Portrait ideas - DPChallenge Forums

06/10/2004 10:40:34 AM · #1

I wonder if anyone can help, a very good freind of mine has asked that i take some pictures of her and her 4 month old daughter. I have only just got my DSLR but feel confident in getting some good shots (they don't need to be studio quality) The only thing is, i have only one lens, the Sigma 70-300mm 4-5.6 APO Macro Super II.

I am thinking i'll probably have to take them outdoors which isn't a problem but i was just wanting some tips on how to set these photos up. Reflectors for light etc.

Thanks in advance,

Sam.

06/10/2004 11:14:22 AM · #2

I reccommend you go to the library and check out a good book on photographing children. There are tons of them and they are very useful. A four month old baby is a bit hard because if memory serves (mine are all teens) they can't sit up on there own at that age. They can hold their heads up though when they lie on their bellies and you can get quite a fetching smile from them at that age, as well. Have mom place the baby on her favorite blanket and then you get right down on your belly and wait for that gorgeous smile. As for lighting, it depends on the situation. If you are under a tree (a good idea since babies squint in bright light), you can use a piece white cardboard as a reflector, or even just a regular piece of paper since the baby's face is so small. After that, just get some nice shots of mom interracting with baby. At that age, we lift them up in the air to look down at our faces, we dandle them to let their little legs kick, etc. All those activities will make lovely candids because the baby is really seeing her environment at that age and reacting with wonderful big-eyed expressions.

Try having mom hold baby up a little in the air to look down (if the baby likes this--some are more fearful) and get behind mom, placing yourself low so you can point the camera right up into baby's face. Make sure to get mom in there to so you know who the baby is reacting to. The point is to move in close and get at the child's level.

Here are some pictures I took of two of my own kids when they were little. They are 35mm and the scans are rather low-res. Sorry I don't have any baby pictures to give as examples but you will get the idea of the importance of not looking down at the child and getting as close to their level as possible. I could have actually gotten a little lower (but like I said, these are the only examples I have in my portfolio)

Message edited by author 2004-06-10 11:15:45.

06/10/2004 11:20:06 AM · #3

That's fantastic, thanks very much for taking the time to prepare such a lengthy reply. Thats given me a lot to think about and i will check the library also. Thanks again!

Sam.

06/10/2004 11:25:43 AM · #4

Here's another 35mm shot I had in my files...

06/10/2004 11:37:42 AM · #5

Here's me at three months....my dad, who got me interested in photography, took this. It's one of my favorite baby pictures of myself. Just think, someday that little girl will be looking at her baby photos and yours might be among her favorites.

Your's truly at 3 months old

...and at two years old

06/10/2004 11:41:11 AM · #6

Great pics!

Thats a really nice thought! I hope she does!!!

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

06/10/2004 11:51:09 AM · #7

She will. I have loads more photos I love that my dad took. He was great about photographing all three of his kids, not just the first born son. ;D

My kids each have their own photo album of photos of themselves, plus there is an album of photos of them together. This doesn't even include the photos of them with me and their dad and grandparents and the ones that I haven't got albums for yet. They are teenagers now and just a week ago they were going through these old pictures, showing them to a friend who is quite the photographer himself, at 17.

I always feel bad for the folks who have only two or three photos from their childhood. I'm really blessed that my dad was so interested in photography during my growing up years.

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

06/10/2004 11:51:25 AM · #8

The photos I like best of moms with children are of them interacting with each other, not really "posing" for the camera. It might be a little tougher with an infant that young, but it only takes one or two really good shots to make it worthwhile.

The other thing I like is simplicity...simple clothing and backgrounds, but that's a matter of taste I suppose. Make sure you talk to the mom and find out what her expectations are of the photos and find out what she wants. Good luck! We look forward to seeing your results! :)

debitipton

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II

06/10/2004 12:28:05 PM · #9

//www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=82778

Here's a photo of my friend Debbie and her new grand daughter. She wanted something old fashion and grainy. I love the moment.

Okay, someone tell me how to get the thumbnail to show up on the post. I thought I had it right.
Debi

Message edited by author 2004-06-10 12:30:34.

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

06/10/2004 12:32:04 PM · #10

Originally posted by debitipton:

For your convenience... :o)

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

06/10/2004 12:32:51 PM · #11

Click on the little double window looking icon in the message area, then just type in the thumbnail number and post it! :o)

edit: BTW...beautiful photograph, Debi!

Message edited by author 2004-06-10 12:33:30.

debitipton

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II

06/10/2004 12:37:11 PM · #12

Thanks! Just when I think I have technology mastered I get thrown for a loop.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

06/10/2004 03:18:35 PM · #13

Originally posted by melismatica:

I always feel bad for the folks who have only two or three photos from their childhood. I'm really blessed that my dad was so interested in photography during my growing up years.

My Dad was the same, we have boxes of photos from my childhood. Its great and i want to get them all scanned so i can make sure they stay safe but its a huuuuuge job! The only thing is, i have a massive gap in my teenage years! Never bothered with a camera then but wish i had!

KiwiChris

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

06/10/2004 07:43:38 PM · #14

Here's a couple of our wee Daughter that might give you some ideas:

//www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2128326
//www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2367774
//www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2434343
//www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2434361

These are taken between 4 and 6 months..

It seems that the golden rule is to take lots of photos with babies/kids. We've got over 1000 shots of phoebe, with some really neat ones, but lots of stuff where she blinks, turns away suddenly, pukes, burps, cries.. :-).

dsidwell

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

06/10/2004 08:10:44 PM · #15

Originally posted by biohazard:

Outside is a great choice, for then so many other choices are easier. Hope for a cloudy, overcast day so you can get nice, diffused, directional light. If it's not a cloudy day, find some full shade and do it there. Avoid the bright, full sun unless you want harsh shadows.

Next, tell mom and kids that ALL of them should wear white shirts, or NONE of them. Having one person in a white shirt makes for exposure difficulties (in my experience).

I don't usually use reflectors, but a big white poster board or silver poster board is a good idea if their shady sides are too dark.

If you know the family, try to find poses that are natural for them. You may want to experiment with having them formally pose, and then just do natural things: have a picnic, play on the swings, play with a ball, hold puppies, etc. with you shooting away. Scout out ahead for a good place to do this.

Be prepared to take lots of photos and bring plenty of extra memory for your camera. As always when working with clients, keep extra batteries around.

This family wanted a formal pose for their work. Luckily, it was cloudy!:

Good luck!

Message edited by author 2004-06-10 20:13:41.

Neuferland

Google Pixel 2

06/10/2004 09:18:11 PM · #16

Originally posted by ohmark:

She's gonna kill you for the rabbit ear one, you know that don't you? But then again, it's great blackmail material when she's approaching puberty and being a total snot! :)

Deannda
I love the over the shoulder one

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

06/10/2004 09:22:00 PM · #17

Put her in a little basket by a tree with some flowers by her.

Neuferland

Google Pixel 2

06/10/2004 09:25:02 PM · #18

Originally posted by biohazard:

Set a few up but try to capture the candid moments. At that age they are the most special. Keep the camera ready to go at all times and just keep shooting. You may take 100 shots but out of that 100 there may be 2 or 3 that will be the most special every taken for this new mom.

Deannda
Good Luck

KevinRiggs

Canon EOS-1Ds

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

06/11/2004 02:12:15 AM · #19

At four months the child will be unable to help you and the mother may be pretty tired if memory serves. If you have an assistant, then a $1.00 piece of foam core board from Wal-Mart can make a massive difference in lighting. Have the assistant stand a few feet to either the right or left of the subject (basically on the opposite side of where the sun is hitting the mother). The FCB can be used to reflect a little light back onto the mother's face. This isn't the easiest thing for someone (believe it or not) so you might want to practice for 15 minutes with the assistant. If you don't have an assistant, don't waste time with the FCB. Your key here is your friend, the mother. She's going to have to help you setup the shot by holding the child or "wrangling" the wee one; you don't want to tire her out 'cause remember, she just gave birth a few months ago and has been keeping up with her little bundle of joy ever since.

1. If outside, try to find even lighting. Sitting under a tree is great but carefully notice how the lighting mottles across the face of the subject. If you see bright splotches of light (as the light filters between leaves and branches) you should expect that this will be a difficult shot to edit and receive any kind of consistency. Later in the day, you'll have much better lighting as the sun goes down (around here in the southeast its something like 7:00 or later).

2. Be mindful of the background. You don't want to catch the perfect expression and then realize that there is a bush behind the baby's head that is completely distracting. Also stay away from patterns in buildings such as vertical lines. With a Mom & child I tend to try and isolate them from anything modern or civilization-looking (yeah, I like that term too but I'm sick so a little latitude, please). I mean, don't have anything in the composition that'll remind the viewer of modern conveniences; no cars, no power poles, light poles, telephone poles, no swedes . . uhh, no. I meant more like a covered, wooden bridge is OK; it can be a great "organic" prop for a setting but a steel suspension bridge just generally doesn't give the same kind of ethos to a composition.

3. Have a solid idea of where you're going and how you're going to setup. Just like Mom is really going to be doing a lot of the work, the child will absolutely make the shot. You don't want to be wasting time hem-hawing around and trying to make a decision about where to place them or what to do. Know a site and set them in about 3 different places with a couple of different poses per place and snap the absolute fool outta that shutter! Without demanding, and always open to Mom's (the client's) desires tell her exactly where you want her to stand/sit even to the point of assuming the pose (sans baby of course) so that she can see what you want and then see how that 9-frame buffer works.

4. Bring bottled water. If you're outside for any length of time you'd be surprised how this one helps me. You probably won't be shooting very long but as I talk to someone to help direct them, I find that I need water in a very short amount of time. You might want to bring a bottle for Mom as well.

5. Shot every frame you possibly can. If you think you shot enough, you didn't. Shoot and shoot and shoot some more. Once you get them into a pose rip off a nice long set of frames. Babies can't pose on command but they can make faces that will melt just about anyone's heart. You can pose Mom, pick a great setting, adjust for exposure and compose the shot but in the end it'll be that look from the baby that makes the shot priceless or not. Once you're back at your computer looking through the shots you'll be glad that you grab a bunch as you'll realize that you got the gem of the bunch when baby had to yawn and Mom just happened to look down or when Mommy just barely tickled that little foot and baby got a cute grin. That's when you'll truly see the difference in all those "almost got it" shots and the one or two "holy crap! did i shoot that!!" kind of shots.

Possible poses:

A. Mom sitting on the ground with her legs curled back beside her and cradling the baby in her arms.

B. Mom leaning back on her hands with her rear on the ground and her feet stretched straight out (but NOT pointed at you as that will make her look stunted and she won't like it). Now place baby gently into Mommy's lap so that the head rests on Mom's tummy and the little legs and feet mirror Mommy's.

C. Mom standing and holding baby under the arms. Both bodies have to be turned slightly towards you to keep them from shadowing each other too much (if you have an assistant you will definitely need a little reflector/fcb on this one with natural lighting). Both Mom's hands under the little one's arms to support him/her and baby's head is supported by leaning it against Mom's forehead. It'll force their two heads together and you can zoom in and get a bust shot (from the chest of Mommmy up) so that you see most of baby's body and Mom's head. You can try this with Mom & baby facing each other and then facing you a little.

D. As baby wears out a little (at that age I believe the sunlight and warmth can have a tendancy to help drain the child; also trying to raise the little head can wear him/her out, too) have Mom face to the side (a profile of her) and lay baby's head on her chest. The top of the composition should be Mom's head facing out with baby facing you on the chest. Put the camera into the biggest aperture you have (you'll probably have to get pretty close for this). Now focus on the baby's eyes and shoot a few. Hopefully Mom will be OOF a little and become the backdrop for the shot while baby will be clear. Now you can mix it up by stopping down the lens and have Mom look at you over baby's head for a more direct, personal shot.

Props:
A blanket. Something with a checked pattern might be OK but it can also be distracting.

A basket (I think Sonja mentioned putting baby into a basket and that sounds like a cool idea)

Something that makes a noise that the child finds distracting so that you can get his/her attention.

Something flashy or colorful so that once that face is turned your way, you can catch those beautiful eyes. They'll really tell the story but its difficult to keep a baby looking into a camera so you'll have to do something to get his/her eyes directed at you. I've found that a couple of quick flashes from my 550EX can intrigue a child and they'll start looking in my direction intently trying to find what the heck caused the flash.

Hope this is helpful,

Kev

mandyp

Olympus E-500 EVOLT

06/11/2004 03:54:52 AM · #20

Kev, that's great info. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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frumoaznicul

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

06/11/2004 04:22:58 AM · #21

I just realised this is about a 4 months old, what I whas saying doesn't apply.

Message edited by author 2004-06-11 04:26:42.