1st ever newborn shoot - C&C Please

Spuzzette · Dec 14, 2011

Meet Ariyea

She is 17 days old and very fussy. If you touched her, she woke up. If you put something on her 9 times out of 10 she woke up. When she was awake she was very energetic and wanted to move around. She was such a sweet baby though.

I would love some feedback.

Thanks! (Don't be too harsh!) :sexywink:

TMBPhotography · Dec 14, 2011

Personal choice, the shots that dont have anything on her head are better. Simple is better, IMHO. Would've liked to see other poses than her laying the same way every time too. But, other than that, great job.

Spuzzette · Dec 14, 2011

I completely agree with you with the pose thing. Like I said she was fussy lol you really couldn't do anything do her without her being a complete blur..an arm twitch there...a head jolt there...I had to take what I could get lol I started to look around for some sort of prop because I was getting the same picture over and over again....

MLeeK · Dec 14, 2011

There is little baby and LOT of props in most of those. It's all about everything you can stick to her head instead of about the newborn.
Most of sleeping newborn photography is a trick. Newborns RARELY cooperate and sleep like we'd want them to, so you have to learn the tricks to make them appear to be sleeping and looking so peaceful.
Newborn photography is also best done with naked babies. It's all about that new, natural baby.
Your white balance ranges from cyan to orange in these.
Your focus looks great.
Your exposures are dark on 3&5
Your composition is all head dead center. Newborns are very easy to get good composition with. If you put the whole body in the pic their little faces fall naturally into a good spot for composition.

cepwin · Dec 14, 2011

I have to agree with TMB...much prefer the shots with nothing on her head. Mazel Tov..she's a beautiful little girl! The next to last one was my favorite..

Spuzzette · Dec 14, 2011

Thank you MLeeK! I really appreciate the feedback...I have another friends baby I am going to take pictures of tomorrow. She is 5 weeks and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Unfortunately this baby is suffering some legs issues and her legs are "stuck" in a certain position. That is why her feet are cropped out of almost every picture.

MLeeK · Dec 14, 2011

But that is part of her "special-ness." It's your job to capture it and do so in a way that tells her story.

Spuzzette · Dec 15, 2011

Her mother didn't want it

I was asked kindly before not to

MissCream · Dec 15, 2011

Spuzzette said:
Her mother didn't want it I was asked kindly before not to

That's a sin

mc1979 · Dec 15, 2011

If you want some great inspiration for newborn photography, head on over to Flickr and check out some groups that are dedicated to it. You will be amazed

As far as critique here, as MLeek said, your WB is all over the place, baby's skin tone looks a different color in all shots. You have some harsh shadows in a few, what were using for lighting?
And I don't really dig the whole draping beads over baby, or having them hold them..it just looks unnatural. That's just my opinion though. I have a lady in my area that just posted some newborn pics on her FB page in which she actually draped Christmas lights all over the baby! OMG, it looks terrible and why would anyone want that? LOL

Spuzzette · Dec 15, 2011

Everyone has different tastes I guess.

mc1979 · Dec 15, 2011

You're right, but wrapping a newborn in Christmas lights is just wrong...there is nothing remotely eye-pleasing about it, also.. they tend to get a little hot.. I'm sure she didn't harm the baby, and they weren't on there for long...but people should really think about things like that...
SOrry, you might have meant the taste thing about your beads you used and me not liking that, but just in case I wanted to respond.

MLeeK · Dec 15, 2011

I have to say I agree on the beads. It makes me think of the Flapper Girl stuff... and kinda trashy. I am sorry!
Glittery, glitzy and flashy and newborns are kind of like polka dots and plaid. Newborns are innocence and natural. Glitter and glitz is brittle and in a lot of ways sleazy looking-which is NOT what I am looking for in a word... It makes you think of the jaded side of hollywood kind of things.

I think another reason we tend to really push away from anything like that is it is something that every Best Buy/Facebook photographer does along with a bad vignette and all of the cheap looking tricks. Peruse You Are Not a Photographer | Exposing fauxtographers since 2011 for a while and you'll be shocked at some of what you see in there.

mc1979 · Dec 15, 2011

Thanks MLeek, you said what I wanted to.. haha

GrantH · Dec 15, 2011

It looks like you covered her face with left over christmas bows or something. You are trying to capture someone who has been on the earth for 17 days, not someone who has been on this earth for 17 days wearing anything you can place on or around her. Babies are innocent, let them be the star of the photo.