First attempt at newborn pics (C&C)

SquidHC · Jul 12, 2012

Well what better time to start taking newborn pics than when you have one yourself. I'd love to know what I can do better next time, or what I did right on these. I'm a total beginner and just trying to learn to think before I shoot. Thanks in advance.

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5.

kharp · Jul 13, 2012

I pray that you did not actually put that baby in a tree for #2.
#1 is the best one, I think. They all look soft. And it may be my laptop monitor but they also look underexposed.
Cute baby. Congratulations!

allison_dcp · Jul 13, 2012

Number one is nice. Sweet baby! I wonder if you added some fill flash to 1 if it would look better.

janineh · Jul 13, 2012

Not too bad, you might want to do some editing on them. Baby is in the shade, its too dark. You should have over exposed a bit. You might be able to fix it.

janineh · Jul 13, 2012

#1 has potential... Try some editi!ng!!

paigew · Jul 13, 2012

I am really concerned with the safety of your baby in these pics. Especially the one in a tree! When you see photos like this they are done as composite images and the baby holder is photoshopped out. If I were you, I would concentrate on learning how to get good every day photos. Learn where the good light is in your house and how to properly meter and expose your subjects. Then when you get good at that you can move on to posing

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Baby is underexposed in all photos and it is also very red. Although I am sure you love #3, it is your weakest photo. Us viewers want to see your baby's sweet face.

PinkDoor · Jul 13, 2012

I agree with the comments regarding the babies safety. Assuming that since this is your first newborn shoot, and based on the post processing (lack of), and I going to go out on a limb and assume that you did not photoshop out a "helping hand" or parental hand from your #2 shot.

I think if you search "baby posing guides" . . . you will learn that almost all of the propped/hanging/scary looking baby positions are composites of 2, 3 or more shots of the same scene.

Instead of a large bulky blanket, I would recommend cheesecloth or a thinner stretchy fabric for wrapping.

I said this to another poster yesterday: Check out Jaiden Photography. There's a lot to learn just skimming the information she has posted.

ItsDaveTime · Jul 13, 2012

I like the posing of #1, but I would have moved a bit so you got the baby's face in the shot. Keeping the rest of of focus a bit is fine, but I would have liked to see the face more rather than the top of the head. Also it's quite underexposed. You may be able to adjust it a bit in in PS (assuming you shot in raw), and assuming you shot at a low ISO so you don't introduce too much noise when you do so. Since you're shooting in the shade, you need to either compensate with a higher ISO and/or adjust aperature, or use a fill flash. They definitely have potential, but if you were to send these to the lab to print, you'd get them back and see they were much too dark to look good on the wall. But, if you like these, I think you can save them in camera raw and also in PS using some dodging.

SquidHC · Jul 13, 2012

Thanks for all the comments. I did shoot them as RAW, and have lightroom so I will mess with the exposure. I have had feedback in the past about overexposure, so I didn't even mess with it this time. Regarding baby safety and the tree, the ground is about 6" below the frame and the basket is wired to the tree using bailing wire. I assure you, between that and both my wife and I being right there, she wasn't going anywhere.

hoyinsiu · Jul 13, 2012

nice concept. would have been nicer if you retouch the photos

vtf · Jul 13, 2012

SquidHC said:
Thanks for all the comments. I did shoot them as RAW, and have lightroom so I will mess with the exposure. I have had feedback in the past about overexposure, so I didn't even mess with it this time. Regarding baby safety and the tree, the ground is about 6" below the frame and the basket is wired to the tree using bailing wire. I assure you, between that and both my wife and I being right there, she wasn't going anywhere.

My favorite tools for newborn baby portraits has been duct tape and wire hangers. You can strap the 'lil ones anywhere and they wont wiggle out and if you want a peaceful session then theres the duct tape. jk.
Seriously, the next question you will get will be was there a pillow or cushion on the ground within 6" of the child just in case. Was there? I apologize for the stearn attitude but take a look at this https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...39516545.44823.167219740010955&type=3&theater <---and she's instructing a class so there are alot of people being instructed wrong..
I think it's a good start, I want to see the lil one closeup and smiling or contented. Since you shot raw crop in closer and sharpen. I'm not fond of distant shots where the child is not filling the space although seems to be the new thing. Newborns are best to pose in their first 2 weeks, when fully fed and sleepy they are like clay and can be gently and slowly molded into position, a composite I did took 3 sets of pictures and 3 people and was ready to scrap it all should at anytime anyone felt the baby was in a unsafe position.
BTW, this is a good photographer to get ideas from. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...ges/Kellen-Porter-Photography/167219740010955
Keep shooting.:thumbup:

texkam · Dec 18, 2012

Zoom in.

mrhbh · Dec 18, 2012

I like #1, I agree with ItsDaveTime, you should focus more on the baby's cute face. Anyway, good try..
The baby is so cute..

frommrstomommy · Dec 18, 2012

Well, now that I've caught my breath after I nearly DIED when I saw #2... I agree, she's red or pink tinted in most on my screen as well, and I wish she were brighter. I think outdoors would be really tough for photographing a newborn.. think indoors, nice big window for natural light at a good time of day with a really comfy, warm, cozy spot to lay her and keep her happy for the shoot. If she's comfy she'll likely have better expressions in the photos.. like the last image for instance, she's asleep I'm guessing but she doesn't look like she's got that happy momma's milk coma face going.

slow231 · Dec 18, 2012

as everyone else said, underexposed. newborn shots benefit from being bright. i think partly because when you look at a shot of a naked baby, it should feel like it's warm and bright. this is especially true for an outdoor location.

#2 maybe you had things under control. but don't underestimate how slowly you'll notice and react things when behind the viewfinder. when behind the viewfinder i'm usually too busy scrutinizing the details and setting up the shot to be able to consider myself a spotter. believe me, i've been there chasing shots and not noticed things that a spotter has had to react to. not saying this was unsafe, it just never hurts to reiterate this type of thing.

#5 looks uncomfortable. I know baby probably could care less, but it makes for an uncomfortable shot. first it's rock, 2nd there's little to no appearance of padding, and 3rd look at the gap under the neck.

i know newborn babies are funny colored. but baby looks pretty "pooping red" in #1. almost looks like a PP saturation adjustment. this will be alleviated a bit when you brighten the shot though.