Evening Newborn Shoot: I offered someone a free newborn shoot (a friend of a friend). I wanted to do more lifestyle work and needed to add to my portfolio. Come to find out she wants...

ohallboyz Loc: Boston, MA

I offered someone a free newborn shoot (a friend of a friend). I wanted to do more lifestyle work and needed to add to my portfolio. Come to find out she wants it in the evening. Usually I would say no to this but I am now wondering if I could make it work.

It will not be typical newborn posey stuff (beanbag, props and all that fun stuff) and I am planning on traveling light. Maybe a backdrop stand and a black or grey background for some shots and my flash/reflector if I have to use it to fill in shadows....and just process them all in black and white (which I love anyway).

Thoughts/suggestions from anyone? Am I crazy?

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

Will there be any natural light at all?
Will the baby be ready for a nap?

I'd be worried that you are going to have to bump your ISO up pretty high if there isn't enough light.

ohallboyz Loc: Boston, MA

I hear ya. First of all, I don't mind noise plus my camera can handle high ISO's pretty well. I actually don't mind if they use lights because I am going to have them be black and white - that way I don't have to worry about different light temps, especially if I want to bounce my flash in addition. This is not typically something I would do, but I do like a challenge. Offering black and white only will make my pp job much easier and I would like to add more b&w's to my portfolio.

However, this is something I've never done. I am all about natural light with newborns.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

ohallboyz wrote:

I hear ya. First of all, I don't mind noise plus ... (show quote)

It's a free session so there's no harm in giving it a go to see what turns out right? I'd just give them a heads up that they are going to be b/w images and if you have to bump that ISO up you can go with "black/white images with a vintage film feel"... ya I've used that one on a free session before.

They actually turned out great, once I embraced the film feel.

ohallboyz Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks Annie, that is the plan. I am leaning towards scrapping it (just because kids are on school vaca this week and I have no time to prepare)but I haven't called it just yet :) Wednesday night will be the only night this week I could do it. :)

TJ28012 Loc: Belmont, NC

I would just bounce a strobe off a white ceiling. I have bounced through a diffuser for a softer result. You will be able to use a low ISO for better results. I have found that a flash used in this manner does not disturb babies or young children. You will be pleased with the results you will get. Watch your WB or shoot raw so you can adjust it later in PP.

Don't cancel a shoot simply because it is outside your comfort zone. Welcome this as a chance to learn something new.

texasmama

Had a question about white balance....what would you set it at?....

TJ28012 wrote:

I would just bounce a strobe off a white ceiling. I have bounced through a diffuser for a softer result. You will be able to use a low ISO for better results. I have found that a flash used in this manner does not disturb babies or young children. You will be pleased with the results you will get. Watch your WB or shoot raw so you can adjust it later in PP.

Don't cancel a shoot simply because it is outside your comfort zone. Welcome this as a chance to learn something new.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

texasmama wrote:

Had a question about white balance....what would y... (show quote)

you can do a custom white balance, I personally shot with cloudly as it gives a nice warm feel, since I shot raw I can make any corrections easily to my WB in post (I use lightroom for my white balance corrections).

texasmama

:)thank you for the hint...iwas playing with it the other evening and notice how it affected the color....i tryed florecent and tried totake a photo of something on my endtable under a florecent light and didnt find that it changed much...i guess i need to work down the list and see where things work best...:)
quote=Annie_Girl]

texasmama wrote:

Had a question about white balance....what would y... (show quote)

you can do a custom white balance, I personally shot with cloudly as it gives a nice warm feel, since I shot raw I can make any corrections easily to my WB in post (I use lightroom for my white balance corrections).[/quote]

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

ohallboyz wrote:

I offered someone a free newborn shoot (a friend o... (show quote)

Here is my suggestion: clamshell or horizontal clamshell lighting set up.

Two speedlights and two stands/umbrellas and triggers.

Nice soft huge light with no shadows to deal with...easy, looks great...and versatile.

The baby can move around and you won't be dealing with lighting direction issues like on Rembrandt or other types of set ups...Once you have the basic placement of the baby...as long as the distance is pretty close....fire away!

It's pretty brainless and is the "go to" lighting for "easy to do"

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

ohallboyz wrote:

However, this is something I've never done. I am all about natural light with newborns.

Or should you say..."I'm all about making the light LOOK like natural light with newborns..."

The light source doesn't matter, it's the "effect" you are after..and light is light. Right?

Put a strobe out the window, shooting through a bed sheet, gelled with a CTO and you have sunrise light....

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

One thing to remember, if you are supplying ALL of the light (ala speedlights) you don't have any "color temp" issues to worry about ...if you are mixing flash and ambient, now you have to think about matching the temp of the ambient light.

One good reason to use all flash.

LColt Loc: Virginia

I do the newborn Photographs at the local hospital where I am and we just bounce the flash off the ceiling from whatever angle we are at. It gives just enough light to make sure the baby can be seen but not too much to where its harsh. The way we set up is by using just 2 pillows in an A shape and draping a plain white sheet over them, it props the baby up for different poses and it is really easy to just move around to get a different angle.
Also, make sure the baby has eaten recently and has had a nap. There is nothing harder than trying to take a newborns photos when they are fussy or hungry.
Good Luck!

ohallboyz Loc: Boston, MA

I decided to scrap this and I got the mother to reschedule for Monday morning. I haven't done many newborns but I haven't had a bad session yet. Hoping to stick to that trend. :)

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

Can't wait to see them. I don't do newborn photography, it takes a skill I do not have. Newborns make me nervous and they can smell fear.