Newborn Photography HELP!!!

Hi Caitlin

Looking at the pictures on that posing kit I agree with the comments above that you could very simply get the parts to make frame from a plumbers merchant. But equally importantly the bean bag cushions themselves should be very straightforward to make ~ the bags should be easy peasy for someone with seamstress skills (think local Age concern clubs, sewing bee clubs.....anywhere those that love to sew would hopefully help and make the cushion cases for a few pounds). As for the filling, Google or Yell search for upholstery materials suppliers for furniture grade "beans".

I would think for the effort above would save you £'s compared to the commercially available items :)
 
I do love the newborn posing beanbag but its much cheaper to get it by itself rather then pay for the frame too so i could just get the £30 for the beanbag and still have some money to put to for a flash and i can build my own stand or at least attempt it lol i want it the same shape as on the link thats the problem haha!
 
Well in an idle moment I had a Google for making bean bags and most are the lounging about sort but I did find a specific guide for a posing one that has the upright sides as shown in the link you posted.

Here. http://amusingmamma.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/diy-newborn-posing-beanbag.html?m=1

If you cannot run a sewing machine yourself I am sure with that page printed out a skilled sewing machinist could make it up and even modify the dimensions to make different sizes for you.

I was typing as you posted above......were I in your situation I would cost the diy methods whether made by you or another person the needed craft skills and see just how much money I could save?
 
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my grandma is a sewer, she could do it for me! thankyo ufor that link ive printed it off so i can give her, her new project! haha
 
caitlinjade95 said:
my grandma is a sewer, she could do it for me! thankyo ufor that link ive printed it off so i can give her, her new project! haha
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Do not forget you will need to get furniture grade filling as suggested from an upholstery materials supplier.

Best of luck and once made do take a picture or two of your setup.
 
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the lighting is still really confusing me but ive not moved all day for reading up on it! hahah yes i know i should need about 3 or 4 bags of bean filling so ill scout around for that!!
 
i know someone said the backdrop stand from the last set of photos was no good but im struggling with the pvc piping and what not and wondered if this would be any good for a decent price? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Studio-Ba...133?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a892bd435

Its adjustable and comes with the white and black, i want the two fabrics it comes with incase i do photos of mum, dad and baby would this be along the right lines?
 
caitlinjade95 said:
i know someone said the backdrop stand from the last set of photos was no good but im struggling with the pvc piping and what not and wondered if this would be any good for a decent price? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Studio-Ba...133?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a892bd435

Its adjustable and comes with the white and black, i want the two fabrics it comes with incase i do photos of mum, dad and baby would this be along the right lines?
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The stands and crossbar aren't a bad price, but the backdrops are useless as backdrops. BUT they'd be a good source of reflector material and flagging material. (Thinking outside the box)
 
caitlinjade95 said:
the lighting is still really confusing me but ive not moved all day for reading up on it!
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It'll become clearer once you start to put it into practice. You can learn a lot from online videos but nothing quite beats the trial and error of actually using artificial light...as has been suggested earlier, as soon as you get your lights sorted then practice with a doll and you'll soon get the hang of it. :-)
 
its all so confusing nowww!! haha I love the idea of building my own but im really not a DIY person lol i hammered a nail in the wall once and put the wall through im really not all that good when it comes to things like that and i would wan't to waste money which im a little worried about. As for artificial light im still really struggling wether to get a softbox or not lol i can't make up my mind
 
im still feeling lost but i think i have finally made up my mind what im going to start off with. My mum is going to help me out getting the essentials and i really love this set up. We live in an appartment so we do get fairly good light to our balcony double doors so this is where i will be doing it, in the meantime ill be saving for a flash gun once ive bought this but for now im going to try with natural light, like you say its trial and error and im sure ill get to grips with it. If nobody replies tonight then im going to go ahead and get this kit but i thought i would ask first to see if it was a yes or a no from you guys, its worth asking. I think it'll be really practial especially since i wont be taking anything mobile with me itll be done at my house.

http://babypropshop.co.uk/studio-equipment/newborn-posing-package/
 
caitlinjade95 said:
i know someone said the backdrop stand from the last set of photos was no good but im struggling with the pvc piping and what not and wondered if this would be any good for a decent price? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Studio-Ba...133?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a892bd435

Its adjustable and comes with the white and black, i want the two fabrics it comes with incase i do photos of mum, dad and baby would this be along the right lines?
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Phil V said:
The stands and crossbar aren't a bad price, but the backdrops are useless as backdrops. BUT they'd be a good source of reflector material and flagging material. (Thinking outside the box)
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I am not an eBayer but what about that supplier is based in Canada but selling from Portsmouth, does that sound fishy???
 
I never noticed that, ive just posted a new link of a full set up that im thinking of buying tonight if you have any opinions on it i'd love to know!
 
Box Brownie said:
I am not an eBayer but what about that supplier is based in Canada but selling from Portsmouth, does that sound fishy???
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It's becoming more common to have a shipping address in this country for a foreign business, often for the Chinese.
 
caitlinjade95 said:
I never noticed that, ive just posted a new link of a full set up that im thinking of buying tonight if you have any opinions on it i'd love to know!
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I've no personal experience of it ( i don't shoot newborns) , but imo if you want to be a pro you'd be better off forgetting all this cheap crap and saving up for something decent... remember the adage 'buy cheap, buy twice'

also that site looks a real rip off , for example those "large pro clips" for £11.99 look identical to the ones screwfix sell for woodwork for £3.99 (and which you can get on markets, poundshops etc for even less)
 
caitlinjade95 said:
I never noticed that, ive just posted a new link of a full set up that im thinking of buying tonight if you have any opinions on it i'd love to know!
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Hi Caitlin, I have no insight to offer other than that looking on the smartphone I do not think I saw the items in the package it was just a text description ~ I think others with better knowledge of studio work will be able to say it is good and value for money???
 
im not buying it for the clips lol im buying it for the beanbag and stand mostly. Im 100% not a pro im a total beginner so i am expecting to have to re buy things in the future i just want to get up on my feet and be able to practise with a doll like someone said and my family
 
Here is a suggestion as to affording more kit - check out minimum wage. According to my estimate you must be owed at least a small flash gun.
 
You can buy stands and clips at a fraction of the price in your link.
 
caitlinjade95 said:
im not buying it for the clips lol im buying it for the beanbag and stand mostly. Im 100% not a pro im a total beginner so i am expecting to have to re buy things in the future i just want to get up on my feet and be able to practise with a doll like someone said and my family
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I think you missed the point - a site that charges £11.99 for kit worth £1.49 is unlikely to be good value for anything else.

If you want the £19.99 bean bag and the £49.999 stand it doesnt make sense to pay £159 for a kit also including various other crap. Also as several people have already said you can make a backdrop out of a bedsheet and a couple of broom handles , and a been bag out of cushions , or for that matter a cheap bean baf
 
ChasG I'm an apprentice im on more than the minimum wage for an apprentice. I havn't been able to find the newborn specific beanbag anywhere cheaper other than etsy which are all in the US and charging 100$ shipping! No, no i do get your point but i would struggle to make my own, i wanted to do it the right way without ruining it and wasting money lol i thought the bundle deal was good to say you get the stand, beanbag all the posing cushions too and i'd just buy the extra clamps off ebay. I can't find the newborn beanbag on ebay and the two stands i suggested we'rnt good for newborn photography so im feeling a little lost thats all
 
caitlinjade95 said:
ChasG I'm an apprentice im on more than the minimum wage for an apprentice. I havn't been able to find the newborn specific beanbag anywhere cheaper other than etsy which are all in the US and charging 100$ shipping! No, no i do get your point but i would struggle to make my own, i wanted to do it the right way without ruining it and wasting money lol i thought the bundle deal was good to say you get the stand, beanbag all the posing cushions too and i'd just buy the extra clamps off ebay. I can't find the newborn beanbag on ebay and the two stands i suggested we'rnt good for newborn photography so im feeling a little lost thats all
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Have you thought of a small dog/cat bed as you will be covering it - cost about a tenner
 
I've wanted the newborn one specifically from the get go, i know for a fact this is something ill need later down the line so i'd rather get it from the get go and have it to last me years than have to upgrade later on
 
caitlinjade95 said:
ChasG I'm an apprentice im on more than the minimum wage for an apprentice. I havn't been able to find the newborn specific beanbag anywhere cheaper other than etsy which are all in the US and charging 100$ shipping! No, no i do get your point but i would struggle to make my own, i wanted to do it the right way without ruining it and wasting money lol i thought the bundle deal was good to say you get the stand, beanbag all the posing cushions too and i'd just buy the extra clamps off ebay. I can't find the newborn beanbag on ebay and the two stands i suggested we'rnt good for newborn photography so im feeling a little lost thats all
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£3 per hour for aprentices is supposed to be sub 17 y/o ! - age 19 you should be on min wage after year 1

Ref the back drops - personally I wouldnt bother making your own etc if you just want to practice with a doll - a throw on a chair with some cushions and towels under it would make an acceptable back drop and support - then you could put the £159 you save into buying some decent lighting.
 
caitlinjade95 said:
I've wanted the newborn one specifically from the get go, i know for a fact this is something ill need later down the line so i'd rather get it from the get go and have it to last me years than have to upgrade later on
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:bang: you just said you knew you'd need to upgrade later on , make your mind up

If you want oneto last years - buy a decent one, not some crap for 20 quid , if you want a cheap one to practice with knowing you'll upgrade later its not worth buying a specific new born one.
 
but im struggling for the lighting i need lol!! And i want to photograph family too i have two newborns in the family and 3 babies so its a perfect time to get set up and have a go with equipment etc
 
big soft moose said:
:banghead: you just said you knew you'd need to upgrade later on , make your mind up

If you want oneto last years - buy a decent one, not some crap for 20 quid , if you want a cheap one to practice with knowing you'll upgrade later its not worth buying a specific new born one.
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No what i mean is that one peice of equipment is the one i dont want to have to upgrade if that makes sense haha lighting etc i know later down the line i may need something better and more expensive. The beanbag is the one thing i dont want to have to upgrade which is the reason why i want to get that now lol
 
caitlinjade95 said:
but im struggling for the lighting i need lol!! And i want to photograph family too i have two newborns in the family and 3 babies so its a perfect time to get set up and have a go with equipment etc
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You really need to think about your total budget and where you put it

If you are pushed for cash - putting £159 out on kit you don't really need (and imo that beanbag is just a bean bag I can't see anything special about it that makes it a "newborn posing beanbag" except the name) isnt a good idea when that money would be better spent on some quality lighting kit , or even just saved towards more expensive kit later.

If you want to photograph family but don't have the posing kit - howabout photographing the baby in the parents arms ?
 
caitlinjade95 said:
but i can't find that beanbag elsewhere any cheaper than that
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But you were discussing making one earlier. And tbh, until you've practiced and understand what you really need, I wouldn't spend £160 on a bunch of kit.

Go to Boyes or Dunelm or similar, or even your local market to look for throws, wraps and beanbags. You don't need a backdrop stand, you need to use your imagination in the space you're planning to work. (I was deadly serious earlier mentioning clips and brush handles).

I think the crux here is that your lack of knowledge and experience makes you think you can buy solutions (you can), but your budget isn't big enough for over the counter solutions that work (so you end up finding crap).

The answer is the same as it was. Buy a flashgun and whatever you need to trigger it. Then something to mount it on and some way to soften it. Practice on some people. Then start thinking about a setting for a baby, once you're confident you can light.

Depending on your drive and enthusiasm, this could take you a week or a lifetime.
 
caitlinjade95 said:
No what i mean is that one peice of equipment is the one i dont want to have to upgrade if that makes sense haha lighting etc i know later down the line i may need something better and more expensive. The beanbag is the one thing i dont want to have to upgrade which is the reason why i want to get that now lol
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But why, when its the easiest and cheapest thing to upgrade ? and indeed somthing you don't absolutely have to have at all (and that beanbag looks like a rip off - what is it specifically that makes it worth eighty quid ? , and don't say "because its for newborns" as far as i can tell thats just marketting hype )
 
Phil V said:
But you were discussing making one earlier. And tbh, until you've practiced and understand what you really need, I wouldn't spend £160 on a bunch of kit.

Go to Boyes or Dunelm or similar, or even your local market to look for throws, wraps and beanbags. You don't need a backdrop stand, you need to use your imagination in the space you're planning to work. (I was deadly serious earlier mentioning clips and brush handles).

I think the crux here is that your lack of knowledge and experience makes you think you can buy solutions (you can), but your budget isn't big enough for over the counter solutions that work (so you end up finding crap).

The answer is the same as it was. Buy a flashgun and whatever you need to trigger it. Then something to mount it on and some way to soften it. Practice on some people. Then start thinking about a setting for a baby, once you're confident you can light.

Depending on your drive and enthusiasm, this could take you a week or a lifetime.
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I have a strong suspicion that we are wasting our breathe .. the farce is strong in this one, and i'm done trying to help
 
im very driven and im very serious too this is what i want to do and i appreciate all the answers your all giving me, i really do. I was considering making one earlier but looking at the long term and my terrible DIY skills i really dont want to b****r it up and waste money on supplies when i can just buy one. I've sat down and spoken with my mum and shes willing to help me out with money. I know i need lighting, beanbag and a back drop stand im just struggling to decide on lighting and whats the most important and i dont want to rush into buying crap, really i dont but i do want to get started and i need to improve what ive already got. I've done some practising without a kit etc and as i said the lighting isn't bad. you have to do it at the right times of the day but thats expected i guess isn't it. I'm just feeling really lost and unsure of the right direction to go in. If i get lighting but not the kit how am i any better off as ill have nothing to pose the baby on with a tonne of clutter in the background lol. If i get the backdrop stand and the beanbag then im playing with just natural lighting and i really have no idea which of those situations is best lol

I know i dont have much knowledge as as i said right back in the start of the thread i am going to be attending some workshops etc and im really hoping they bring out an evening class at my local college for photography i can attend to get experiance of it all.
 
caitlinjade95 said:
but i can't find that beanbag elsewhere any cheaper than that
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caitlinjade95 said:
I've wanted the newborn one specifically from the get go, i know for a fact this is something ill need later down the line so i'd rather get it from the get go and have it to last me years than have to upgrade later on
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I thought your gran could run you up a suitable beanbag on the design I found the link about?

To summarise ~ you can make a suitable bean bag from the pattern I found, a frame to support a backdrop using pvc tubing, buy clamps and accessories etc to get you started and start to learn the craft for possibly much less than £80.........why spend more now when you do not have to!

It is the nature of all matters photographic that the kit you start with based on limited knowledge may/will need upgrading so why spend bigger than needed now before you have even tried the budget route and learned what it's limitations are and hence know exactly what you need and how much it will cost at that future date!
 
big soft moose said:
I have a strong suspicion that we are wasting our breathe .. the farce is strong in this one, and i'm done trying to help
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if you think that then its fine, i appreciate the help your all giving me, i really do and if your don trying to help thats fine. I'm not wanting it just for the sheer fact its labled for newborn photography i want it because of the shape, flat top and the material its made out of and the reviews that this one has. I havnt found one similar which is why i wanted this one thats my reason.
 
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