Newborn Photography - Newbie

[stephaniemoore]

I would like an honest critique please. I have just recently gotten into photographing newborns and have been watching and reading tons of tutorials. These are some shots of my first newborn session, what do you guys think?


facebook newborn 1 by stephaniemoorephotography, on Flickr



034 by stephaniemoorephotography, on Flickr


facebook newborn 2 by stephaniemoorephotography, on Flickr


facebook newborn by stephaniemoorephotography, on Flickr


027 by stephaniemoorephotography, on Flickr


These were all taken on location at the clients home. There was a big window but it was the wrong time of day and I was forced to use my nikon SB-700 flash. The camera I used is a Nikon D50

[TPF Sponsor]

[Big Mike]

They look pretty good to me. The lighting is nice and soft, but rather flat. That often works well for babies.

However, a step up would be if you could use nice soft ratio lighting. If this is something you're going to be doing, get some sort of off-camera lighting and a nice big softbox/umbrella etc.

[bazooka]

I think that kid has more shoulder and back hair than I will ever have. Besides that, I think you did a great job. Be careful of shooting black hair on black background in the last one... you're losing separation there.

[paigew]

1,3, and 4 I love!

2 is very cute but yes, the backhair...gotta go. Maybe you can fix that in LR? Idk....also, I think there is too much pink; it really creates a pinkish tone (imo)

5, I agree with above poster. Her hair blends in to the background and also the background doesn't look very 'smooth' and/or 'seamless'. Her hair seems a bit green too.

Great job though! I have been watching all those youtube tutorials too! Now I just need a newborn

[stephaniemoore]

Thanks!

Paigew - I put up an ad on CraigsList for free newborn photography and got a few hits, just so I could practice on some babies.

Yes her back and arm hair is awful, but it's apart of her, know what I mean? On some of the photos I photoshopped it so it wasn't as noticable but I didn't want to take it all the way out. The parents were interacial and had lot's of American Indian in them, hince the all the hair. Yea, I'm not sure how the green tone got on her hair... not sure what to do about that, probably just not use the black blanket on dark haired babies.

I also think I should have had her little fingers in the shots instead of her laying on them, they are so hard to pose. That takes practice I guess. I read something about "the rule of 10" having 10 fingers or 10 toes showing in the photos.

[CMfromIL]

I also think I should have had her little fingers in the shots instead of her laying on them, they are so hard to pose. That takes practice I guess. I read something about "the rule of 10" having 10 fingers or 10 toes showing in the photos.

Yes, make it a point to ALWAYS hide the '11th' finger or toe.

And nice pictures, I thought they were very nice.

[mommy-medic]

I edit in LR an PS so this may not apply, but in LR you can make a duplicate copy of the image, then increase the blacks until the background is seamless/without wrinkles, then erase the subject and blend it with the original image- this gets rid of background distractions.

Also, in number 4 I would bunch up the fabric or darken the edit or something to maintain a little modesty for her. I know naked baby shots are, well, naked- but the family may be surprised to see that and may not feel comfortable framing that. I know I wouldn't with my kids! Plus the Internet being what it is, there's no telling who would use that for ill purposes. Just my take on it fwiw.

[Bossy]

2 and 3 are ok. 1 the conversion is too muddy, 2 needs something, some color balance and skin smoothing. I also don't love the pink on pinkin general, since they are different pinks. #5 her skin tone is a little off, a little green maybe?