I recently had a client wanting photos with the same, and the key I found in my practicing beforehand was to go at the right time of night! The sweet spot is at dusk before the sun is gone and the sky black. It's the best time to get proper exposure of the subject AND the background, and the lights pop out better. Just know that period lasts about 15 minutes, so you need to know what you are doing beforehand and be set up and ready to roll. To get the bokeh, make sure there is a good distance between the model and the lights and use a long lens and open up. Good luck!!

The first 7 days of life is the best time to shoot as they are still flexible enough for curled up shots. Don't worry about expressions...their sleeping shots are the best! Have the family turn the AC down and have a portable heater near the baby....babies have to be much warmer than we do (especially if doing those bare butt shots), so if you aren't uncomfortably warm, it isn't warm enough. Keep a blanket on them until ready to shoot and keep rags, etc nearby as there WILL be "accidents". NO flash...it can hurt their eyes. Position next to a large window with baby's head facing window and use reflectors to light the shadow side. I have attached an image my client took of me photographing her baby that shows a good set up and the resulting photo. Good luck!

Well said, Geff!

Thanks for asking this....I was looking at this last night myself. I agree it's steep and will look into the free you tube videos instead!

For me it was just that the one day for voting I was so busy I didn't even get on my computer and missed it! Perhaps the voting time could be extended into the start of the next theme?

Welcome, Paatashb. I too am 42 and a year ago decided to turn my passion into a career. I asked the advice of the owner of the shop I buy my gear at, and he said to get a job assisting an established photographer...so I did. I have been assisting him for a year now and believe I have learned much I never would have in class, as I see how those lessons translate in a real working studio. Managing workflow, storage and managing the photos, how to get and keep clients...there is so much to learn from someone who has been doing it for years other than the obvious...how to take a great photograph. I now know, however, that as I am only learning HIS techniques and studying HIS style, that I need to get out and take classes to fill in the gaps and to learn things he may not be able to teach me. A combination of these two is the best way to learn...assisting a pro AND classes. You are not too old to go to school any more than you are too old to change careers! I agree with all those who have said to get out and shoot for free...it gives you valuable experience and you learn from trial and error. Doing it for free takes some of the pressure off as well as if you do a horrible job it's not so bad if money didn't exchange hands! Check out meetups.com and see if it exists in your area. There are TONS of meetup groups geared to photography...many with beginning models who want to build a portfolio and will model for free for your free photography-practice and portfolio building for you both. There are other types of groups (photographing kids, animals, landscape, etc) for you to figure out what you ENJOY photographing. In my job for example, I found I do not enjoy working with young children...the most difficult to photograph. I also found that the traditional posing and photography my employer does doesn't excite me and I prefer dramatic lighting and portraits as I am more creative in nature. Just knowing you want to be a photographer is only the start of what you have to learn....you must learn what you want to photograph and to develop your own style to set yourself apart from all the rest. Only practice will help you learn those things.

As far as equipment, you have a good start. I would recommend a 24-105mm lens and a good flash to start. I can't tell you how important lighting is to a professional photograph and there is MUCH to learn. It is what will set you apart from someone that just has a nice camera. You must know how to position it for the best effect and in a way that will flatter your particular subject the best. An off camera secondary light is your next step (lightstand and softbox). A cheap reflector is also a must, but hard to use without an assistant!

Sorry for the long rant, but we are somewhat in the same place in life so I have much advice to give! Feel free to send me a message if you have other questions, and GOOD LUCK!!!

L series lenses are the only way to go. I cheaped out on one of mine and regret it....money lost not money saved. One thing though....I bought a 24-70 and now wish I'd gone with a 24-105 for that extra bit of reach. I work for a professional photographer who has been in the business over 30 years, and that lens rarely comes off his body...it's his workhorse.

Continue your hum-drum with a bit of swagger....you deserve it!

Sorry to hear that and I have no idea if you can get them back, but....learn from this and always backup on an external hard drive!

I also use the 5D MkII, and highly recommend it! You will love the video feature if you do any of that for weddings and events.....it is so good it has been used to film movies. You can video and still take photographs at the same time. Love this camera...go for it!

Tell her if she wants instant gratification to get a Polaroid! The world of digital (especially when they want perfection) just isn't that quick! People don't understand how much work it takes (or how much time is spent) to do the post production work. Next time.....charge at least $40 per hour!!

Not sure what your comment on the bracket meant, but I'm not sure you understand it's purpose. The bracket allows you to turn your camera for a vertical shot and keep your flash top/center. If you shoot vertical shots without a bracket, your flash turns with the camera and causes the flash to hit your subject from the side. This causes ugly shadows. I have resisted purchasing a bracket as it adds more weight to your camera, but I may have to break down and purchase one! The tip about underexposing I'm not sure I agree with. I have more luck correcting overexposed shots than underexposed. Of course, if you're too much on either side of the spectrum, you're out of luck anyway. Make sure to use a hood on your lens to keep sunlight from getting into your lens when you are shooting into the sun (as it sounds you will be when they enter.) If you can see sunlight on the front of your lens, it will destroy the color. Cool coming from the side a bit as it causes lens flare....which I think is fun in some shots! Good luck and YES....post some photos! Have a great trip!

I recently photographed my first newborn and did a lot of research beforehand. My top tips would be:

1. Use natural light-look for a large window and place the baby at an angle where you have a nice shadow side for interest.

2. Make sure the home is heated! A newborn needs to be very warm (you will be sweating by the end of the shoot!) to be comfortable and noone wants a cranky baby to photograph. I had the homeowner turn the AC off and used a space heater near baby and kept a heated throw plugged in. I did a lot of naked shots and kept baby covered until ready to shoot.

3. Be prepared....for poop! Have something tucked under privates as there WILL be accidents. You could keep baby in a diaper if using a blanket to cover, but I did lots of bare butt shots and made sure not to use anything I couldn't wash....good thing too!

4. Someone said to go when baby is wide awake, but I would go at their sleepiest time as sleeping baby shots are the best! They WILL wake up during your moving them around and you will have plenty of time for awake shots. Some of my cutest shots were just candids between mom and baby looking at each other while mom tried to get her back to sleep.

5. Take lots of closeups of little hands, feet, baby's fingers wrapped around mom's, etc. And shoot from different angles....straight overhead, down on their level....be creative and have fun!!

I agree....all these variables to a beginner are very daunting. The 5.6 comment I could have been more clear about, true....I was simply trying to explain the larger number the more depth of field. Since the terms "closing down" "opening up" and "smaller" and "larger" aperatures are very confusing when learning (it always sounds backwards as larger number is smaller ap) I was trying to be clear and not confuse. My apologies.

If you close down to a smaller aperture (about 5.6 or more) you will have more depth of field and get that person in back in focus as well. If you are shooting wide open (2.8 or so....depending on your lens) it gives you less depth of field and only the person you are focused on will come out sharp. When doing portraits, I try to get the subjects on the same plane (same distance from the camera), but you will have to play with your aperture if you can't do this...