First Newborn Shoot.. Please C&C Thanks!

linpelk · Sep 18, 2009

I took these pictures for a friend of mine. I've never taken newborn photos before so it was a whole new challenge. This baby would not sleep. I was there for HOURS waiting for this baby to fall into a deep sleep and it just wouldn't happen. I even left and came back another day to try again after losing light, but again, no sleep. SO, here are a couple from today. Please let me know what you think. Thanks so much.

These were both taken with just window light and a reflector. Shot with my Canon 30D with my 50mm lens.

This first one: ISO 320, f/2.5, 1/125

This second one was: ISO 320, f/2.2, 1/100

c.cloudwalker · Sep 18, 2009

I neither shoot newborns nor do I play a photog on TV who does... :lol:

but I'm offering you a link to a thread I started not too long ago for baby shooters because I liked the style of the photos AND the way she put the babies to sleep.

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/photographic-discussions/177294-awww-baby.html

Hope it helps.

linpelk · Sep 18, 2009

I actually saw that woman on the Today show last week or whenever it was. I know all the right things to do, get their bellies nice and full, have a super warm room, get them young, etc. etc. I had every mark checked in all of the boxes and still couldn't get this guy sleepy enough to "manipulate" him. I had so many fun ideas, but since he was awake, he wouldn't keep his little hands under his chin or be able to lay him on his belly with his arms under his head, etc, he wasn't having it! I have another friend who was due a week ago, so baby coming anytime..hopefully I'll have better luck with her guy. Any comments on the couple of pictures I managed to get?

c.cloudwalker · Sep 18, 2009

Lol. I thought she was great. But maybe you got a live wire...

Try a little wine in the milk next time. That's what the french do :lol:

I am kidding of course.

As for your photos, I am not the best person to do C&C of them. Let's just say that I'm not big on babies. I like kids a whole lot better when they can talk. :lmao:

For what it's worth:

#2 doesn't do anything for me.

#1 is kind of interesting but I would like it a lot better if only the soles of his feet were in focus. Too much of the hands are in focus for my taste.

linpelk · Sep 18, 2009

Thanks. I appreciate you taking the time to comment even if babies aren't your thing. Quite honestly, they aren't MY thing either

I was just trying to get a couple of good shots for the parents.

That's funny your "wine in the milk" comment since her husband jokingly said the same thing.

Thanks again.

JayClark79 · Sep 18, 2009

Nice pictures is this the 50mm 1.8? if so what do you think of it?

c.cloudwalker · Sep 18, 2009

:lmao:

is the husband french? Keep an eye on him if he is.

Actually, they supposedly do that (not always with wine) in a lot of different European countries. Maybe that's why they don't have as many people obsessed with getting drunk on the weekend as we do, lol.

But on a more serious note, try and take photos of what you are into. I believe one gets better results that way.

flyin-lowe · Sep 18, 2009

Kinda funny. The photographer that took the photos of my son when he was born said we were lucky that he was awake. He said a big majority of the babies fall asleep and more people want pictures of them with there eyes open then that want them asleep. This is all he does though, with about three hospitals. He said most want them awake so maybe you should consider yourself lucky.

Mastino · Sep 18, 2009

Beautiful pictures.. I'm particularly fond of dad holding the feet of the newborn to illustrate size.. I thought I owned that idead....

linpelk · Sep 18, 2009

flyin-lowe said:
Kinda funny. The photographer that took the photos of my son when he was born said we were lucky that he was awake. He said a big majority of the babies fall asleep and more people want pictures of them with there eyes open then that want them asleep. This is all he does though, with about three hospitals. He said most want them awake so maybe you should consider yourself lucky.

I know that a lot of the awake photos I took are really great, but I SO badly wanted to manipulate him a bit. I guess I was more concerned about putting together a cute picture instead of the traditional picture of a baby that families love....eyes open and alert. Oh well, at least I have another newborn shoot coming up. My dreams haven't been completely squashed yet.

website · Sep 18, 2009

very lovely

Kimba · Sep 18, 2009

love it

linpelk · Sep 19, 2009

Oh, thank you. I was starting to sweat that I blew it.

customphotoprops · Dec 6, 2009

I think you did an excellent job! I especially love the close up of those feeties!

mJs · Dec 6, 2009

Great pictures, I'm sure the parents will love them...

the only thing i can offer.... in #1 i might have changed the angle slightly and cropped the picture a bit more so that the feet were more the focal point, a bit larger, and not so centered in the frame... i do like the DOF. With #2, i like the set up, but again with the angle and cropping, maybe a little lower and closer. Composition of the basket just seems a tad off, like you've made a point of getting the lower part of it in, but cropped off the top.