Natural Light Newborn!

Bep82

Bep82

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Bethia
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Hi guys.

I am slowly but surely adding to my Canon 450d. I have purchased the amazing nifty fifty and this has not been off my camera yet!! I have also bought a bounce/tilt/swivel flash mount.

I have been asked by a close friend to photograph her newborn (just coming up 2 weeks). I am a big fan of photographing kids and babies. However, I do not have soft boxes, reflectors etc. and was hoping to achieve good results with natural window light. I am using one prop being a wicker basket, but other than that, probably going to have baby on blankets etc.

Can you suggest settings for "home shooting" - do I use flash?

Thanks in advance!
 
You don't need flashes to get good results. You should be able to get some lovely photos from natural light. Lots of very good newborn photographers use it :)

I'd buy a nice big reflector to bounce some more of that natural light back rather than trying to use a bare flash gun.

Just find somewhere with a lot of light in the house. Conservatories are usually pretty good for light but that depends if you have one or not.

I'm sure someone else will be along soon with some better advice too.
 
Hiya, i have just been doing some natural light newborn shots, I am fairly new in this department but could not agree more with Rob that you won't need a flash if you have a big window to work with. The last shoot i did the weather was overcast and she only had the one window in the flat so i had to use lights. I only have continuous lighting atm through a brolly. I'v just posted my photos in another thread, maybe you could help me by giving me some CC too.

naz
 
Natural light from a big window and a nifty-fifty is an ideal combo for babies. Avoid direct sun though, so either overcast day or north-facing window. Just get a big reflector - a white sheet on the shady side will be perfect.

Try the shallow depth-of-field effect at a low f/number. Focus on the eyes/nearest eye.
 
HoppyUK said:
Natural light from a big window and a nifty-fifty is an ideal combo for babies. Avoid direct sun though, so either overcast day or north-facing window. Just get a big reflector - a white sheet on the shady side will be perfect.

Try the shallow depth-of-field effect at a low f/number. Focus on the eyes/nearest eye.
Click to expand...

Be careful trying to to get shallow depth of field. when shooting close the F/number does not have to be to small. As long as the baby is not parallel to you you can get great shallow depth of field with f5.6 or even 6.3
 
Natural light assuming you get enough of it and a reflector is the way to go. Have the flash on stand by just in case you get one of our rare clody days. Also be very careful about reflections in the babies eyes not just for the obvious reasons but you also end up with a distressed crying baby and shoot over.
 
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