Madison - newborn shoot

Ann McRae · January 11, 2009

After doing John's promo shots, I went over to my friends to meet her daughter. Madison was born Dec. 23 so is now 19 days old. Photographing babies, I knew, would be much more difficult. And it was! I bought this adorble little reversible blanket - white faux sheep on one side and pink fleece on the other. Madison christened it twice :rofl but thats okay, thats what babies do.

So this is what I've come up with so far:

ann

BradfordBenn · January 11, 2009

The last one is my favorite. Although I did find the doublehands one very interesting, but it got a little odd as the hands were not "defined" for me.

DavidTO · January 11, 2009

BradfordBenn wrote:

The last one is my favorite. Although I did find the doublehands one very interesting, but it got a little odd as the hands were not "defined" for me.

ashby · January 11, 2009

I like the last one. Number four is interesting, but shallow DOF is distracting. Since you went B&W, maybe a higher ISO and a little extra grain wouldn't be so bad.

aktse · January 12, 2009

the last one is best in the series for me. How did you light these?

clemensphoto's · January 12, 2009

Really like the last one the most.

Ann McRae · January 12, 2009

BradfordBenn wrote:

The last one is my favorite. Although I did find the doublehands one very interesting, but it got a little odd as the hands were not "defined" for me.

Thanks, what I learned from this is that one must both be sure of the pose and also move quickly once you have it started - babies are squirmie!

ann

Ann McRae · January 12, 2009

DavidTO wrote:

Thanks, David.

ann

Ann McRae · January 12, 2009

ashby wrote:

I like the last one. Number four is interesting, but shallow DOF is distracting. Since you went B&W, maybe a higher ISO and a little extra grain wouldn't be so bad.

Or a different crop, or more blur? Just the hands and feet, perhaps?

Ann McRae · January 12, 2009

aktse wrote:

the last one is best in the series for me. How did you light these?

With my new strobes in umbrellas.

Ann McRae · January 12, 2009

clemensphoto's wrote:

Really like the last one the most.

Thanks - yep, I guess I should have made the point I saved the best for the last, as that really is my favorite too. I wasn't expecting to have a wide awake and seemingly interactive 3 week old! But, she was and this photo shows that.

ann

Zarathustra · January 12, 2009

I'm going out on a limb here and disagreeing with everyone else that the double hands in number 3 are distracting or ill defined. I personally love the shot! I do think that number 4 could use a closer crop to just focus on the hands and feet since the face is so OOF. The last one is absolutely perfect! Great series!

WingsOfLovePhoto · January 12, 2009

Nice lighting. I agree about #4, something isn't quite right. I would like #2 the best if it were cropped in a little tighter. Just a few suggestions for babies (my specialty

is to invest in a poser or boppy and to put the babies on their bellies. They make the cutest of poses especially naked! and because the babies are usually very content and not so squirmy.
Here is an example if you don't mind.

Ann McRae · January 13, 2009

Zarathustra wrote:

I'm going out on a limb here and disagreeing with everyone else that the double hands in number 3 are distracting or ill defined. I personally love the shot! I do think that number 4 could use a closer crop to just focus on the hands and feet since the face is so OOF. The last one is absolutely perfect! Great series!

Thanks - I love the concept of 3, but accept that execution isn't perfect! Something to try again, shall I have the opprtunity.

ann

Ann McRae · January 13, 2009

WingsOfLovePhoto wrote:

Nice lighting. I agree about #4, something isn't quite right. I would like #2 the best if it were cropped in a little tighter. Just a few suggestions for babies (my specialty is to invest in a poser or boppy and to put the babies on their bellies. They make the cutest of poses especially naked! and because the babies are usually very content and not so squirmy.
Here is an example if you don't mind.

I don't mind at all - actually ove this kind of info. But what IS a poser or boppy????

Great photo- and just the shot I hoped for, but Mdison had much different ideas!

ann

Ann McRae · January 13, 2009

Alright folks - here is the other version of the two sets of hands - hands are better, but baby is no longer in profie. Overall, which is the better choice?

WingsOfLovePhoto · January 13, 2009

Ann McRae wrote:

I don't mind at all - actually ove this kind of info. But what IS a poser or boppy????

Great photo- and just the shot I hoped for, but Mdison had much different ideas!

ann

Yes baby's have their own ideas:D A boppy is a tool women use for breast feeding. It is a beanbag like thing that is a 3/4circle. It works well for posing and you can buy it pretty much anywhere you buy baby stuff. A poser is something that you use specifically to pose babies and sometimes even people for pictures. There are many different kinds. I bought mine at www.wickerbydesign.com but you could check ebay and other photo companies too. I hope you get the opportunity to photograph Madison many more times! I am doing a Madison this week too. Only 1 week old. Must be a popular name! And just one tip. If there is a baby half asleep and has only one eye open or something...if you want their eyes closed just have the mom or you can, rub your finger down the slope of their nose. This usually causes them to instinctively close their eyes. Do if a few times and they may go to sleep!

Ann McRae · January 13, 2009

Thanks very much, great info.

I hope I get to shoot Madison again, as well as other babies (just not grandbabies yet!).

ann

WingsOfLovePhoto wrote:

Yes baby's have their own ideas:D A boppy is a tool women use for breast feeding. It is a beanbag like thing that is a 3/4circle. It works well for posing and you can buy it pretty much anywhere you buy baby stuff. A poser is something that you use specifically to pose babies and sometimes even people for pictures. There are many different kinds. I bought mine at www.wickerbydesign.com but you could check ebay and other photo companies too. I hope you get the opportunity to photograph Madison many more times! I am doing a Madison this week too. Only 1 week old. Must be a popular name! And just one tip. If there is a baby half asleep and has only one eye open or something...if you want their eyes closed just have the mom or you can, rub your finger down the slope of their nose. This usually causes them to instinctively close their eyes. Do if a few times and they may go to sleep!

Ann McRae · January 13, 2009

I found one more shot that I think is quite good:

Any more C&C or tips would be very welcome!

ann

Madison - newborn shoot

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