Newborn Photography Tips?!

Terri Walsh · Jul 27, 2008

I am about to do my first ever newborn session this week, and I would love any and all tips, lighting suggestions, pose ideas, etc.

Come on you know you have some tips to share............

Terri Walsh · Jul 27, 2008

Perhaps I shoudl tell you what I have...

Canon 30D
24-105 USM lens
50 mm 1.8 (best to use this one and natural light?)
tripod (needed?)
reflector
natural studio light (wasnt going to use?)
plenty of memory cards

nyamy · Jul 27, 2008

well, I'm a newbie here so I don't have any valuable photog tips
but I'm also a mom of 4 and still pining for the newborn shots I never got. I'm a sucker for the feet-in-mom's hands pose
and if mom is breastfeeding, you might want to ask if she'd like a shot or two of baby at breast. I wish I got those.
someone else recommended (I think it was here) getting some cloth diapers for the shoot too. they look so much nicer than paper diapers.

Terri Walsh · Jul 27, 2008

nyamy said:
well, I'm a newbie here so I don't have any valuable photog tips
but I'm also a mom of 4 and still pining for the newborn shots I never got. I'm a sucker for the feet-in-mom's hands pose
and if mom is breastfeeding, you might want to ask if she'd like a shot or two of baby at breast. I wish I got those.
someone else recommended (I think it was here) getting some cloth diapers for the shoot too. they look so much nicer than paper diapers.

Great - thanks for the ideas! Love the clothe diaper idea, one I may not have thought of, but expecting myself, I have nothing to loose!

jleon · Jul 27, 2008

When i had my maternity shots done our photographer did several things - baby on dad's shoulder (shoot from dad's backside), naked baby with legs tucked underneath (laying on belly), baby in blanket (shoot from looking down on baby), etc. One thing we didn't do is get a family shot - they were all separate with me and baby or daddy and baby. Be sure to get that family shot!

Terri Walsh · Jul 28, 2008

I know the clients really want a family shot so that is one I wont miss!

Anyone have help with the ISO? I was trying af ew tonight at 800 and it looks grainy. Can I avoid this with natural light?

rufus5150 · Jul 29, 2008

Many canons are notorious for being noisy at 800 but less so at 1600 but I'm unsure if the 30D has the same issue.

I've found expose-to-the-right to be an excellent technique for dealing with noise at higher ISOs.

usayit · Jul 29, 2008

You'll need some additional lighting (and a tripod might help) to bring the ISO down as low as possible. Flash on an off shoe cord would be extremely helpful. You can bring in some spot lights (home depot if you are on a budget) but be aware that it might disturb the newborn and how it will affect your white balance. Ideally, I like to shoot portraits at an aperture of f/5.6. I like hands and feet... so cute..

Here's what I did for my son:

Mother was wearing black shirt.

usayit · Jul 29, 2008

rufus5150 said:
Many canons are notorious for being noisy at 800 but less so at 1600 but I'm unsure if the 30D has the same issue.

Not just Canons btw...

Canon's have done quite well in high ISO performance. Nikon have caught up or even surpassed.

brianne5499 · Jul 29, 2008

I love newborn portraits...if you search newborn portraits in Google images, you are bound to get brilliant results...here are a few of my favorite photographers...

http://www.linnealenkus.com/newborn1.html
http://www.dianahall.com/index2.php
http://www.soulprintsphotography.com/index2.php

I'm especially fond of the photographer in the top link...all of her portraits are fabulous!

Anyway, when I'm short on ideas, i look to google images. I'm really fond of the simple, low key portraits.

rufus5150 · Jul 29, 2008

usayit said:
Not just Canons btw...

Canon's have done quite well in high ISO performance. Nikon have caught up or even surpassed.

Doesn't surprise me. But I've been so turned off by the performance of all the Canons I've used at 800 ISO (40D, XTI, XSI, XT) that it just boggles my mind. I shoot at 1600 a lot, and 400/200/100. I don't dare touch 800 on the XTi. The images are often unworkable.

(Sorry about the slight thread derail.)

Peanuts · Jul 29, 2008

Don't bring your tripod. if you can get a beanbag (look at your local Walmart and buy an extra 'bag o' beans' as it needs to be less 'squishy' then if it was normally being used. Then buy some black/white fabric which is washable (yes, it will poo and pee on everything, no exceptions :lol:

) and get some changing pads (just some cheap huggies or something) You can put that under the blanket ontop of the bean bag (or whatever you decide to 'hold them') and it should prevent any leaking through to the beans (ew).

Ask them to feed the baby and loosen its diaper about 10 minutes before you come. Also see if they can heat the place up a bit (mind you it has been pretty warm in Calgary lately so.. houses are pretty comfortable now). If you are folding the baby keep your hands warm. I bought a space heater at Canadian Tire for a whopping $15 and that does the job.

Just out of curiosity, what the hey is a 'natural studio light'? :lol:

Terri Walsh · Jul 29, 2008

Thanks everyone for the responses/tips.
Love the bean bag idea, but that will have to wait till next time

So am I best to go straight to 1600 ISO, if needed instead of climb my way up from 400?

And what about a blackened out background? anyone?

Terri Walsh · Jul 29, 2008

Ok I guess its not called a natural studio light but its a studio light that emits natural-like light.
I wonder should I use that instead of trying to bounce flash (they have very high ceilings) or just stick with the natural light from a window etc.

Peanuts · Jul 29, 2008

Don't start at ISO 1600 for the life of you. I would start at 200 and go up if needed.

What do you mean blackened out background? If I understand you correctly get a black blanket and you can burn out any dust/fuzz later. I also just use the same blanket (well, usually I have two say that way one does not have a streakage of yellow waste across it) to prop up and use as a blackened background to get something like this:

Regarding lighting I use natural light for baby only (at least right now) I just prop them up close to a window. For the parents/baby shot (like the one above) I used a single studio light with a softbox. It is a little harsh regarding light/shadows but it worked well enough.

Best of luck!