Baby Photography

SmileyShazza said:
Have been reading this thread with interest as this is definitely something I'd like to get better at.

As much as I can see why you suggest strobes would be good EOS JD I think that for a beginner like the OP (and myself) they may be a bit advanced. Having only just brought my first flash (430 exII) I need to get used to using that before thinking about going onto more advanced lighting such as strobes etc. As some of the shots on this thread show you can still get good results using other lighting methods.

I would like to know what lenses people recommend for taking the best baby pictures? At the moment I have used my Canon 50mm 1.8 Mark II for my shots but would like some recommendations for other suitable lenses as I find the focussing very hit and miss using the 50mm.

Also are there any courses that concentrate on this kind of portraiture?
Click to expand...

Strobes are actually much easier to use than on-camera flash. Not a bad idea to learn with one light but read any article on lighting and they'll tell you to get the flash off the camera.
 
K-lou said:
Could I be really cheeky and ask if you charged at all while you were practicing? I have a friend who is doing the same and she is charging £20 for two hour session and then all the pictures on the cd for them?

I am just starting out so was not sure if I could or should do that? Thanks so much for your advise, I would love to get a website set up but your right it will all take awhile.

I am going to have a look around and see what sort of flash I can get and what would be best. Thinking of starting a course as well just to get me better at lighting as I am not great at that.

K XX
Click to expand...

God if people are charging £10 per hour for photo sessions we are all doomed !!!!
 
eos jd do you think two radio triggered speedlights on light stands with umbrellas along with a reflector and a backdrop would be good enough to get started with?
 
EOS_JD said:
Proof is in the pudding and Zoes' is a top pudding compared to many I've seen..
Click to expand...

And I always thought I was useless in the kitchen, and here I am without even knowing it I've been making puddings :lol: (thank you, by the way Eos JD)

I shoot in my own studio, but it's a room with a big window (like a patio door on someone's dining room. I shoot my baby stuff in a limited space, again, imagine a dining room on a standard semi detached house. I have a black back drop that I put up, and I shoot all in natural light. I use a table and set everything up on there. Nothing fancy, just me, my 5d and 50mm lens. And a few props. And a baby too .... certainly helps in baby photography! :D

I see no reason to be using strobes, on or off camera (I have all the gear, and I know I get the best results with babies without using any of it).

So for the OP and others wanting to get into baby photography I'd say keep it simple! Use natural light, make sure the parents stay away from the light source so that they don't block your light, and work on baby time - ie, accept that the baby will cry, need a feed, puke, wee, projectile poo, in fact anything at all that makes it tough on you :lol:

And only do it if you love it! In my view it shows in the images if you are taking baby photographs for the sake of getting money, as opposed to loving shooting babies!
 
dubcat said:
eos jd do you think two radio triggered speedlights on light stands with umbrellas along with a reflector and a backdrop would be good enough to get started with?
Click to expand...

It's difficult to advise - A lot can be done in natural light as Zoe shows but we don't all have lovely big windows facing in the right direction :) I like my Elinchrom Octabox as it produces a lovely soft light perfect for shooting babies but I must say I have a lot to learn yet.

Yes you can use a couple of radio triggered speedlights on stands - softbox is easier to control than brollies but if that's what you have you can use them. The number of lights you needs depends on the look you want. For a white background, I use two lights on the background and a light with maybe a reflector on the subject.

But when I see Zoe's images I know I've a lot to learn yet :)
 
EOS_JD said:
That really is a great shot and I'm not sure I could take a shot like that without some form of additional light/modifier. How did you light this? Are you using a reflector or white floor? There's very little shadow under the chin either which is generally what you get from on-camera bounced flash. As the light comes from above, shadows would be cast below any protruding areas like chins, eye sockets etc.

Also looks like there's been some skin softening/lightening too?
Click to expand...

I didn't use any reflectors or light modifiers. Just a 430 EX II pointed at the ceiling is white, the carpet is brown. The mat she is sitting on it grey. The only other light modifier I have is a stofen diffuser but I didn't own it at the time of this shot. Yes I have done some skin softening and applied a slight hilite filter to the image.

No doubt strobes can be used to great effect but I dont think they are essential as I get shots like this in my house with just one flashgun. Using what you have and then tweaking in PS can get great results without the need for extensive lighting.
 
Zoe you got some fantastic shots there, I done my first natural light shoot yesterday and loved it, the clients house had big double patio doors so the light was flooding in :)
I would choose natural light over studio lights but my house is like a cave!!!!!!!

For those who said the skin looks weird, I do run portraiture on skin but reduce the opacity to 50% thanks for pointing it out though ;)

Simon- When I say 'booked up' I only shoot 1 session 2 days a week due to working part-time and having a 1year to run around after! I am also pregnant again so really going to have my hands full soon! It is all friends and friends of friends who I have done so far so not needed to do any advertising yet........

See my Facebook page for yesterdays natural light newborn shoot ;)
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!...om/Kay-Graham-Photography/219549782602?ref=ts got more to add to it yet.
 
KayGraham said:
For those who said the skin looks weird, I do run portraiture on skin but reduce the opacity to 50% thanks for pointing it out though ;)
Click to expand...

Kay I do like the newborn shots you have up :) Cracking shots.

I didn't look at all your images but my comment above was based on some of the "Isabella" shoot that looked overdone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top