Baby photos..... the cutesy wootsy kind.

[Donki]

Firstly long time no speak,

I have hardly had tiem to pick up my camera with any real project in mind for months but I am due my first born in 8 weeks time.

The wife wants the kind with hats while sleeping and being posed in all kinds ways, hats etc. Now Im prtty poor knowledge wise when it comes to lighing I mainly use on camera flash bouced off the ceiling or a wall, im more a landscape guy. So my question is for this kind of thing would continuous lighting in the way of a soft box be better, something like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x125w-Ph...kt=6&clkid=8841737509184608602&_qi=RTM1793693

I know its not going to be of great quality or very robust but Im not really planning on moving it around much. It would be used with a neutral coloured back drop. Im sure some of the semipro/ pros have done these kind of shots before so could I get soem advice?

Cheers Ian.

 

[Donki]

Having looked into this more, as I have a 480EXII would I be better getting a soft box for it with an ETTL cord or use the wireless triggers I have? This all really confuses me so apologies. I understand in ETTL mode the flash does the work itself and in manual I set the power???

 

[Mark G]

Window light?

I use natural light whenever I can with a newborn shoot.

 

[meonshore]

Window light?

I use natural light whenever I can with a newborn shoot.

^^ This.

And then speaking as someone who has photographed newborns for the last 5 years, in hats and all posed up my advice to you is that if your wife *really* wants that type of image then you should consider getting a professional newborn photographer to shoot them for you. Those poses, and positioning to get the shots take time to learn and perfect - most people trying to replicate them end up either with very poorly lit, and certainly poorly posed shots which often look like the baby has been plonked onto a blanket and not posed at all.

An experienced professional newborn photographer is going to have a great selection of hats, cocoons, wraps and blankets as well as the skill to light (even if naturally),handle and pose your baby and know all of the safety issues with those poses.

If you haven't had the time to pick up your camera in the last 9 months, and this is your first born then you might not be best prepared for this. Those curly sleeping newborn images are really only possible for the first 3-4 weeks of life before they lose the flexibility and longer deep sleeps.

 

[Emma-1989]

Window light?

I use natural light whenever I can with a newborn shoot.

by natural light so do you mean no lights used at all?. What if its not very bright outside? And the picture then looks gloomy? I'm new to newborn photography and need all the help i can get

 

[Phil V]

by natural light so do you mean no lights used at all?. What if its not very bright outside? And the picture then looks gloomy?

If this is your level

i'm new to newborn photography and need all the help i can get

You need to learn lots about photography, then go on a proper training course for newborns.

 

[Phil V]

Having looked into this more, as I have a 480EXII would I be better getting a soft box for it with an ETTL cord or use the wireless triggers I have? This all really confuses me so apologies. I understand in ETTL mode the flash does the work itself and in manual I set the power???

Hire a pro!
It'll be cheaper, easier and safer, and you'll get better pictures.

 

[Emma-1989]

Hire a pro!
It'll be cheaper, easier and safer, and you'll get better pictures.

This is why i am here to learn not to be patronised! I have a friend who hasn't been on any training or courses, she has just learnt through practise and has made her own successful business in newborn photography. I have worked with newborns for 8 years and am not stupid! I have enquired about night classes and am building up my knowledge with plenty of research so do not speak to me like I'm a total fool!!!

 

[Phil V]

This is why i am here to learn not to be patronised! I have a friend who hasn't been on any training or courses, she has just learnt through practise and has made her own successful business in newborn photography. I have worked with newborns for 8 years and am not stupid! I have enquired about night classes and am building up my knowledge with plenty of research so do not speak to me like I'm a total fool!!!

You're welcome

You do realise you responded to my answer to someone else? Do you generally walk into other peoples conversations to start a fight?

 

[Swissy]

In post 5 you say you're new to newborn photography, yet in post 8 you have 8 years experience?

 

[Bythesea]

This is why i am here to learn not to be patronised! I have a friend who hasn't been on any training or courses, she has just learnt through practise and has made her own successful business in newborn photography. I have worked with newborns for 8 years and am not stupid! I have enquired about night classes and am building up my knowledge with plenty of research so do not speak to me like I'm a total fool!!!

It's usually a good idea to read carefully before replying. If you look at the comment of Phil's that you quoted, it was in reply to the original poster and not you.

 

[meonshore]

In post 5 you say you're new to newborn photography, yet in post 8 you have 8 years experience?

Worked with newborns for 8 years, not photographed them for 8 years....

Which means Emma should be great at handling them, baby whispering, and working with the newborns parents during the session. Which IMHO is a fair chunk of the difficulty. Posing for photographs, using light and exposure, and knowing which images to take (and which sell) of course are also important....

 

[Emma-1989]

Worked with newborns for 8 years, not photographed them for 8 years....

Which means Emma should be great at handling them, baby whispering, and working with the newborns parents during the session. Which IMHO is a fair chunk of the difficulty. Posing for photographs, using light and exposure, and knowing which images to take (and which sell) of course are also important....

Thank you 'meonshore'.
I have worked in hospitals and nurseries for 8 years in handling babies and caring for their basic needs. I am new to this site/forum so sorry for getting something wrong! Jeez, i only wanted some help, isn't this site made to help others or not?!

 

[Phil V]

Thank you 'meonshore'.
I have worked in hospitals and nurseries for 8 years in handling babies and caring for their basic needs. I am new to this site/forum so sorry for getting something wrong! Jeez, i only wanted some help, isn't this site made to help others or not?!

It is indeed made to help others, you'll find hundreds that have been helped with everything from buying a first camera to equipping a studio and running a marketing campaign.

The best way to get help is to give as much information as you can, which avoids people having to guess what you mean or what your current knowledge level is.

Because, as you can see from my first para, there's everyone here from complete novices to pros who've retired after 50 years of shooting.

 

[driver_wedge]

Thank you 'meonshore'.
I have worked in hospitals and nurseries for 8 years in handling babies and caring for their basic needs. I am new to this site/forum so sorry for getting something wrong! Jeez, i only wanted some help, isn't this site made to help others or not?!

There's stacks of Youtube videos on this subject, certainly enough to get you moving in the right direction...then perhaps try to talk your friend into assisting them (though they might not want the future competition).

With regards your question about natural light, there'll be plenty of light coming through a nice big window on the gloomiest of days. Avoid direct sunlight tho.

 

[SarahLee]

@Emma-1989 Welcome aboard Emma

It does seem that you're off to a bit of a bumpy start in this thread and the other one, so just a few words to get things back on the right track.
There's tons of help and advice on hand here - and lots of members who willingly give up their own free time to help others along the way.
Little nuances of tone and expression don't always come across in written text though and our members are all human with their own personalities and ways of expressing themselves - so it's worth sometimes stepping back for a minute or two and re-reading to get the essence of what's being said before getting upset by posts -or indeed mistaking a reply to somebody else as being directed at you.

If you have questions and are looking for help, as a beginner it's probably also a good idea to start your own threads specifically for your questions.
That way you have the opportunity to set out exactly what you're looking for and where you are in terms of experience (photographic or otherwise) and get replies tailored to you.

Please also be aware that if you're posting from the perspective of somebody setting up in business, replies won't be as warm and fluffy as if you were posting as a pure hobbiest - which is why it's important that you set out where you're coming from in the beginning.
After all, if you're charging people for your service there's a different set of expectations in place in terms of standards of quality.

Hope that all makes sense to you - it really was a genuine welcome to the forum and I hope that this can be a completely fresh start for you.

 

[coldpenguin]

And then speaking as someone who has photographed newborns for the last 5 years, in hats and all posed up my advice to you is that if your wife *really* wants that type of image then you should consider getting a professional newborn photographer to shoot them for you. Those poses, and positioning to get the shots take time to learn and perfect - most people trying to replicate them end up either with very poorly lit, and certainly poorly posed shots which often look like the baby has been plonked onto a blanket and not posed at all.

Having tried posing my baby recently, I would agree. Although they don't do much to begin with, they just don't pose well. It took until mine was about 3 months old before I could pose the blighter and it not look kinda lifeless (not a good look considering the eyes are shut or unfocused). That said, taking the photos yourself is a lot more fun than some stranger taking them.

On the technical side. My camera could control the 430EX and the 580EX with flash control, remotely. This was good to start with.
However, I have since moved to an Elinchrom dual head set from Amazon (not cheap, but I had enough amazon vouchers that it cost me £5). #
With an umbrella, and a 'cheaper' ebay octobox (which will survive a while if not constantly put up and down), then the photos are coming out good enough for me. Much better than with the dual flash setup.

Also, consider how bright the flashes might be. Some people get concerned that they might damage young eyes

 

[meonshore]

Having tried posing my baby recently, I would agree. Although they don't do much to begin with, they just don't pose well.

That is exactly to my point - newborns don't pose. You *have* to pose them yourself and they do pose beautifully but they need to be carefully arranged by someone with experience to get the best images.

 

[Donki]

I see this thread is going well, and indeed I did have professional photos done and just waiting on them coming through. But I still got to take some pretty good ones myself, il post up some later if I get a minute time is precious these days lol. I used natural light with a little bounce flash of the ceiling. Thanks for he tips guys.

 

[Donki]

That is exactly to my point - newborns don't pose. You *have* to pose them yourself and they do pose beautifully but they need to be carefully arranged by someone with experience to get the best images.

Very true he best thing to do is have the room at a good temperature, give a good feed before hand and let them sleep once they are off they are pretty mailable and will fall into a nice natural pose. Can be tricky getting them to hold their feet and hands where you would ideally like them.