Help!!

SamiJoSchwirtz · Nov 19, 2012

Doing my first new born shoot.
Any ideas? Props to use?!

MLeeK · Nov 19, 2012

Less is more. Props overpower a newborn so very fast. One prop at a time and hopefully something tasteful and simple. The hats. bows and flowers are "in" but I promise you that when you look at your images in a few years you'll say "WHAT was I thinking?" So use them sparingly and carefully.
blankets and things to swaddle baby in are awesome. Textures to lay baby on such as the fuzzy fur are nice.
Newborn images should be about life in it's purest form. I find my best props actually come from the parents. Things that mean something to them or the family. Silver rattle or bank, a blanket made by a grand parent, etc.

On a sick note... I had one family ask to have portraits done of the great grand daughter in the dress that the grandmother's niece DIED in. Don't be shocked by anything that they ask you to do... people are a strange strange breed.

PhillipM · Nov 19, 2012

SamiJoSchwirtz said:
Doing my first new born shoot.
Any ideas? Props to use?!

your shooting a newborn, but don't have a game plan, or idea of what your going to shoot????

SamiJoSchwirtz · Nov 19, 2012

Well I Already have the poses in mind! and all I have as of now is the fur...

SamiJoSchwirtz · Nov 19, 2012

Thanks MLeek! Always the best answers.

MLeeK · Nov 19, 2012

This post wasn't very long ago and it's a great one about an upcoming first newborn shoot: http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...proof-read-my-brain-before-newborn-shoot.html

SamiJoSchwirtz · Nov 19, 2012

Thank you.

I am very poor on lenses And the only one I own is a 50 mm 1.8 until Christmas.

Any suggestions what to set my aperture to get the best blurred backgrounds?

frommrstomommy · Nov 19, 2012

As the mother of a 6 month old who's growing much too fast.. I wish I had more of the little newborn details. Wrinkly hands/feet, the tiny rolls on his back, the little ears/nose/squinty eyes.. that sort of thing. And I know some nb photogs use a tiny portable heater type thing to keep baby warm.

MLeeK · Nov 19, 2012

SamiJoSchwirtz said:
Thank you.

I am very poor on lenses And the only one I own is a 50 mm 1.8 until Christmas.
any suggestions on what to set the aperture to to make the best blurred backgrounds so the baby pops? I'm really so nervous

It's a great lens for newborns!
F/1.8 will actually be too shallow a depth of field for most of the shoot. You will find yourself needing about f/3.5 to get an adequate focus. Make sure your baby is at least a couple of feet from your backdrop. 3-5 is even better.