Newborn photography...help!

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caitlinjade95

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Hello!

I'm a qualified child practitioner and i feel my experience with babies will help me in the career i want to peruse!
I want to be a newborn photographer, mobile for the time being until i can get set up somewhere! Sadly im not rich lol!

I have a Canon 600d with the 18-55mm lens.

I'd love it if anyone can offer me tips on equipment or the necessities i will need to start doing this i really want to learn and get started i love photography so much i know i want this to be my life. Any help at all will be appreciated, equipment, lighting, lenses you name it i need tips lol!
 
Hi Caitlin.

Unless being a child practitioner teaches you to safely pose newborns I'm afraid it may not be a great help. Newborn photography is very hard to do correctly and I'd definitely recommend some hands on training with a pro.

At the moment your body and lens is fine but I'd maybe add a 50mm 1.8.

The lighting is a tricky one, most on here will tell you to use natural light but I prefer big soft boxes which are not ideal for being mobile but perfect for me in my studio.

You sound really excited and up for it but take it one step at a time, you seem to be wanting to run before you can walk!
 
no but i know about them and that gives me a little bit of experiance and the rest i can learn:)

Ive just ordered the 50mm lens and it should be here tomorrow so thats a good thing! I will attempt natural light at first and have a play around and find what works for me. thanks for your answer!
 
I do around 8 shoots per week and can tell you now that natural light will be your winner, why on earth should a newborn be subjected to bursts of light all the time ;)
There are situations where lighting equipment is required but for the time being I would actually focus on your technique. Kit isn't going to make the photo any better, only you can do that.
There are far too many new people to the profession that assume you need all the kit to get it right, in actual fact I would say the kit just makes things easier if you can't rely on the natural elements.
Your camera is more than capable and coupled with a low F lens you will do fine, focus more on the composition and props, one day you will be doing a mobile shoot in someone's lounge that is stacked with stolen TVs and a poor innocent child in the middle with 4 feet of room (I've had a few trust me)
If you need guidance then just look at the many guides on YouTube, actions make more sense than text sometimes :)
 
Why 2 threads? i feel most of these questions have already been answered in the other Newborn thread you have going. Despite you refusing to except said advice for what it is. 2 threads just clogs up the forum but i will roll with it.

As other have said natural light is best. Not just visually but just as much for the sake of the baby. Saying that this time of year as things get dark i do tend to use a soft box on very low power (sometimes just the modeling lamp) and often a diffuser panel aswell in an attempt to create window light. I have a 5 day old in later today and I have a feeling window light is just not going to be enough.

I mostly work in my studio which has large window however my usual newborn kit that i use will include the following. The reality is for obile i would really take pretty much the same kit with me.

D800
50mm 1.8
85mm 1.8
Tripod (makes composites much easier)
Triggers
Large Softbox (very rarley used to protect babies eyes)
Diffuser/Reflector
Baby Posing beanbag
Backdrop Frame
Space Heater (one of the most important bits of kit i own)
White noise app (amazing)
A change of cloths for when (not if) i get pooped on.

Now what could I not do without. The reality is All i would really need is D800, 50mm , Diffuser/reflector and a space heater. I dont think I would want to shoot mobile without at least a posing beanbag (unless you want a more lifestyle feel)

If you are going to think about using lighting then go off camera. Dont even bother with on camera flash (unless for a little bounce fill). I would get a cheap speed light and trigger to start with.
 
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