baby photo shoot advise please

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peppak

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I must say this is a fantastic site such great advice I have learnt so much just by lurking!!:

anyway I need some advice a friend of mine has asked me to take some photos of her 5 week old baby, some on her own, some with her granparents and a few with her parents, she has seen the work I have done and it tends to be pretty candid, its very rare that I pose people so i dont think she is expecting a studio set up!! I have taken portraits before but this will be my first job as such as I am being payed!!!! the problem is the shoot is happening in her house so not to sure about day light avalibiltiy I am taking my canon 5d and canon 400d lens 85mm f1.8 50mm f1.4 canon 24-105L IS a 580ex speedlite (although only just arrived today so have no idea about that yet!!) a 5 in 1 reflector and some black material-I thought I could lay the baby in it for the single shots, but am also considering a white towel in an empty white bath and putting the baby in as the I have read that this gives great results!?

I could really do with some advice or tips of any kind as I dont want to mess this up should I have some lights? I have only ever worked with natural lighting but I do have a bowen studio kit but dont want to lug that about! been considering a softbox or maybe the diy bowl softbox for my speedlite!

any advice or tip HUGELY appreciated
 
Work with what you know! It would be ridiculous to go with lights and stuff you've never used and have no idea how to use! Doesn't anyone hire a Pro anymore?
 
awp said:
Work with what you know! It would be ridiculous to go with lights and stuff you've never used and have no idea how to use! Doesn't anyone hire a Pro anymore?
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everyone has to start somewhere! and she knows that i am not a pro but has had PRO shots done handed over her cash and they were crap!! I do know how to use the studio set up but tend to always prefer natural lighting. as for the speedlite comment I didnt mean I had no idea how to use I meant I had no idea if i would need it having not been to her house befor but reading it back I could see how it comes across

just after some tips or other suggestions really but thank anyway I think
 
I'd say with baby pictures patience and ear defenders are the two tools you must pack for the day :D

Quick question, is there any truth in the statement "you can hurt a young babies eyes with flash photogrpahy" I've heard bandied about by some of my wives friends?
 
as I said work with what you know - play it safe - try a few different things - you can check the results as you go along on the screen - or take a lap top and let them see what you're doing.
 
sepulchre said:
I'd say with baby pictures patience and ear defenders are the two tools you must pack for the day :D

Quick question, is there any truth in the statement "you can hurt a young babies eyes with flash photogrpahy" I've heard bandied about by some of my wives friends?
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yes you can - if the flash is open and too close. bounce it and you'll be fine
 
i have done a couple of freinds babies and i would say patients i had to arrange a second sitting as the little angels wouldn't go to sleep and only wanted feeding, its much much easier when they are asleep. Also make sure the room or studio is very warm esp if your striping them off. then just take loads keep shooting you'll get some!! good luck xx
 
thank you all so much. never done a baby shoot befor so a bit nervous.
 
Available light has to be the best source for a baby surely..?
Even if it means upping the ISO a little, if there is daylight, then use it !
A reflector is a good idea, and a little timing - try to take pictures when baby is clean and happy, and I guess just fed !
As awp said, go with what you know, and it'll be more fun !
 
If you dont know what it is going to be like until you get there then the only advice i can give is to make sure the baby had been fed and watered before you shoot and that its face is nice and clean as we shoots i have done dry milk has a tendancy to show up more when you get home after taking the photos.

Also as soon as the baby starts to get fed up stop for 5-10 mins and give it a little break.

good luck i hope it all goes well
 
one positive to get from this is that as it is your friend you should be OK to spend as much time as you need to get the shots that they want...you shouldn't be under any time pressure to get the shots, other than the baby getting fed up :)
 
sepulchre said:
Quick question, is there any truth in the statement "you can hurt a young babies eyes with flash photogrpahy" I've heard bandied about by some of my wives friends?
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I very much doubt this is true. If you have a severely brain damaged child then one of the options to try and re-route their brains is called patterning. One of the things that is done is to shine a bright light - torch etc into their eye (one at a time) for a second with a couple of seconds break and do this 30 times a session about 8 times a day so I can't think that a flash would do much harm to a "normal" child.
 
Remind your friend to up the temperature in the house a bit before you do the shoot. Naked or semi-naked baby shots in a cool environment don't mix. :D

And I have to agree with the natural light option. We recently did our first baby shoot and even though I had to use a flash gun on a few shots, most were natural lighting situations.
 
Kerioak said:
I very much doubt this is true. If you have a severely brain damaged child then one of the options to try and re-route their brains is called patterning. One of the things that is done is to shine a bright light - torch etc into their eye (one at a time) for a second with a couple of seconds break and do this 30 times a session about 8 times a day so I can't think that a flash would do much harm to a "normal" child.
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Interesting that

But I have to say NO too - any massive light shot into anyone's eyes is not a good idea - babies or no

Sit in their position - if you hate it, they will. If it blinds you, don't blind them

I think it's called 'being sensible' ??

DD
 
My take .......

As 'new' dad of a 10 week old baby ..... ensure baby has been fed (ideally about an hour before - so not hungry and not too tired). Turn the heating up fully ;) Take a toy or something black and white for them to focus on (NUFC tops work very well :) ). Make sure said friend has lots of cushions - v handy for propping young babies up and draping your material over.

As photographer - all of above and do bounce flash - it can damage young sensitive retinas!!

Cheers

Anth
 
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