Infant Relatives Make Great Subjects

[Ajay]

I'm new to this site and I've been looking for a place to get some real feedback and advice on improving my shots. Open to
My niece is now six weeks old and these are some of my favorite shots from the photo sessions we've had.
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5.

 

[Sweetsomedays]

#4 is awesome! Can I steal that idea? My close friend is about to have a baby and wants me to take photo's for her.

 

[Ajay]

Please do! I picked that pose up at a studio I worked at once.

 

[Matthew Craggs]

I concur. #4 is very, very good. I love the nice, soft lighting on #2 as well.

 

[DPW2007]

Number two is my favourite. Looks very peaceful.

 

[Ajay]

#4 is awesome! Can I steal that idea? My close friend is about to have a baby and wants me to take photo's for her.

This shot also works well with a black blanket or background pulled around the feet, which is how I've mostly seen it done. I just liked the contrast of the white blanket with her darker skin. Here are a couple other feet shots I did with her...I know the first one probably needs a tighter crop.
6.

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8.

 

[heip]

Great shots! It says ok to edit...so I edited #5. It's such a sweet shot.

 

[NJMAN]

Excellent edits heip, IMO. But I think the color version is just a bit too red. Some selective desaturation might be in order there, to give a more realistic skin tone.

 

[oldnavy170]

Yes, these are beautiful. Some of your shots area a tad grainy but thats fixable. You have a natural talent and it shows in your shots!!!!!!!!

 

[Ajay]

Thank you to everyone!
Heip, those edits are amazing! What all did you do and how did you do it?? I feel so lost every time I open photoshop and you guys make it look so easy!
Do you have refinishing software or a plugin of some sort? I've been wanting to purchase the Digital Gem Airbrush.
I played around with cloning out the baby's other arm, but I never felt like I could get it to look right and I didn't think of cloning out the mother's other hand. How did you soften the edges and make the light look like it was fading in? And did you do something with her eyes?
I love the black and white version especially. The only thing that bugs me is that the skin almost looks a little too retouched. But overall...amazing. I want all of my photos to look that good!

 

[Ajay]

Yes, these are beautiful. Some of your shots area a tad grainy but thats fixable. You have a natural talent and it shows in your shots!!!!!!!!

Thank you!
Is the grain something I can fix in photoshop or something I need to do when I'm actually taking the picture? I do tend to use a higher ISO in what others might call normal light because I have a hard time keeping my hands still.

 

[heip]

Other than clonining out the mothers other hand and the baby's hand hanging down, I softened the entire pic and then brushed back the parts I wanted sharp ie; eyes, nose, hair, etc.

 

[oldnavy170]

Thank you!
Is the grain something I can fix in photoshop or something I need to do when I'm actually taking the picture? I do tend to use a higher ISO in what others might call normal light because I have a hard time keeping my hands still.

You can fix the grain in most photo editing programs. However if you are using a high ISO then you want to lower that if you are in good light. If you need to use a higher ISO because your indoors then just fix that in your editing program.

They are still very good photos!