baby images / advice - DPChallenge Forums

12/01/2006 01:28:49 PM · #1

I am going to be making some images of a young mother and her little baby daughter this afternoon. I set it up just a moment ago. I am wondering if anyone would care to give any advice on how to best do this. It will be at their house, indoors (it's cccccoooold outside!). I was thinking of using the 50 mm. lens and the SB 600 with a little LumiQuest bouncer that I can attach to it. ????

12/01/2006 01:34:34 PM · #2

How old is the baby? I did a shoot of some triplets (3 weeks old) and just used my Tamron, but the 50mm lens looks like a good choice for you. I would suggest carrying some white foamboard for to use as reflectors. Consider your backdrops too. I carried some black and white backdrops with me to my shoot (it was in an apartment with limited options for shooting). I got my best results by doing a simple set-up with a bounced flash.

Canon EOS-20D

12/01/2006 01:37:10 PM · #3

I don't have specific advice but I just came across this site belonging to a local photographer and she has some really cute kid stuff. Check out the "wee ones" gallery if you're looking for inspiration.

//jamieschultzphotography.com/#

My guess would also be that natural light would be best if you could swing it...less distracting/startling to the beebees.

Olympus 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 Zuiko

12/01/2006 01:38:02 PM · #4

Ah, thank you. I dind't think of bringing along reflector/backdrop. Good idea. The baby is about half a year.

zanfar

Olympus E-3

12/01/2006 01:40:39 PM · #5

- Keep it simple.
- I like B&W for infant photos, 'cause babies are always weird colors (red, mostly). Even a 20% desat works wonders.
- Even if the kid is crying, keep shooting. Many times, even if the kid is upset (this only applies to infants) a still looks like they're smiling or laughing.

I got lucky, my mew nephew LOVES my flash, completely entranced.

12/01/2006 01:42:03 PM · #6

Originally posted by mk:

Beautiful images! I like how she's arranged her porfolios. Thanks!

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/01/2006 01:47:22 PM · #7

Originally posted by zanfar:

Good advice!

Originally posted by mk:

That's also a great source of inspiration I should've done more research for my shoot!!! My Pathetic Examples.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

12/01/2006 01:52:31 PM · #8

I am far from a portrait expert and I have very limited equipment, BUT I have always been very pleased with the light produced simply from bouncing off a white ceiling. Shadows are muted and the skin takes on a nice creamy quality. The SB600 should easily have ample power to pull something like that off.

12/01/2006 01:52:50 PM · #9

Originally posted by zanfar:

Thank you! Never thought of it, but I think you're right - crying often looks like laughing with babies.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/01/2006 01:53:47 PM · #10

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Just pointing the flash straight up and bouncing off the ceiling? I've never done that. Good idea.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

12/01/2006 01:57:01 PM · #11

Originally posted by ursula:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I am far from a portrait expert and I have very limited equipment, BUT I have always been very pleased with the light produced simply from bouncing off a white ceiling. Shadows are muted and the skin takes on a nice creamy quality. The SB600 should easily have ample power to pull something like that off.

Just pointing the flash straight up and bouncing off the ceiling? I've never done that. Good idea.

Are you just making fun of me now? :) Probably 90% of any picture I've taken for a challenge that looks like a "portrait" is taken in exactly this way. Maybe it's so basic people don't realize it works well. Maybe you are just busting on me for recommending something so plain...

hopper

Canon EOS-80D

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM

12/01/2006 01:57:27 PM · #12

this shot was done doing just that

this one too

Originally posted by ursula:

Message edited by author 2006-12-01 13:59:06.

12/01/2006 01:58:54 PM · #13

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Originally posted by ursula:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I am far from a portrait expert and I have very limited equipment, BUT I have always been very pleased with the light produced simply from bouncing off a white ceiling. Shadows are muted and the skin takes on a nice creamy quality. The SB600 should easily have ample power to pull something like that off.

Just pointing the flash straight up and bouncing off the ceiling? I've never done that. Good idea.

Are you just making fun of me now? :) Probably 90% of any picture I've taken for a challenge that looks like a "portrait" is taken in exactly this way. Maybe it's so basic people don't realize it works well. Maybe you are just busting on me for recommending something so plain...

No, I wasn't. I have never done that. I rarely use the flash, rarely, and when I use it I have no idea what I'm doing with it. I got a little bouncer a while back (OmniQuest) and tried it a couple times, but it's cumbersome to have all this stuff attached to the camera.

12/01/2006 01:59:22 PM · #14

Bouncing off the ceiling is a good option, if you want more directional light, use the foamboard. I shot pretty much all of mine using this set-up.

VERY basic, but works well!

Message edited by author 2006-12-01 14:00:46.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/01/2006 02:00:10 PM · #15

Originally posted by hopper:

this shot was done doing just that

this one too

That's done with a flash bounced at the ceiling? WOW! That's good. Thank you!

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

12/01/2006 02:00:32 PM · #16

One exception is this which was simply lit with a window from the left of the frame about a foot away. Like I said, I got no special lights to get all complicated with.

Message edited by author 2006-12-01 14:06:41.

12/01/2006 02:01:13 PM · #17

Originally posted by Palmetto_Pixels:

Bouncing off the ceiling is a good option, if you want more directional light, use the foamboard. I shot pretty much all of mine using this set-up.

OK, so what you're doing is bouncing the flash off the reflector, not the ceiling? I've used a reflector with sunshine, never with flash. Interesting. Thank you!

12/01/2006 02:02:16 PM · #18

Thanks again, all! I just realized I have to go get batteries for the flash :) Oyyyy!

He, he, he, one of these days I'm gonna get good at this. :)

Message edited by author 2006-12-01 14:03:26.

12/01/2006 02:03:30 PM · #19

Originally posted by ursula:

OK, so what you're doing is bouncing the flash off the reflector, not the ceiling? I've used a reflector with sunshine, never with flash. Interesting. Thank you!

Yep... Keep the flash on the camera and stay mobile, position reflector accordingly...

Results:

timmotyka

Nikon D70

12/01/2006 02:07:14 PM · #20

I have done quite a few of these and I feel it best to use a black background and Bounce the flash off of the ceiling. Most of my best work is done when the baby is sleeping and you can use ambiet lighting such as a window or lamp. Dont be afraid to lose the flash it kills alot of natural features check out my profile. My best results came from post feeding baby shoots. www.freewebs.com/timmotyka2000/[/img]

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

12/01/2006 02:08:32 PM · #21

Question: When you guys say black background, what would make a good portable black background? (that I can get in a hurry). A dark sheet?

Pedro

Nikon D200

12/01/2006 02:08:48 PM · #22

//www.peter-marlin.com/Photos/Alexis/index.html

i shot all of these indoors near a window with the 50mm F1.8. wasn't a planned shoot, just a last minute 'hey while you're here why don't you take some pics' kinda thing.

Message edited by author 2006-12-01 14:09:00.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

12/01/2006 02:13:51 PM · #23

Originally posted by ursula:

Question: When you guys say black background, what would make a good portable black background? (that I can get in a hurry). A dark sheet?

I used black felt... great for absorbing a lot of light and giving you a BLACK background but it does attract a LOT of lint!

I agree with the feeding suggestion. I schedule most of my shoots around feeding time and get some shots awake before feeding and some sleepytime shots afterwards. Many nursing mothers may want nice images shot during feeding, but that kind of depends on the individual. It's certainly a very special bonding shot! Just remember to budget a fair amount of time, you can't rush a baby and you're pretty much at the mercy of his/her schedule.

Good luck with the shoot and let us know how it goes!

Message edited by author 2006-12-01 14:15:49.

ShaneBlake

Nikon D7100

12/01/2006 02:15:50 PM · #24

Originally posted by ursula:

Question: When you guys say black background, what would make a good portable black background? (that I can get in a hurry). A dark sheet?

a bed sheet works wonders... used a white one for the headwear outtakes in my portfolio. i also have a black one that i've used for shots like these :

(not that they're portraits, or even very good shots, mind you...)