Using Flash on Babies???

angela_cheryl_7359 · 01-07-2010, 07:21 AM

My sister just had a baby (a month old) and is convinced that flash is bad for the babies. THEN, she wonders why the pictures are always so dark and out of focus. Is the flash really THAT bad for their eyes? You'd think if it was, they wouldn't use flash in photography studios such as Wal-mart, right???

Hardrock · 01-07-2010, 07:38 AM

I guess Im in trouble because my 6month old has probally seen more flash than most people in a life time!

mbkPhotography · 01-07-2010, 07:41 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Hardrock

I guess Im in trouble because my 6month old has probally seen more flash than most people in a life time!

haha that made me laugh cause I'm in the same boat, my son is 5 months old and I'm a picture nut. He's in even more trouble once my B800 shows up lol!

To the OP thats a good question, I would think constant flash over and over and over and over again would be bad for anyones eyes though I'm not sure on an official answer but I hope it isn't lol.

itznfb · 01-07-2010, 07:42 AM

Bounce or direct? I could see direct flash being harmful. It can be painful depending on the power used.

Mulewings~ · 01-07-2010, 07:48 AM

Absolutely! When my step daughter had their children and I went on the preemie ward, there was a huge sign that said, *Photographs allowed~~NO FLASHES!*
I spoke with the nurses and asked and the reasoning is that babies eyes ... especially newborns can have their eyes damaged by the flash.

Think about how it hurts our eyes!

Try some natural lighting...move the baby near a window and use that. Set up some house lights.

For example, I used window lighting for this shot...

Good luck and get creative.
Also see if you can reduce your flash settings!

iolair · 01-07-2010, 07:53 AM

I've never seen any evidence that flash can damage babies eyes (though I'd accept it could be the case with newborns), but it certainly can cause pain and scare them.

Fast lens, high ISO and either window light or bright flourescents are your best bet.

**Big Mike** · 01-07-2010, 08:11 AM

Quote:

I spoke with the nurses and asked and the reasoning is that babies eyes ... especially newborns can have their eyes damaged by the flash.

That's a common thought, and it's certainly reasonable...But I've yet to see or hear any actual proof of it...And as mentioned, many babies see more flashes now, than their parents saw in a lifetime.

KmH · 01-07-2010, 08:33 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Big Mike

Quote:

I spoke with the nurses and asked and the reasoning is that babies eyes ... especially newborns can have their eyes damaged by the flash.

That's a common thought, and it's certainly reasonable...But I've yet to see or hear any actual proof of it...And as mentioned, many babies see more flashes now, than their parents saw in a lifetime.

+1 ^ ^ ^ ^
It is a subject perfectly suited to being an Urban Legend.

As far as newborns, they don't have their eyes open very often in the 1st month and many retail photographers use flash to make images for parents. In fact many retail photographers have packages that expose the kids to flash at 0/3/6/9/and 12 months, all with flash.

Mulewings~ · 01-07-2010, 08:42 AM

I guess I would speak to a medical professional???

Or as the OP stated...her sister said no to the flash...so why not honor it?

KmH · 01-07-2010, 09:26 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Mulewings~

I guess I would speak to a medical professional???.....

Exactly!

And, I wouldn't put that question to a nurse if it was my kid. I'd be asking a Pediatrician that specializes in childrens vision.

**Big Mike** · 01-07-2010, 09:48 AM

Some things to consider:
Babies are basically blind when they are born, even when they do open their eyes, which isn't much at first.
A flash duration is a tiny fraction of a second...maybe 1/1000 or shorter.
It would take a lot more power than a typical camera flash to do any damage in that short amount of time.

Will Flash Damage Babies’ Sensitive Young Eyes? | Sublime Light

01-07-2010, 07:21 AM	#1
angela_cheryl_7359 No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South Carolina Posts: 35 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (2)	Using Flash on Babies??? My sister just had a baby (a month old) and is convinced that flash is bad for the babies. THEN, she wonders why the pictures are always so dark and out of focus. Is the flash really THAT bad for their eyes? You'd think if it was, they wouldn't use flash in photography studios such as Wal-mart, right???

01-07-2010, 07:41 AM	#3
mbkPhotography No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 44 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Quote: Originally Posted by Hardrock I guess Im in trouble because my 6month old has probally seen more flash than most people in a life time! haha that made me laugh cause I'm in the same boat, my son is 5 months old and I'm a picture nut. He's in even more trouble once my B800 shows up lol! To the OP thats a good question, I would think constant flash over and over and over and over again would be bad for anyones eyes though I'm not sure on an official answer but I hope it isn't lol. __________________ D300S: -50mm 1.4G -18-200mm 3.5-5.6G -SB600

01-07-2010, 07:42 AM	#4
itznfb TPF Junkie! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,103 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 32 Times in 30 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Bounce or direct? I could see direct flash being harmful. It can be painful depending on the power used. __________________ This

01-07-2010, 07:48 AM	#5
Mulewings~ I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: SW Wisconsin Posts: 414 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Absolutely! When my step daughter had their children and I went on the preemie ward, there was a huge sign that said, Photographs allowed~~NO FLASHES! I spoke with the nurses and asked and the reasoning is that babies eyes ... especially newborns can have their eyes damaged by the flash. Think about how it hurts our eyes! Try some natural lighting...move the baby near a window and use that. Set up some house lights. For example, I used window lighting for this shot... Good luck and get creative. Also see if you can reduce your flash settings! __________________ The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. ~Author Unknown

01-07-2010, 07:53 AM	#6
iolair Been spending a lot of time on here! Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: nr. Oviedo, Spain Posts: 229 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts My Gallery: (0)	I've never seen any evidence that flash can damage babies eyes (though I'd accept it could be the case with newborns), but it certainly can cause pain and scare them. Fast lens, high ISO and either window light or bright flourescents are your best bet. __________________ DSLR: Canon 20D Lenses: Canon 50mm f/1.8, Canon 18-55 f/3.5-5.6, Sigma 75-300mm f/4-5.6, Sigma 28-200 f/3.5-5.6

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01-07-2010, 07:38 AM	#2
Hardrock I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 584 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts My Gallery: (0)	I guess Im in trouble because my 6month old has probally seen more flash than most people in a life time!

01-07-2010, 08:11 AM	#7
Big Mike I am Big, I am Mike Site Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Edmonton Posts: 22,984 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 298 Times in 276 Posts My Gallery: (93)	Quote: I spoke with the nurses and asked and the reasoning is that babies eyes ... especially newborns can have their eyes damaged by the flash. That's a common thought, and it's certainly reasonable...But I've yet to see or hear any actual proof of it...And as mentioned, many babies see more flashes now, than their parents saw in a lifetime. __________________ "The most important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative, and the second disastrous" Edmonton Wedding Photographer ==>Blog

01-07-2010, 08:33 AM	#8
KmH TPF Junkie! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 7,744 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 410 Times in 378 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Quote: Originally Posted by Big Mike Quote: I spoke with the nurses and asked and the reasoning is that babies eyes ... especially newborns can have their eyes damaged by the flash. That's a common thought, and it's certainly reasonable...But I've yet to see or hear any actual proof of it...And as mentioned, many babies see more flashes now, than their parents saw in a lifetime. +1 ^ ^ ^ ^ It is a subject perfectly suited to being an *Urban Legend. As far as newborns, they don't have their eyes open very often in the 1st month and many retail photographers use flash to make images for parents. In fact many retail photographers have packages that expose the kids to flash at 0/3/6/9/and 12 months, all with flash. __________________ . .Keith. . . . "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten" - Benjamin Franklin FOR SALE*: Like New, Nikon MB-D200 NAPP member - referral link: https://www.photoshopuser.com/signup/?aid=luhgxq&code=friend Illegitimum non carborundum

01-07-2010, 08:42 AM	#9
Mulewings~ I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: SW Wisconsin Posts: 414 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts My Gallery: (0)	I guess I would speak to a medical professional??? Or as the OP stated...her sister said no to the flash...so why not honor it? __________________ The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. ~Author Unknown

01-07-2010, 09:26 AM	#10
KmH TPF Junkie! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 7,744 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 410 Times in 378 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Quote: Originally Posted by Mulewings~ I guess I would speak to a medical professional???..... Exactly! And, I wouldn't put that question to a nurse if it was my kid. I'd be asking a Pediatrician that specializes in childrens vision. __________________ . .Keith. . . . "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten" - Benjamin Franklin *FOR SALE*: Like New, Nikon MB-D200 NAPP member - referral link: https://www.photoshopuser.com/signup/?aid=luhgxq&code=friend Illegitimum non carborundum

01-07-2010, 09:48 AM	#11
Big Mike I am Big, I am Mike Site Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Edmonton Posts: 22,984 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 298 Times in 276 Posts My Gallery: (93)	Some things to consider: Babies are basically blind when they are born, even when they do open their eyes, which isn't much at first. A flash duration is a tiny fraction of a second...maybe 1/1000 or shorter. It would take a lot more power than a typical camera flash to do any damage in that short amount of time. Will Flash Damage Babies’ Sensitive Young Eyes? \| Sublime Light __________________ "The most important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative, and the second disastrous" Edmonton Wedding Photographer ==>Blog

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