pregnancy portrait help - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/29/2006 07:20:39 PM · #1

I'm taking some pregnancy portraits for a friend. It's for me to gain experience AND for her to have some (hopefully) nice photo's. I will be shooting at an outdoor park where there are shade trees. She's very young and its her first pregnancy. Not sure if the dad will be there also (he might be). She's 9 months along so even though it was my idea and my suggestion to do this I want to give her something nice. Its not like she can put the baby back in for another shoot.

I have some ideas for shots but, have any of you done any pregnancy portraits that can help me out with must have shots. The new mom is pretty open to ideas and when I asked her (and her mom) neither of them have any must have poses. I asked her to wear a two peice bathing suit under her clothes and I read in another thread to bring a white sheet for diffusion. I don't have any external flashes. We're going to be there at about 5 p.m. so it will be evening light and we'll be picknicking so we may still be there for sunset too.

Equipment is bare minimum.
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Lenses: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
Canon EF 90-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM

LeeD

Canon EOS-30D

10/29/2006 07:26:55 PM · #2

I would recommend borrowing or renting a faster lens if you can. The Canon 50mm f1.8 is a great cheap lens. My style is a bit different than what you are going for, but please feel free to browse my maternity collection to see if you get any ideas.

If I can help, let me know.

10/29/2006 07:38:14 PM · #3

Those are nice. Number 14 and 21 are ones I was thinking of if the dad is able to show up. Another thread about portraits (not pregnancy) said to stay between 2.8 - 5.6. Looking at your collection helps because having something sheer would be good... especially if we have a nice sunset.

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM

10/29/2006 08:56:57 PM · #4

bump

cloudsme

Canon EOS R5

10/29/2006 09:39:10 PM · #5

Here are a few of mine.

I have never done any outside. The shots by the window are easy. Have the model gaze out of the window and try to get a glint of light in her eye. It's important to use a reflector to put in some fill light on her belly. If I were doing it outside, I think a reflector would be helpful to direct some light on her belly. Good luck. Post the pics when you are able.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

10/30/2006 03:34:37 AM · #6

Here are some of them. Please let me know what you guys think. Should I do anything in pp? All I've done so far to them is pretty basic. A little crop, contrast and brightness and resize for posting but that's about it. Any and all comments welcome.... even bad ones...

GuGi

Nikon D750

10/30/2006 06:16:31 AM · #7

sigth has at least one fantastic pregnancyshot on her flickr-page, the link is on her profile.
Her usual elegant style :)

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

10/30/2006 06:49:30 AM · #8

The lighting seems a little harsh to me, but I'm certainly no expert. It seems to be my experience that most of the maternity portraits I really like having the expectant mom standing...it seems to "showcase" the belly best. You might try a little PS to soften the images some. Maybe some glow or blur combinations?

Overall I think these are fine and the parents will appreciate having them to remember this special time. They certainly do look young!

HERE is the gallery I have of maternity shots if you care to look.

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

10/30/2006 07:05:48 AM · #9

Here is one I've had some fun editing. I hope you don't mind...and I will pull it right away if you don't want it posted.

LeeD

Canon EOS-30D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/30/2006 10:12:34 AM · #10

I agree with the comment about the harsh lighting. I hope you don't mind, but I fiddled around with one of your shots also. The crop was/is a little awkward. I chose this cropping to reduce the amount of harsh shadowing in the image. It also draws attention to the belly.

JamesKW

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/30/2006 10:22:48 AM · #11

Here are some of the shots that I recently took with a Canon EF 28-105mm f/4-5.6 II USM. They are not as fancy as some of the others here, but the parents really enjoyed them.

LeeD

Canon EOS-30D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/30/2006 10:45:13 AM · #12

Originally posted by JamesKW:

Here are some of the shots that I recently took with a Canon EF 28-105mm f/4-5.6 II USM. They are not as fancy as some of the others here, but the parents really enjoyed them.

Say what you will, but this one is FANTASTIC!!!

Good job!

10/31/2006 10:20:32 PM · #13

Originally posted by jpochard:

Here is one I've had some fun editing. I hope you don't mind...and I will pull it right away if you don't want it posted.

Thank you, no this is fine. Anyone else wanting to try with editing please feel free. I haven't given them any of the photos yet but I want to take one or two of the best ones and give them a printed 8x10 (maybe). Since this was done at my request not theirs its free to them. I'm going to give them a disk with all the photos on it including the candid ones I took. I will try to post more of them in my portfolio later.... gotta go take mys son trick or treating right now though. Thank you all so much for your assistance.