Be My Valentine

[smoke665]

Didn't get very long to shoot today. My studio in the garage is still without heat until they get the gas line hooked up, and the electric heaters were working overtime. Did a total of about 40 shots, before she was done. Whittled those down to 15, not a good average, but of those discarded most were because she was being a typical 3 yr old today, couldn't sit still. One thing that's always a problem is that fine hair and static, today was horrible. The DW suggested wiping the hair with a dryer sheet which worked really well (she has a good one every now and then). Of the keepers, these were 4 of my favorites.

Set up - 40" Octobox (r/f of CCL), 40" white reflective umbrella (l/f of CCL), Kicker was a snoot w/10 degree grid (r/r of CCL) on a boom. Pentax 50mm ltd., f/6.3, 1/200 (except the first at 1/125) ISO 100. I changed to alleviate some ambient light problems in the room. Not a lot of processing, what was required was completed in Lr. Pretty straight forward shots. As always C&C appreciated.

no-image-available-grid.jpg by William Raber, on Flickr

 

[zombiesniper133 32]

Excellent set.

 

[smoke665]

Excellent set.

Thank you!

 

[RowdyRay]

Nice set. Looks like you both had a good time.

 

[Tropicalmemories]

Nice! Really like the last one - fun expression.

 

[tirediron]

Very nice!

 

[Jeff1567 67]

Lovely set of images...

 

[Dean_Gretsch]

Nice set! I think Grandpa will always have a willing model!

 

[smoke665]

Nice set. Looks like you both had a good time.

Thank you. Yesterday she was mostly agreeable, there are times when we have to hang it up.

Nice! Really like the last one - fun expression

Thank you. That was probably my overall favorite of the day.

@tirediron and @Jeff15 Thank you.

@Dean_Gretsch Thank you. She has her moments.

 

[CherylL1]

Super cute excellent set! Love her little red toenails. I bought confetti too for my grands' Valentine photos. Love the rustic bench.

 

[smoke665]

Super cute excellent set! Love her little red toenails. I bought confetti too for my grands' Valentine photos. Love the rustic bench.

Thanks CherlL, can't wait to see your set.

I made her Mom do the nail polish, they won't let Papa near it, because I'd have had it everywhere. The confetti gets everywhere, but I find that the little ones really like to throw stuff (confetti, artificial snow, fake spider webs lol). Makes for some great smiles, and helps them forget about the lights. Still have the set up, but Sadie disappears when she sees me with the Tutu, so not sure if we'll get any with her yet. Glad you like the bench, I found that and the two heart props at a junk store for $5. I plan on using it in a cowgirl series coming up as well.

Oh did you catch my comment on the dryer sheets??? I can't believe how great they work at taking the static our of hair.

 

[CherylL1]

Super cute excellent set! Love her little red toenails. I bought confetti too for my grands' Valentine photos. Love the rustic bench.

Thanks CherlL, can't wait to see your set.

I made her Mom do the nail polish, they won't let Papa near it, because I'd have had it everywhere. The confetti gets everywhere, but I find that the little ones really like to throw stuff (confetti, artificial snow, fake spider webs lol). Makes for some great smiles, and helps them forget about the lights. Still have the set up, but Sadie disappears when she sees me with the Tutu, so not sure if we'll get any with her yet. Glad you like the bench, I found that and the two heart props at a junk store for $5. I plan on using it in a cowgirl series coming up as well.

Oh did you catch my comment on the dryer sheets??? I can't believe how great they work at taking the static our of hair.

$5 bench is a deal! The rustic bench would be perfect for a cowgirl set. Good idea on the dryer sheets. I used a tutu on Oscar when he was a puppy and he wasn't very happy.

 

[smoke665]

used a tutu on Oscar when he was a puppy and he wasn't very happy.

Sadie is so good natured that she will endure it, but that won't stop her from "avoiding it" when possible. LOL

 

[adamhiram1]

Beautiful photos! I can't believe she let you get in 40 shots, she must be a little saint. I think #4 is my favorite on its own, but as usual, they work great as a series as well. I'm definitely borrowing that confetti idea for a future shoot, what a great way to keep her attention and put a smile on her face!

 

[smoke665]

Beautiful photos! I can't believe she let you get in 40 shots, she must be a little saint. I think #4 is my favorite on its own, but as usual, they work great as a series as well. I'm definitely borrowing that confetti idea for a future shoot, what a great way to keep her attention and put a smile on her face!

Thanks Adam, #4 is our favorite as well. I think part of it is the spontaneity of the laugh. She has a repitore of "looks" that she can perform on que but this was all natural. We keep an assortment of things that can be held, tossed, looked at, touched, anything to grab their attention for just a second. I've found this works well with most of the kids I've shot. I also try to give myself some latitude on lighting, and sitting them on something where their feet can't touch the floor helps corral them Other then that I use center point AF and keep it locked on the eyes, constantly moving to adjust. It's getting really hard on the knees, I need to come up with a low stool on casters. Funny side note, she created a stir at daycare when they had a photographer come in to do school pictures. When it was her turn, she hopped up on the chair and started posing without direction, working the camera. Guess she was remembering a few things Papa taught her.

Fabulous photos! great shots.

Thank you!