Baby pic and how to light

[markyboy.1967]

My wife has asked me to take a few pics of her friends new born baby.Baby is due in a few weeks time. I want to try it but as im very very new to lighting im worried obout getting half decent results.So the question is--

For the shot of the child in the fathers single outstretched arm how would i light this.I have just recently bought the Lencarta 2 light kit, i have 2x SB900 speedlights, reflector, octabox.

 

[Garry Edwards]

Basically you can't go far wrong with lighting babies, they have perfect features and perfect skin so there's no justification IMO for using the soft lighting that a lot of people use.

I've done this in the past with a small softbox at an acute angle, either with or without a reflector on the other side to lighten the shadow areas.

The advantage of this kind of lighting is that it will emphasise the rough skin and hair on the father's arm and contrast with the soft skin on the baby - very effective.

 

[markyboy.1967]

Thanks Garry. The father is a boxer and his arm is quite well defined so would like to take advantage of the muscular areas of his arm against the newborn baby.

 

[specialman]

I'd go softbox above (and in front) of the subject, reflector underneath to fill shadows - clam-shell style almost, just with one light. Just tweak the angle of the light to make sure it's giving you the shadows you want.....

 

[John Hendry]

I would use the octabox above and pointing slightly towards the camera taking care to avoid lens flare and use a fill light at 1 1/2 stops less or use a reflector. If you see the baby in our newborn gallery or the babies lying on their back on a pile of towels on our cherub gallery you will see what I mean : go to www.jhphoto.co.uk