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Baby Photo Shoot Help!!!

SimplyCanon

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I am going to be taking pictures of a newborn at the end of the week. I have been researching different photographers' work and I really like the black and white baby photos with a black background. But I don't understand how they get the black background? Is it a backdrop? Or is it done in photoshop? It looks so crisply black that it seems unlikely it would be a backdrop, because a backdrop would show up...correct? Is it more of a case of the type of lighting that is used? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
 
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Black sheet, small aperture. I did some like that. Not too hard. I used flash as well.
 
Yes, Black Bed Sheet - small Aperture will do the trick. Some natural lighting from a window as well.

Here is an example of one shot I took:

789351302_vQt3T-L.jpg
 
Thanks for the responses! I've also read that I should have backlighting and have the subject 3 feet away from the black sheet. Would those of you who have shot like this agree? And what would you suggest as a good f-stop? Thanks for all the help!
 
Thanks for the responses! I've also read that I should have backlighting and have the subject 3 feet away from the black sheet. Would those of you who have shot like this agree? And what would you suggest as a good f-stop? Thanks for all the help!

3 feet or more... Basically when I shoot against a black sheet/background I put my subject as far away from the sheet as possible. This helps eliminate any imperfections (wrinkles, folds. bunches).

Also, having your subject back lit or lighting the background (also called a seperation light), will help seperate the subject from the background.
 
I have a "portable" studio that I take to every newborn photo shoot with me...

Wicker basket (almost like laundry basket size, but a little smaller), black king size flat sheet, white king size flat sheet, some headbands for little girls, and a little "monkey" ear hat for little boys. Also, some sort of SOFT, warm, fuzzy material for them to lay on is good as well... I have a thing I got from walmart for about $20 that is pink suede on one side and a natural color fuzzy material on the other side. When I pull that out, parents get happy :) It's soft, warm, and fuzzy :)

As far as posing goes, google images is your best friend :) I research before every photo shoot. Once I have a good number of ideas, then I won't need to use it anymore, but things are pretty slow...

So anywho, those are my suggestions :) Hope they're helpful :)


Oh, and just in case there isn't enough light available (I use natural light 98% of the time) go to walmart and get a couple small clamp lamps and some daylight rated CFL bulbs.
 
The key to a dark/black background is getting more light on your subject and less light on the background.

This was shot in my livingroom with no dark backdrop...just a white wall. But because I only let the light hit the subject (my wife), the background comes out dark. I may have had to touch it up in post, but not by much.
Belly-9960-BW-web.jpg


So keeping in mind that light falls off over distance (the diffuse reflection of that light), if your light is aimed at the subject, and thus the background behind them...the farther away the background, the less light it will get (reflect). But you can also help this by aiming and/or blocking the light in such a way that it hits the subject but not the background.
 
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I tried using a black sheet and here are the results. The first two are okay, (although I'd prefer it to be jet black!) but when I put a real human in front of it, the sheet shows up. I tried placing a lamp above the sheet for backlighting, but that did not seem to help a whole lot. I was using an external flash. Any thoughts on the matter?
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pictures do not show up
 
Okay, it looks like my photos are not going to show up. =( If you're willing to help, please visit this website to see them. http://beccasphotography1.shutterfly.com/?role=-1

There are 3 photos. The ones with the doll I am satisfied enough with, although I would prefer the lighting to be better/background darker. When I put the human in, it has a shadow and you can totally tell there is a sheet there. I know I need to iron the sheet to get the wrinkles out. =)
 
In the picture of the boy it looks like he is too close to the background.. What were you using for a flash? do you have a diffuser on it?
 
In the picture of the boy it looks like he is too close to the background.. What were you using for a flash? do you have a diffuser on it?

I'm using a promaster 7400EDF. I did not have a diffuser on it. Do you think I should invest in one?
 

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