Newborn babies

[Pete Watkins]

Help! I've been asked to take a few pictures of a friends new born grandaughter (less than a week old at the moment). This is right out of my comfort zone. Gotta confess that I'll probably be using roll film (colour) and strobes. What I need to see are a few examples of this sort of work that's kept parents and grandparents happy.
Thanks,
Pete.

[jonreid]

I burnt some of my last Type 55 trying to shoot my daughter when she was a little 'un. Suffice to say most were either 'not safe for work' or had too much movement....
Good luck, I have no tips just wanted to share my little tale... :D

J

[Richard Mahoney]

Help! I've been asked to take a few pictures of a friends new born grandaughter (less than a week old at the moment). This is right out of my comfort zone. ... What I need to see are a few examples of this sort of work that's kept parents and grandparents happy.

Anne Geddes might `speak to you' ... but then again she might not :(

http://www.annegeddes.com/


Kind regards,

Richard

[Struan Gray]

I'm the last person to ask:


http://struangray.com/miscpics/tenmistakes.jpg


Venture photography (www.venturephotography.com) have rebooted family portraiture, and have persuaded people I know to part with far more money than I would have thought possible for pictures of their kids. Many of the setups are hokey, but the bright-pastel-world-of-sweetness look certainly goes down well with relatives.

My favourite shots of my own kids are semi-posed scenes from their lives. Baby massage, feeding, perched on a shoulder, fast asleep in a heap of blankets. They don't move much at the newborn stage, so MF works well (with LF you're fighting depth of field). One invaluable tip for straight-on static portraits is to prop them up in one of those 45° baby bouncers - you avoid the jowly look when they're flat on their backs, and it's easier to line up the camera on a tripod.

[Ramiro Elena]

Forget LF and maybe film I'd say. I wouldn't use strobes either, they seem to hard on babies eyes and natural light will give you a more... natural feel? :)

I have photographed my newborn for a few months now mostly digital. Take a look:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabato/sets/72157625568637056/

Props help a lot. Geddes overdoes it for me but she's the master. There's a woman on Flickr who does great work with newborns aswell (check my Flickr favorites.)

[Jay DeFehr]

I like fast glass and available light.

[Rick A]

What Jay says, avoid flash if at all possible(skin to easily washed out, startle/cry factor). Daylight film under tungsten for a warm effect. Hide moms arm and hand under a throw so she can hold the critter in a pose.

[Jim Galli]

If someone made this request of me I would approach it exactly as I've approached the photography on my walls that the friend admired. They can haul the kid to the local mall for kitschy anne geddes looking stuff with angel wings and gold saran wrap any day of the week they want. That's Canon 5D work. If they asked you it's probably because what you can give them with large format in our day and age will be unique. Do it soon though. The little rats get wiggly within weeks.

[jp]

I think it's OK to get babies accustomed to strobes. I used them a lot with my two girls (but natural light works well too). I also got them used to the coffee grinder as soon as they came home from the hospital.

Flat soft light, like from a picture window or large light source is I think the best. Let the baby's soft shape make the shadows and tones rather than a complex lighting setup.

I think medium format or digital is easiest for kids/babies. A newborn might be still enough to do LF though. I hope you are being asked because they like what sort of photography you do and not because sears/walmart is too expensive.

http://jason.philbrook.us/gallery3/var/albums/2011/2011-05-22---Micah%2C-Claire%2C-%26-Abel/img371s.jpg

is one I did with my TLR of my brother and his son. This was next to a huge window on a cloudy day.

[Pete Watkins]

Many thanks for all that good advice. I will use the 645 for some but I'll give the 5x7 a try. I have a 150 CZJ Tessar, a 210 TT&H Aviar and the good old 127 & 203 Ektars along with Foma 400 so something should work. YThe advice about natural light and getting them young is really helpful. Jay & JP, those are great.
Thanks again,
Pete.

[Emil Schildt]

well - Jim might think angel wings are kitchy... but I did some newnorn baby images some years ago - and I chose to paint with light!!! :rolleyes:

which doesn't seem to make sense, as it is more than difficult to tell the baby to lie totally still....

However, I chose a larger aperture than normal, and then "sneaked" my way to the baby, and then "painted" her as quickly as possible....

And it kind of worked! The mom was happy!

Fun to try!!

http://photos.photosig.com/photos/73/56/1405673-f8f469e9edef442a.jpg

and

http://photos.photosig.com/photos/76/20/1402076-0e39128d5b1e66fb.jpg

[Greg Lockrey]

Unless you like dealing with "screamers", have Mom bring the kid after it's been fed and had a nap.....

On the technical note.... one soft box w/electronic flash is all the light you'll need.

[Ramiro Elena]

If they asked you it's probably because what you can give them with large format in our day and age will be unique.

Sometimes yes but most of the times the "client" (let's call them that even if it is a friend) wants to look good in the photo and sadly there isn't much more to it.
If the client or friend appreciates your work and the dedication that goes with it, great!

I just did a job last week for which large format cameras and old lenses were needed. I was really excited to get a job like that for a change. The subject and theme were perfect. The photos came out super nice. The client though (a musician) wasn't convinced about his appearance and clothing. In other words he didn't like the way he looked. :(

[36cm2]

I was blessed with the opportunity to do this with my own newborn earlier this month. It was a lot of fun. In terms of tips that I learned (some the hard way):
- have the baby fed and cozy at the start;
- if you're doing full nudes, then diaper off for 1/2 hour beforehand to avoid marks;
- room temperature set high (80-82) or a space heater nearby. You don't want the baby too hot, but the warmth will keep the peace;
- bring lots of textures blankets, etc. for backdrops and to have the baby lay on;
- the more expensive the blanket, the more likely poop or pee;
- have wipes and towels handy;
-little hats are always a hit;
-bring a reflector for fill;
- I researched a lot and although there is no definitive evidence, I would not use strobes before 3 months of age;
- I hate to say it, but I think digital is better-adapted to this kind of shooting, 35 and MF film are fine but more difficult, LF for the criminally insane;
- fast lenses make life easier indoors with limited flash;
- bring a focal length that allows you to shoot from directly above the baby (or use a ladder or very stable chair);
- I personally like artistic environmental portraits more than cookie cutter glam shots, but to each their own.
- have everything ready/planned when you get there. If you're in and out, then you'll probably only have an hour of good shooting time (which is less than you think). If you hang out then you'll get multiple attempts in line with feedings.

Good luck,
Leo

[Ramiro Elena]

I agree 100%

I did all my photos when I was alone with my kid. I used a Nikkor 50mm ƒ1.4 at ƒ2.5/2.8 (lots of my first takes at ƒ1.4 were out of focus or didn't have enough dof)

I always shoot in the bedroom where the light comes from a big window and bounces off the white walls.
This is 2 months, he could hold his head up for a few minutes. Found this pose to be the best.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5139/5426159976_e3a13929d5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabato/5426159976/) Lalito (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabato/5426159976/) by rabato (http://www.flickr.com/people/rabato/), on Flickr

I don't like shootting from above but props make the take more interesting or fun.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5550067675_852dfa44cc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabato/5550067675/) #4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabato/5550067675/) by rabato (http://www.flickr.com/people/rabato/), on Flickr

I'll shut up now. You see, it is my first kid :)

[Richard Mahoney]

Ramiro,


I did all my photos when I was alone with my kid. I used a Nikkor 50mm ƒ1.4 at ƒ2.5/2.8 (lots of my first takes at ƒ1.4 were out of focus or didn't have enough dof)

Only a step or two away, the 35/1.4 is my favorite. I've always tended to use it wide open with our hounds. Yes, the depth of field is paper thin at 1.4 but then if you hold it very steady, and if your subject holds very still, I think it's worth the risk. I find the rendering of material and the rapid fall off especially pleasing. It should be up to children, if they don't mind one up reasonably close. Wugs and Elmo at rest:

http://camera-antipodea.indica-et-buddhica.com/portfolios/portfolio-one/preparation/hounds/wugs-at-rest.jpg

http://camera-antipodea.indica-et-buddhica.com/portfolios/portfolio-one/preparation/hounds/elmo-at-rest.jpg


Kind regards,

Richard

[Mark Barendt]

If someone made this request of me I would approach it exactly as I've approached the photography on my walls that the friend admired. They can haul the kid to the local mall for kitschy anne geddes looking stuff with angel wings and gold saran wrap any day of the week they want. That's Canon 5D work. If they asked you it's probably because what you can give them with large format in our day and age will be unique. Do it soon though. The little rats get wiggly within weeks.

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