Feedback on newborn photos

[PinkPoodle]

Hi there!

I'm a beginner photographer who's always wanted to give newborn photography a shot. A friend had a baby almost two weeks ago and was so gracious to let me give it a try.

Please keep in mind this is my first time doing anything like this. I welcome any and all feedback but please give it to me in layman's terms as I don't understand much of the photography lingo...yet.

 

[wyogirl]

They are quite nice and I'm sure mom is happy. One thing I noticed is that a few of the shots have what I would consider missed focus. The focus point should usually be on the eye. The first one the focus is on the hands and the face is soft, the second one, the focus is on the hair and the face is soft. Its particularrly important to focus on the eye if you are using a large aperature.

Overall these are very good, just a few things to think about the next time.

 

[PinkPoodle]

They are quite nice and I'm sure mom is happy. One thing I noticed is that a few of the shots have what I would consider missed focus. The focus point should usually be on the eye. The first one the focus is on the hands and the face is soft, the second one, the focus is on the hair and the face is soft. Its particularrly important to focus on the eye if you are using a large aperature.

Overall these are very good, just a few things to think about the next time.

Thanks SO much for your feedback! I really do appreciate it. I think in the first photo, my Photoshop editing might have made the photo look that way. I tried to "soften" the skin, but I made it look more out of focus I think. I still need a lot of practice in that area, as well.

 

[wyogirl]

Also, on the feet picture... a little more depth of field would have been better..... so that the whole foot is in focus...piggies and all.
Over softening the skin is a mistake that a lot of infant photographers make.... if you do soften it, make sure to avoid the eye but specifically the eyelash.

 

[PinkPoodle]

Also, on the feet picture... a little more depth of field would have been better..... so that the whole foot is in focus...piggies and all.
Over softening the skin is a mistake that a lot of infant photographers make.... if you do soften it, make sure to avoid the eye but specifically the eyelash.

Yes, definitely more depth of field in the feet picture would have been awesome. I do wish all of those cute little toasie woasies were in focus.

 

[KmH]

Also try to get the white balance the same in a series of photos.

In one of the photos the babies skin is an orangish color that doesn't look very natural.

 

[PinkPoodle]

Also try to get the white balance the same in a series of photos.

In one of the photos the babies skin is an orangish color that doesn't look very natural.

Thanks so much for your response!! Honestly, I don't even know how to use WB!! *embarassed look* I jus know its set on Auto! i tried doing some research and read up on some stuff so hopefully some of it will stick the next time I do a shoot~

 

[jaomul]

As a set they can be improved by the advise given above. This is advice given by photographers with a trained eye and the advice is good.

I would doubt any non photographer would notice these faults as much, and as such think it's a very good first attempt so well done

 

[PinkPoodle]

As a set they can be improved by the advise given above. This is advice given by photographers with a trained eye and the advice is good.

I would doubt any non photographer would notice these faults as much, and as such think it's a very good first attempt so well done

Thank you SO much!!! I can't wait to get my hands on another newborn!!

 

[tirediron]

Also try to get the white balance the same in a series of photos.

In one of the photos the babies skin is an orangish color that doesn't look very natural.

Thanks so much for your response!! Honestly, I don't even know how to use WB!! *embarassed look* I jus know its set on Auto! i tried doing some research and read up on some stuff so hopefully some of it will stick the next time I do a shoot~

WB isn't really something you "use" so much as something you adjust or correct for. Every light source has a different light temperature, expressed in degrees K. That differing temperature results in colour casts from deep blue to strong yellow-orange. Correcting WB is one of the most basic of portrait photography tasks. Use a basic grey care, or even better, a more sophisticated tool like the X-Rite Colour Checker to index the colour temperature and then once you've imported your files into Lightroom, you can with, just a couple of mouse-clicks, batch-correct WB.

 

[vintagesnaps]

It seems like you'll need to get better at understanding and using your camera before you get into doing portraits so you'll get good results consistently and can be successful. If you want to get beyond freebies for friends of friends etc. that is. You'd need to learn the technical lingo and what it all means for potential clients to see that you know what you're doing.

The first one is sweet, I'd just watch your framing to make sure the head is completely in the frame.

You seem to have used appropriate positioning for a newborn, keeping the fabric loose enough so it doesn't restrict leg movement. The baby seems posed allowing head room in the basket so the baby isn't cramped and not posed with the head/neck bent over. (I notice all that because of my background as an early intervention specialist and some photos/videos seem to not always use proper positioning for the baby's age.)

Maybe get in some practice with a doll or teddy bear etc. to figure out camera settings and then you could use those practice shots to use to try out editing techniques. Learn more about what John (tirediron) posted since he has expertise in doing portraits and knows his stuff.