Toddlers!!....

SabrinaO · Jun 7, 2011

...are the hardest to shoot. If there is nothing in their hands or mouth forget about it! lol. Anyway here are a few from today with my son. Please C&C. For these, or some of these I think I used one light camera right and my onboard flash (with lightscoop). My cactus trigger batteries died so i couldnt use both my alienbees. I also had a reflector camera left.
Question... how many lights do you all use for babies/toddlers? I'm thinking maybe a one light setup and a reflector might do the trick? I'll play some more tomorrow....

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Sorry for all the pics... i just like to show him off too

Kerbouchard · Jun 7, 2011

I think you done good, and I don't blame you for showing him off. Only nit I have is that some are framed a bit tight...will limit your options when printing and for number 6 you chopped off part of a toy and his foot.

Lighting looks good although I may feather the light a little more towards the left and just let the right part of the beam catch your son so that the right part of the background isn't as bright.

Nicely done.

ababysean · Jun 7, 2011

Plus he's yours... there is no fun in it for him. Toddlers are hard to shoot, through in that it is your own kid and you have like a crazy psycho need a drink after this session feeling! haha

SabrinaO · Jun 7, 2011

Thanks for your input! I will remember that next time about the feathering. I see how the right of the backdrop is brighter. I may have had that light a little too far right. Next time I'll make sure it's at 45 degrees. Or maybe I should just use 2 lights? That picture with the cut off shoe isn't a crop

It was shot that way and it's still bothering me. It's hard for me to get composition perfect with a toddler....always on the go. I used my fixed 35mm. Maybe I should use my kit lens or a zoom with active subjects? If you or anyone has any tips on toddlers please post here

SabrinaO · Jun 7, 2011

ababysean said:
Plus he's yours... there is no fun in it for him. Toddlers are hard to shoot, through in that it is your own kid and you have like a crazy psycho need a drink after this session feeling! haha

Omg seriously though! LOL... that's how I felt. When I felt I got enough pics I still felt defeated. Lol... He really makes me work lol

Kerbouchard · Jun 7, 2011

SabrinaO said:
Thanks for your input! I will remember that next time about the feathering. I see how the right of the backdrop is brighter. I may have had that light a little too far right. Next time I'll make sure it's at 45 degrees. Or maybe I should just use 2 lights? That picture with the cut off shoe isn't a crop It was shot that way and it's still bothering me. It's hard for me to get composition perfect with a toddler....always on the go. I used my fixed 35mm. Maybe I should use my kit lens or a zoom with active subjects? If you or anyone has any tips on toddlers please post here

Don't worry about the cut off shoe...I don't know how many of my daughters hands or feet are sticking out of the frame. Now, I just play it safe...frame very loose, give her some room to move, and it also gives me the added benefit of being able to print in just about any aspect ratio I want and choose a perfect composition after the fact. I don't usually print larger than 16x20 and cropping a bit has never really effected me as long as the picture was fundamentally sound. It certainly won't effect images that are only going to be shared online.

MissCream · Jun 8, 2011

My goodness that is one handsome little man !

willis_927 · Jun 8, 2011

I think you did a good job. I usually end up pretty frusterated when I try to set up and shoot my daughter (20 months old), sooo hard to keep her still!

Rebekah5280 · Jun 8, 2011

Agreed! Toddlers are tough! But so fun to get the candid shots as they are busy exploring the world around them.

You did awesome!

CCericola · Jun 8, 2011

Overall I like them. #4 is a bit out of focus. I like #1 the best.

Big Mike · Jun 8, 2011

Cute little guy!

I think that using a reflector would be fairly hard when shooting kids this age. Depending on your space and your set up, a reflector can be finicky...as in you would have to move it every time the kid changes position. Although, if you have a very large reflector (like a wall) then you may be able to set up your lighting to get a wider sweet spot.
Personally, I've found that using two light (main & fill) to create a large sweet spot works best. This usually means pulling the lights farther back, so that the kid doesn't get too bright if they come too closer to you & the lights. I think that a more even lighting ratio works best when they are moving a lot, because if you are trying to get a deep ratio, it will be harder to pull off when they are out of position.

When I had the space, I had a little studio set up and shot my son while he was running around. I used 4 lights; Main, fill and two background lights.
More Forrest ~ Mike Hodson Photography
The 2001 Vancouver Olympics ~ Mike Hodson Photography
Forrest in the Wild ~ Mike Hodson Photography
Merry Christmas ~ Mike Hodson Photography

dallasimagery · Jun 12, 2011

All of these are simply atrocious. Out of focus eyes, poor composition, no contrast, flat lighting, and really bad posing. I'd suggest you pick up a couple of good books on photography at at 1/2 price book store.

SabrinaO · Jun 12, 2011

Big Mike said:
Cute little guy!

I think that using a reflector would be fairly hard when shooting kids this age. Depending on your space and your set up, a reflector can be finicky...as in you would have to move it every time the kid changes position. Although, if you have a very large reflector (like a wall) then you may be able to set up your lighting to get a wider sweet spot.
Personally, I've found that using two light (main & fill) to create a large sweet spot works best. This usually means pulling the lights farther back, so that the kid doesn't get too bright if they come too closer to you & the lights. I think that a more even lighting ratio works best when they are moving a lot, because if you are trying to get a deep ratio, it will be harder to pull off when they are out of position.

When I had the space, I had a little studio set up and shot my son while he was running around. I used 4 lights; Main, fill and two background lights.
More Forrest ~ Mike Hodson Photography
The 2001 Vancouver Olympics ~ Mike Hodson Photography
Forrest in the Wild ~ Mike Hodson Photography
Merry Christmas ~ Mike Hodson Photography

Why do you use 4 lights? Is that to blow out the background and/or seperation? I think the two light setup will be ideal... im just still experienting where to put them. The fill light gets in the way so I wind up putting it more to the left instead of near the camera axis. I do want to put the lights behind me but i read somewhere that the further away a light is, shadows will be more harsh? I don't know... ill experiment.

SabrinaO · Jun 12, 2011

CCericola said:
Overall I like them. #4 is a bit out of focus. I like #1 the best.

I agree... i don't know how though because I shot it at 2.8 i think...
It looks like one eye is in focus when they both should of been since he is looking straight on...