Newborn daughter photos

[Mikhal]

I feel like I had a little more success with the natural light as well as more patience to get a better shot. I do have a flash where I am able to adjust intensity and direction but I haven't had the opportunity to mess with it, maybe that can help some of the lighting issues?

The light does want to be on the face, but not flat, even light. try for more of a "modeling" light which will articulate the facial contours. Have your main light coming in at a slight angle to the face.

Derrel's suggestion of bouncing the light off a surface is what you want to do. If you don't have a white or nearly white wall or ceiling, get a large panel of white foamcore to act as a reflector. You can even use someone's white shirt in a pinch. Position your reflecting surface at an angle to your subject's face, and bounce your light off that.

Yes, you can use daylight coming in a window for your main light, but it will be pure chance if you get good light at the exact time you want to use it. Which is one reason pros use flash. They need to get the shot when the getting's good.

So by flat light you mean there are no shadows to highlight parts of the face?

The house does have decent light, but it doesn't have it where I have the space to take the photos, def going to start working with the flash to see what improvements that brings.

Thank you for the insight!

 

[Derrel]

When you are using bounced flash it is often helpful to elevate the ISO setting to 400-500 or even higher.

 

[Designer]

It is going to have to be off the ceiling, but I'll give it a whirl.

Don't overlook the wall that is behind you. If the wall is somewhat light-colored, bounce the flash and correct the color in editing.

 

[Designer]

So by flat light you mean there are no shadows to highlight parts of the face?

Correct. In the sample shots, there are no shadows, which is what is known as "flat light". Just moving the flash to one side will enhance the modeling light. You can do this with a cord that connects to the hot shoe. Either you or someone else can hold the flash and experiment with positioning the flash at various distances. modify the light with some kind of diffuser. a handkerchief or tissue paper held in front of the flash head.

 

[Mikhal]

So by flat light you mean there are no shadows to highlight parts of the face?

Correct. In the sample shots, there are no shadows, which is what is known as "flat light". Just moving the flash to one side will enhance the modeling light. You can do this with a cord that connects to the hot shoe. Either you or someone else can hold the flash and experiment with positioning the flash at various distances. modify the light with some kind of diffuser. a handkerchief or tissue paper held in front of the flash head.

As of right now I am only able to connect the flash to the hot shoe, I don't have the cable so that it could be positioned off to the side, might have to look into getting that. With that being said this is probably the best shot I got today using the flash that I believe captures what you were talking about(at least I hope it is). I bounced it off the wall that was behind me. I feel like the color is more natural and a bit richer.

 

[Designer]

As of right now I am only able to connect the flash to the hot shoe, I don't have the cable so that it could be positioned off to the side, might have to look into getting that. With that being said this is probably the best shot I got today using the flash that I believe captures what you were talking about(at least I hope it is). I bounced it off the wall that was behind me. I feel like the color is more natural and a bit richer.

I'm glad you can see the difference. Congratulations on the shot!

 

[CherylL]

I liked the 2nd set with her facing the light. When bouncing flash I like to use the black foam thing.
He has a few videos using it on the flash.

 

[Derrel]

I liked the 2nd set with her facing the light. When bouncing flash I like to use the black foam thing.
He has a few videos using it on the flash.

Neil has some fantastic on-line teaching materials. Excellent link!

 

[Derrel]

This shot was made by one flash head bounced into the ceiling corner of my small apartment living room back in 2013. The one flash was a Speedotron M11 with a 7" reflector.80-200 zoom at 80mm, f/10, ISO 100.

 

[Derrel]

February 18,2013, flash aimed at living room wall; backlight from afternoon sun coming through window.

 

[Derrel]

With a hotshoe-mounted flash, you can swivel and tilt the flash to bounce it off of a wide variety of surfaces...ceilings, walls, corners of ceilings, refrigerators, doors, side of a building, etc. If you elevate your ISO to 500, 640, 800, 1000, or even higher, you can often shoot pretty nice photos, over very long distances such as 50 ft. Famous wedding photographer Dennis Reggie used to use his Canon 5D at 3200 at f/2.8 and would bounce his flash off of high Church ceilings and walls .He called this technique "foofing".

 

[Mikhal]

With a hotshoe-mounted flash, you can swivel and tilt the flash to bounce it off of a wide variety of surfaces...ceilings, walls, corners of ceilings, refrigerators, doors, side of a building, etc. If you elevate your ISO to 500, 640, 800, 1000, or even higher, you can often shoot pretty nice photos, over very long distances such as 50 ft. Famous wedding photographer Dennis Reggie used to use his Canon 5D at 3200 at f/2.8 and would bounce his flash off of high Church ceilings and walls .He called this technique "foofing".

While I was shooting yesterday I did see a lot of new ways to get light to where I need it. I'll have to find the flash so you guys can have a look. Its cheap but it is moveable.

 

[Mikhal]

With a hotshoe-mounted flash, you can swivel and tilt the flash to bounce it off of a wide variety of surfaces...ceilings, walls, corners of ceilings, refrigerators, doors, side of a building, etc. If you elevate your ISO to 500, 640, 800, 1000, or even higher, you can often shoot pretty nice photos, over very long distances such as 50 ft. Famous wedding photographer Dennis Reggie used to use his Canon 5D at 3200 at f/2.8 and would bounce his flash off of high Church ceilings and walls .He called this technique "foofing".

It is by neewer it is a TT560 Speedlite GN38

 

[Derrel]

It'll do nicely. Remember that bouncing costs you at least one f/stop of light, sometimes two, sometimes even three, so do not be afraid to elevate the ISO. Flash has a remarkable way of filling in the shadows, and since digital noise is mostly noticeable in the dark, shadowy areas, even ISO values up to 1600 are often quite beautiful when used in conjunction with bounce Flash

 

[Mikhal]

These were taken with my 40mm lens. Definitely miss the zoom of the 18-55, but I feel that it produces slightly better images, even if it does mean moving around more to get the shot.