First time with studio equipment...

[KDPhotography]

Just recently purchased lights, backdrops, etc (must haves). I realize these pictures are far from perfect. I need advice on how to get the lighting right. Any CC welcome. Thanks

Heres another..

 

[PhillyPhoton]

how many lights are you using? how did you set them up for this pic? are you using umbrella's/soft boxes/flectors? will make input alot easier.

love 2 btw, are leg warmers back?

 

[KDPhotography]

My bad, I am using two monolight softboxes---- placed on each side about 4 ft from my son.

 

[Big Mike]

I don't dislike selective color as much as many people around here, but I really don't like it used on baby shots...especially when it's door poorly. And by poorly, I mean that a poor choice was made for what to leave in color.

Selective coloring should be used to draw the viewer's eye to the 'focal point' of the image. With portraits, that is almost always the subject's face and eyes. By leaving the ball in color, you are telling the viewer that the ball is more important than the child and it's hard to know what you want us to look at.
I also don't like it because there is something morbid about a colorless baby.

Now that I've got that out of my system, I'll step off the soapbox.

Rather than placing your lights on either side of you. Try putting one off to the side (this is your main or key light) and putting the other close to the camera axis (this is your fill light).

Use your main light to create shadows/depth and then use the fill light to control the darkness of the shadow areas.

 

[KDPhotography]

Thanks Mike! I will be trying that tonight!

 

[Christie Photo]

Rather than placing your lights on either side of you. Try putting one off to the side (this is your main or key light) and putting the other close to the camera axis (this is your fill light).

Use your main light to create shadows/depth and then use the fill light to control the darkness of the shadow areas.

And start with a main that affords twice the light on the subject compared to the fill. This will give you a 3:1 lighting ratio. You can then adjust from there according to your taste or the subject.

Most of all, move the main light in closer... as close as you practically can without it coming into view.

And for this shot, I think you'd find a light background more palatable. Key the background with the props. White ball, socks, diaper.... white background. Again, just a jumping off point.

Have fun!

-Pete

 

[KDPhotography]

Pete, I agree with a lighter background! The black was the only one I had at that point in time..

 

[DerekSalem]

Well I'd say try some different attire...If you were to take your baby to a studio to get pictures done you wouldn't just leave him in his Huggies Ultras. Put some clothes on him, get him dressed up and lookin good. You got the socks at least lol

As for selective coloring...You probably won't find too many people here that like it. It's not that it's a bad technique, but it's *SEVERELY* overused to make up for bad photography (usually). I didn't even notice it was done in the first shot until Mike mentioned it...I'll agree with everything he said about it.

With babies you really want to be down at their level. The first shot seems to have that down but the second one you're up much higher. Makes it tough to kind of garner emotion. Get lower, probably put the softboxes a bit lower (since in the first one there's a huge shadow under his right arm) and if you're going to selective color...make sure it's the subject of the photo!