Help/inspiration/tips from the wise please - new baby pics

[mat1227]

Hello!

Some friends have said they like my photos and would love me to take some pics of their new baby (10 weeks old).
I'm a keen amateur, it's been a hobby thusfar and will continue to be, but if one day I could make a little bit of cash from my hobby that'd be great (as is the case with most of us I'm sure). Am setting up a blog/portfolio of sorts so this is good timing.

So, baby photos. Talk to me



Any principles online you can point me towards, beyond usual portrait stuff?

Any inspiring examples of anything you've done?

Can you share any tips/basics or inspiration for photo sessions with a couple and their new baby?

(things that may help - I'm in Sydney in the Eastern Suburbs ie. near the ocean, we all live near the beach and kitwise have a 7D with 17-55 2.8 usm, the 50mm 1.8 and a lovely old Olympus OM2 film camera with 50 1.8 Zuiko. And a fairly good grasp of lightroom basics)

Thanks

Mat

[MudwiG]

Just over the bridge here in Wollstonecraft!

I have just done similar with 2 300w strobes and a reflector.

I used a longer lens around 70mm on the 7D.

Get nice and low and make sure the eyes are in focus, soft lighting is key and have a toy, rattle in your hand to get the kids attention would be my advice

[Colin RedGriff]

Close ups of hands and feet are good especially if you can have a parents hand in the shot for comparison.

Find something soft that you can put the baby on, a bean bag is good underneath, and keep the area where you are shooting, warm.

[XB70]

We move back to Sydney next month - perhaps an opportunity in coming months to meet up after work etc and grab some of the harbour?

[mat1227]

Great thanks very much some good pointers - and yes, well up for that

Thinking some cosy indoorsy shots (bokeh & little hands a great shout) and some "golden hour" outside ones later afternoon. Any tips for lighting the former with nothing more than in camera flash?

50 1.8 will probably figure heavily I guess.

[K12beano]

mat1227 said:

Thinking some cosy indoorsy shots (bokeh & little hands a great shout) and some "golden hour" outside ones later afternoon. Any tips for lighting the former with nothing more than in camera flash?

Use the flash off the camera would be my first tip.

Also, get a lamp - either buy something cheap or look around your house and set it up; play around with lighting from the side at various angles until you get something pleasing - using flash has the disadvantage of not immediately being able to see what you're doing - use your 50mm, just part stopped down or wide open - f/1.8 or f/2. If you can, use manual focus (You'll be on a tripod, right) - don't know if you have Live View, or a magnifying viewfinder lens can be a help. Don't fret about colour balance of the light, because you're going to convert your shots to monochrome! That way you can "focus" (excuse pun) on the shapes, forms, tones and simple lighting. Nothing more frustrating that trying to get skin tones looking perfect in colour, so go for impact in other ways!

just a thought.

[mat1227]

Thanks beano, that's really great

[andy-xr]

I'd be tempted to go over rather than under on exposure, skin colour and tone is often a lot redder on babies than on kids and adults, when underexposed it gets a bit messy. You dont need to go mental, maybe half a stop from experience

[mat1227]

Awesome, noted - thanks!