Newbie needs help! Lighting kit/lens question

frommrstomommy · Dec 4, 2011

So we're expecting our first in April.. and I'm having a really hard time finding a photographer I *love* in our area to do maternity and/or newborn shots of our little guy. I've got a Nikon D3000 and have been toying with my manual settings to try and learn what exactly I'm doing with it. I've had it close to two years but really rarely get a chance to use it. I'm contemplating just doing the photos myself since I am pleased w. my photo editing abilities (photoshop and lightroom 3) as this seems to be my issue when looking for a photographer is their editing styles. (the few I have found that I like are hours out from me)

My questions:
1. I'd like a lighting kit because our home has next to NO natural lighting available and we live in the desert (up to 120) so during the summers it just won't be okay to be out with a baby for even 30 mins to snap some photos. Recommendations for a decent kit to get me started at least? Something along the lines of this: http://www.amazon.com/ePhoto-K103-Li...3023073&sr=8-4 (just one of the first up on amazon I found) $150.. MAYBE $200 is all I'm really willing to spend there.

2. I think I need another lens besides the 18-55mm that came w. my D3000 to do portraits.. any suggestions? Again, these are for personal use and I'm no expert so spending a ton is something I'd like to avoid. lol I'm only justifying buying these new things because I'd be doing my own photos/having my mother in law w. her D60 and a bunch of lenses around for newborn too.

Here's one lens I've come across that seems to maybe be a good option for me: Nikon 28-105mm F3.5-4.5D Autofocus Zoom Nikkor Lens - thoughts?

MTVision · Dec 4, 2011

No idea on the lighting. The lens you posted isn't going to be any better then your 18-55 except that it has a longer focal length. It also won't autofocus on your camera. For portraits you should think about getting a 35mm af-s f/1.8 or a 50mm af-s f/1.8. Both of those lenses are fast and good in low light. You can't zoom with them but you won't really need to with a newborn. I use a 50mm for my 2 year old and it never comes off my camera!

MLeeK · Dec 4, 2011

You need to think long and hard about hiring someone to do those newborn images. Yes, you can learn to do this, however I don't think you are going to get amazing newborn results all that easily or all that quickly. newborns are hard and that window to catch them is only about a moment long. It's over and gone in a matter of days.
It's kind of like a wedding... Don't mess with it unless you are prepared to not have the images.

The link to the kit doesn't work for me, but I have an itchy feeling about it.... usually the links to things like this aren't a good kit for much other than table top photography. If you have NO light to work with the chances of it having enough power to give you the light you need are very slim. Your money is better spent in hiring someone to do these once in a lifetime photos and practicing and working at learning at the same time.

Why do you think you need another lens. What is it that the lens you have isn't doing for you? It's a good range for newborn photos. Megan is right to suggest the 35 or 50. You have to purchase AF-s lenses or they will not auto focus on your camera.

tirediron · Dec 5, 2011

I agree with Mleek's advice to keep looking for a professional; this truly is a 'once in a lifetime' event. That said, if you can't find someone in whom you can place your trust, fair enough. I wouldn't worry about the extra lens. The 18-55 is a decent lens, and you're not going to notice any improvement in IQ until you're well north of $1000, and even then, only when you're pixel-peeping. Don't bother with the lighting kits. Surf Craig's List until you find a nice, clean, used SB-600. That will be your best lighting bang for the buck in your stated budget, and with some practice, you can do a LOT with it. Again though, REALLY think about hiring someone.

KmH · Dec 5, 2011

tirediron said:
Again though, REALLY think about hiring someone.

Because doing photography well is a A LOT more involved than you currently understand.

For reference, visit these tutorials that are all pretty much essential knowledge you would need to acquire: Digital Photography Tutorials

frommrstomommy · Dec 5, 2011

Thank you for your honesty regarding the lens situation. Though I don't think you all understand my photographer options in our city. lol I have looked high and low and while to begin with there aren't that many options.. many are just other military wives who think they are photographers but don't really have any better idea of what they're doing than I would. When I look at the websites/photos of those in the area there are very few who seem to have the slightest clue as to what they are doing - and even those either their poses suck or the editing is God-awful and either overly sharpened or extremely washed out (and its not just my monitor because I've checked on 3 different TV's/monitors in my home and sent links to friends for input as well). I just don't feel they are worth spending my money on. We live in Yuma AZ and Phoenix has some decent photographers but that's a good 3 hour drive and I don't see myself being up for having to make that kind of drive days after delivery. I will look up the SB-600 mentioned.

Thanks!

MLeeK · Dec 5, 2011

We can help you learn, that's not a problem. What about maybe a collaboration? If you could take the images with direction and have someone you like their style polish them off for you?
When is the baby due?
I know photographers in Tucson and in Phoenix, but you are west of them by quite a bit...

frommrstomommy · Dec 5, 2011

Baby is due end of April.. I have a few friends who do photography in other states that have offered to help out with some editing also. Editing is like the one thing I actually kind of know how to do though, but some of the photogs I know have definitely had more experience w. editing newborn images so I will definitely be reaching out for help. I'll also have my mother in law here who has gotten a lot more use out of her DSLR than I so I'm sure she'll be clicking away and I can steal her images to have edited.

I definitely wish the bigger cities weren't so far.. you type "photographer Phoenix" into google and its like this explosion of red dots. lol Give "photographer Yuma" a go and you'll see my issue ;\

I have a friend who's got a 2 or 3 month old little girl who I'm gonna attempt to practice on one day soon so I've got a subject to photograph who isn't my dog or husband, we'll see how it goes!

frommrstomommy · Dec 5, 2011

Oh, and I hope the pregnancy hormones haven't made me come across like a total wretch. I do understand that there is a LOT to learn and its not going to just "happen" overnight by any means. I'm also not expecting miracle work when I get behind the camera, just feel that based on what I've seen from photogs in my area I could get some quite possibly comparable "acceptable" shots at least. I also think now might be a great time to at least get a little better behind the camera because newborn images aren't the only ones we'll be wanting yannow?

MLeeK · Dec 5, 2011

Dolls make great practice targets for newborns. And they cooperate more than husbands and animals!
Editing and processing for newborns is FAR different than for anything else. Their skin is something that you have to handle differently than any other human! What are you editing with?

How much have you managed to learn regarding exposure and your camera so far? Are you generally putting it in auto and shooting or are you controlling the image yourself at all yet? The reason I ask is that as much as you may need to add light, you need to understand your camera and exposure before you add in flash-it changes the rules.
I'd also like to know where to start with the tutorials and links I have that I can send to you.

Invest in a good speedlight for your camera-even if you aren't ready for it yet. You will be and it will open up a whole bunch of other things for you to do with your camera even if you never want to do much more than take photos of your family and new baby!
Sigma puts out the 610DG ST which is a great very basic flash; the 610DG Super is a great flash that allows it to be used fully manually down the line if you intend to really learn about photography.
Nissin puts out a few great ones for your camera.
Obviously Nikon-although I don't know the model numbers.
David Hobby Strobist recommends some Yongnuo (I THINK I spelled that right) flashes that are super cheap compared to the Nikon/Canon equivalents. You can also learn a LOT off that website about using a speedlight to light up the world.
Neil VanNiekerk is another amazing strobist with a lot of information and great books to learn from http://neilvn.com/tangents/

frommrstomommy · Dec 5, 2011

Thanks! I might just have to go get me a baby doll.. Lord knows I need some mothering practice too! lol I've edited some newborn images because I do digital scrapbooking and used to make layouts and such for different digital designers in my free time.

90% of the shots I've actually taken with my camera were in auto, but I have played around with my manual settings some at home using some basic explanations of the diff settings I found online. I really haven't used the camera all that much in the year and a half I've had it except for a few of my husband's military events where I was just snapping away as snapshots and not going for a portrait type deal at all. ISO and white balance are the two that confuse me the absolute most.. even when I've toyed w. other manual settings I end up leaving them in auto because I flat out don't understand them. I need Nikon for Dummies I think. I really need to get outdoors with the camera in manual though, anywhere in my house I have to use a flash and I really seem to favor any photos I've ever taken outdoors (in auto though) where flash wasn't necessary. That, and my husband apparently refuses to keep his eyes open for a photo if the flash is going off.. never fails!

Will look into this speedlight business and check the links provided! Thanks!

Oh, and for editing software.. well, I had a hard drive completely DIE on me last week so I'm on our old dinosaur PC and waiting on a replacement HD right now so I can get my "real" computer up and running but I was working with an older Adobe Photoshop.. CS2 and Lightroom 3. I may upgrade Photoshop to a newer version after I get my PC running but not sure.. (not wanting to re-learn lol) and Lightroom 3 will be back as well.

Thanks so much!

MLeeK · Dec 5, 2011

You don't have to re-learn with newer versions of Photoshop. Everything you already know is there, there are just added benefits, gadgets, capabilities, etc.
Don't discount PhotoShop Elements 10 as an option. If you have LR3 you already have the extended version of raw editing which is one of the things that is a bit limited in Elements. There are some other limits to it, but it's a VERY good basic editing program that you can do most everything you'd need to do. If you can't do it, there are plug ins to make you able to do it. And you also don't have to re-learn that either. It is a photoshop program, so things are essentially the same and do the same things, just not as extensive as PS CS. SO... if budget is an issue it's a definite option.
If you are a student or have a student who can purchase it for you? Go for CS5. You can't beat the student discount!!

THere is another post here about photography classes on the internet right now... there are some great videos posted in there by one of the guys and some great links for learning on line. Here is a link I also ran across recently. I don't' know how great it is, I haven't read it thru yet. Digital Photography Lessons - Free Photography Course, DSLR Lessons & Tips

I'll take a look at all of the old tutorials I have on my hard drive and see what I have that can help you to really get started on learning things.

frommrstomommy · Dec 5, 2011

You know I may have elements.. it might have been elements that came w. my bamboo tablet.. I'll have to dig out whatever box that would be in when my PC gets running and see. And yep, I'm a student so I can snag it at the student discount.. its like $192 or something, amazing! That's how I got lightroom, it was only like $80 I think. This other HD I'm waiting on was my husband's from his old PC and I'm almost certain it has some sort of photo editing software on it.. likely a version of CS.

Some of my digiscrap friends went from CS2 or 3 to 4 or 5 and were all kinds of confused for their digiscrap stuff for a while. I don't know exactly what differences there were, it may not have been just about the editing process but in the layering, moving objects, etc type stuff.