C&C on second newborn shoot with twins

pony · Mar 14, 2011

All my friends are having babies! All want me to practice on their babies. YAY!
These girls are 2 1/2 week old twins.
They were pretty sweet, but holy cow 2 is wayyyy harder than one :lmao:
These are SOOC
Would like some serious C&C before I even attempt editing
Thanks

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5)

*LoveMyLife09* · Mar 14, 2011

I love the poses!!

FattyMcJ · Mar 14, 2011

I know I'm a cynic, but....#3 creeps me out, and #4 (I shudder saying this) they look dead. [I know I'll get flamed for saying that, but I'm just being honest]

The rest, I LOVE as far as posing and composition. #1 is the best, and #5 I'd crop off the top bit where the arms peek out over the blanket, but that's nit-picky and my personal choice.

Won't comment on the editing since you said they were pre-processed.

bevin · Mar 15, 2011

Holy cluckiness Batman, no time to comment, must go make babies!!!

Seriously though...
#1 - gorgeous pose but their faces are a little smushed together.
#2 - love
#3 - I can see where you're going with this but it looks a little awkward, like they're pushing away from each other.
#4 - beautiful but I would have tried to close their mouths
#5 - same as PP, crop out the arms

Really though, I'm being super critical. They're gorgeous photos, well done.

pony · Mar 15, 2011

FattyMcJ said:
I know I'm a cynic, but....#3 creeps me out, and #4 (I shudder saying this) they look dead. [I know I'll get flamed for saying that, but I'm just being honest]

The rest, I LOVE as far as posing and composition. #1 is the best, and #5 I'd crop off the top bit where the arms peek out over the blanket, but that's nit-picky and my personal choice.

Won't comment on the editing since you said they were pre-processed.

I'm looking for tough C&C, so I appreciate what you are saying.

I am a complete newbie with this all and may have been in a little over my head trying to do twins for my second shoot LOL
I tried all the cutsie newborn poses and they were tag teaming me with sad faces. Once I swaddled them together they were happy, but doing stuff like closing mouths and repositioning arms was really difficult! I can see why those 2 creep you out. It's apparently a very fine line between bright red and crying, and looking er...too relaxed

pony · Mar 15, 2011

bevin said:
Holy cluckiness Batman, no time to comment, must go make babies!!!

Seriously though...
#1 - gorgeous pose but their faces are a little smushed together.
#2 - love
#3 - I can see where you're going with this but it looks a little awkward, like they're pushing away from each other.
#4 - beautiful but I would have tried to close their mouths
#5 - same as PP, crop out the arms

Really though, I'm being super critical. They're gorgeous photos, well done.

Thanks. I am trying really hard!
I have looked at lots of sites of good photographers for ideas on posing. Ideas are great, executing them is hard! Tiny babies are lovely and bendy and sweet, but they don't take direction well. I much prefer taking snaps of my 4 year old...and my dogs....and flowers LOL

Thanks for your input. I have my next friend due to have her second baby in 4 weeks so I will definitely take all the C&C and try to put it into action

pony · Mar 15, 2011

bump for any tips?
Lighting, pose, color, and any technical in-camera stuff?
Light was a window, no reflectors or diffusers, only a large white bedspread.

I am VERY new to photoshop. What are my best bets for improving the pics with basic editing?
Thanks so much

tirediron · Mar 15, 2011

C&C per req:

1. Wonderful pose! The exposure/lighting isn't bad, but it's a touch hot; notice that you've got a blown area on the blanket lower right. The issue with this image is the orientation. Why did you not go for a portrait orientation given that the children are basically long and narrow? The wasted space image righ tand cropped bottom isn't quite working for me.

2. Looks like you nailed the exposure here. I like the fact that they're oriented more appropriately in the frame and it's a nice pose.

3. Sorry, I do NOT like this one at all.
4. Good exposure; I don't mind this pose, but I think it would have been stronger shot from a little further camera left so that the right side of the nearest child's face wasn't hidden.

5. Kind of messy. This might work if you crop the top 1/3 off and the RH side to remove the "sheepskin" bit. For shots like this, try and arrange the bedding more neatly.

Overall a VERY strong set with some wonderfully creative poses and only the most minor technical issues. If this is your second infant session, I see very good things in your photographic future.

Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.

~John

GrantH · Mar 15, 2011

FattyMcJ said:
I know I'm a cynic, but....#3 creeps me out, and #4 (I shudder saying this) they look dead. [I know I'll get flamed for saying that, but I'm just being honest]

The rest, I LOVE as far as posing and composition. #1 is the best.

I'm with you on 4, but I liked 3 the best, they look so tranquil and peaceful. Number 1 imho makes them look like siamese twins, they seem TOO close even though they are sleeping together. The girls are adorable, but number 1 takes away from it for me.

Robin Usagani · Mar 15, 2011

You need some shallow DOF shots where one baby is in focus and one is blurred.

vtf · Mar 15, 2011

Outstanding! I don't have anymore than whats been said but very creative for a challenging shoot.
Over-the-top cuteness shoot.
:thumbup:

g-fi · Mar 15, 2011

I like! What lens are you using? They all seem a little soft, and I prefer to underexpose just a tad so that I can lighten in post but I don't think these are too blown out. Did you shoot with different blankets/props? Multiple newborns are probably the most difficult, but most adorable to photograph, I think you did a good job!

reznap · Mar 15, 2011

I think you did some good work and #1 and #2 are my picks. For #5, I agree with cropping out the arms - I would have preferred to see it framed differently though, maybe with a lower perspective and with the rest of the kiddos in the frame.

g-fi said:
I like! What lens are you using? They all seem a little soft, and I prefer to underexpose just a tad so that I can lighten in post but I don't think these are too blown out. Did you shoot with different blankets/props? Multiple newborns are probably the most difficult, but most adorable to photograph, I think you did a good job!

Unrelated, but I remember seeing your avatar and previous posts but I could have sworn you were from Australia? Thought you posted under another name too. Maybe I'm losing it...

pony · Mar 15, 2011

GrantH said:
FattyMcJ said:

I know I'm a cynic, but....#3 creeps me out, and #4 (I shudder saying this) they look dead. [I know I'll get flamed for saying that, but I'm just being honest]

The rest, I LOVE as far as posing and composition. #1 is the best.

Click to expand...

I'm with you on 4, but I liked 3 the best, they look so tranquil and peaceful. Number 1 imho makes them look like siamese twins, they seem TOO close even though they are sleeping together. The girls are adorable, but number 1 takes away from it for me.

Good to know. Maybe I will not include the "dead babies" shot on the disc for mom!

tirediron said:
C&C per req:

1. Wonderful pose! The exposure/lighting isn't bad, but it's a touch hot; notice that you've got a blown area on the blanket lower right. The issue with this image is the orientation. Why did you not go for a portrait orientation given that the children are basically long and narrow? The wasted space image righ tand cropped bottom isn't quite working for me.

2. Looks like you nailed the exposure here. I like the fact that they're oriented more appropriately in the frame and it's a nice pose.

3. Sorry, I do NOT like this one at all.
4. Good exposure; I don't mind this pose, but I think it would have been stronger shot from a little further camera left so that the right side of the nearest child's face wasn't hidden.

5. Kind of messy. This might work if you crop the top 1/3 off and the RH side to remove the "sheepskin" bit. For shots like this, try and arrange the bedding more neatly.

Overall a VERY strong set with some wonderfully creative poses and only the most minor technical issues. If this is your second infant session, I see very good things in your photographic future.

Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.

~John

Thanks for all the good tips and critique.
I was so happy to get them sleeping and happy that I know I overlooked lots of little things like neatness of the blanket. I will be sure to keep an eye on details next time.

I did get the hand holding shot in portrait orientation but I completely blew the focus on one of the girls. I was bummed when I looked at them. This was second best. Do you think it would work if I cropped to portrait just below the hands? I'll try one and see.
Thanks for the compliment
I doubt myself so much in every aspect of photography. It's nice to get some positive feedback from experienced people

reznap said:
I think you did some good work and #1 and #2 are my picks. For #5, I agree with cropping out the arms - I would have preferred to see it framed differently though, maybe with a lower perspective and with the rest of the kiddos in the frame.

Thanks, I will crop the foot shot for sure. I did not actually expect to like this shot at all. I was just shoooting random parts while waiting for the girls to be sound sound asleep up top. Turns out I kind of likes the pile of feet. It will only be with one set of feet, but I will try your idea on the next baby

g-fi said:
I like! What lens are you using? They all seem a little soft, and I prefer to underexpose just a tad so that I can lighten in post but I don't think these are too blown out. Did you shoot with different blankets/props? Multiple newborns are probably the most difficult, but most adorable to photograph, I think you did a good job!

Thanks much!
I did use other blankets and props (nothing crazy over the top silly, just a couple of knit/crochet hats). I'm on my laptop and don't have the pics on here, but was thinking I might attempt some editing and post more from this shoot for C&C on my PP. Got just a few cute chin on folded arms of the mellower of the twins, so I will try those maybe

I used the 50mm/1.4
Most were shot at f2-ish, ISO400ish
Maybe that is why they are kind of soft looking?
Do you think going to f4 or so would make them better? Baby skin is difficult. From snaps on my own kids it seems that I like to keep it as open as possible because I think a little soft is more flattering (and I am no good in PP yet). But if sharper would make the overall image better I suppose I could try and leave my comfort zone