Sep 23, 2012 06:25:20 #
I have been wanting to take photos of newborns myself and it it hard to catch them at that perfect age ..there are endless possibilities to photograph them..I did one in the hospital using just natural light from the window..have the mom or dad hold them on their arm...do their feet with parents wedding bands on the toes..use baby blankets all bunched up and place them on it..look on the Internet ..there are tons of images to copy from..you tube even shows you how..you only need a camera and natural light..use baskets ..place them on floor in a dresser drawer with loads of soft fabric..towels ..take lots of close ups of each part of their face..newborns are so beautiful and the moment to capture that very special very beginning time of anyones life so short..just take loads of photos..
Sep 23, 2012 06:34:22 #
what a great time your going to have, here is a. site that might give you some helpful tips
exposureguide.com
exposureguide.com
Sep 23, 2012 06:56:16 #
I have a new granddaughter and I been taking pictures of her every day. I am not sure how I will put them all together. But a sleeping newborn is the most precious picture you could ever take. As you know sleep and eat is mostly what they do. Here is a sample and the poses are very easy to make because as I said they are usually asleep. I can't attach a picture here. The browse button is not highlighted. I am using my iPad to write this message. I am sorry.
Sep 23, 2012 07:16:45 #
I would say come in close so you really appreciate the baby's small features. Window light is always a winner with possibly something white on the side of the baby away from the window to fill in shadows that may end up too harsh. Some of my favorite photos of my girls when they were infants were taken with a flash pointed up at a white ceiling giving you a giant softbox, especially effective if the baby is lying on it's back.
Andy
Andy
Sep 23, 2012 07:37:23 #
Thank you everyone! Jimmy your grand baby is absolutely gorgeous! Congrats and thank you for sharing! Bmac luckily my friend is very supportive of my new found hobby and realizes I'm not a professional I think it's safe to say she will stick around even if is fail miserably! Ha Ha Ha and u must check out Jimmy's new addition even you could appreciate such a sweet face. :0)
Sep 23, 2012 07:39:49 #
I had my new grandchild and I put a white cotton sheet onto my bed over the headboard and let the baby rest on this. The bed was right next to a big window which gave loads of natural light and just as a fill in light I bounced my flash on 1/2 power off a wall which just took some of the shadows away. Cheap and with good results.
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