I need help

~Jan~

So any of you who remember my portraits know that I shoot outdoors, on-location. Well my client next Tues. has a 4 month old baby and a 2 year old. The 2 year old will be fine...lots of ideas for him. What the heck will I do with the baby? THey can't even sit at that age. I was thinking on a blanket on his tummy, but what else can I do? Do you think I should bring my black backdrop and have him sit on it and have mom hold it up? Drape it over the swingset? LOL :scratch

HarlanBear

This might be crazy, but:

1. Mom lying on her back holding baby at arms length above her. You shoot from Mom's POV. Need to have a leafy tree, or something, as background to the baby.

Then again ...

2. As you said, on his stomach, if you can get him to raise his head, shoot low angle, of course, parallel to him. Some kind of prop, like his favorite teddybear or something.

3. Use a small backpack or camera bag to prop him up against with a nice, distant background. Or perhaps a tree to prop him against.

Just some ideas. Don't mean to treat the baby as a product, but, hey, I sometimes think of everything as a product shot.

From what I've seen, you'll think of something and do just fine.

anwmn1

1. Mom lying on her back with knees bent and feet flat on ground. Drape a blanket or backdrop over moms knees and waist. Place baby propped on mom's tummy and leaning against her knees. Mom can interact with baby and you can shoot from above moms head, elevated, or even profile.

2. Have 2 year old holding baby.

3. Baby on back with 2 year old interacting with baby

Seneca

Well I suspect you'll do a sibling picture right? So have the 2 year old hold the baby.

or

go and buy a baby lawn chair and cover with with a beach type blanket...from there have the baby hold something like a teddy bear.

That's a hard one. Good luck...show me what you come up with.

stacey_chik

Seneca wrote:

Well I suspect you'll do a sibling picture right? So have the 2 year old hold the baby.

or

go and buy a baby lawn chair and cover with with a beach type blanket...from there have the baby hold something like a teddy bear.

That's a hard one. Good luck...show me what you come up with.

Along these lines, you can drape your black back drop fabric over the entire pumpkin style car seat (assuming she has one) and then it is a cozy little spot for baby, and sister can be positioned around the baby - since I have little bitty ones myself, and two can sometimes be too young to actually hold a baby.

Also, if you have a wicker basket of sorts, you can use that. Think about what type of outdoor props you would naturally encounter... a wheel barrow, a slide, bring a blanket and drape it on a park bench and rest baby on his tummy all curled up...

I also like the mom's POV while she is holding him in the air... great shot - can't wait to see it!!

hamster

You may also ask the mom if she has a bumbo seat she can bring - you could drape cloth over that, or just do close ups while he's sitting up (the seat allows young babies to sit up pretty straight)

That baby can grasp and probably would be interested in a flower - you could do some closeups of him looking at it (I was thinking something with a long stem, like this:

http://www.tinmanphotography.com/images/BlueFlower.jpg

Anything small and easy to shoot around! Good luck, I would love to see your shots!

Frog Lady

there are small portable bouncers that are basically like a hamock for babies (i.e., like these). The tilt up slightly, but still support the infant. You could very easily drape some fabric over this and set the baby in it. You would also probably need a good back setting or a 2nd back drop as your shot would still include other background.

good luck

urbanaries

Have a look at a shoot from last Saturday with a four month old

http://www.lynnehulbert.com/gallery/3152790#173145321

Good luck!

saurora

urbanaries wrote:

Have a look at a shoot from last Saturday with a four month old

http://www.lynnehulbert.com/gallery/3152790#173145321

Good luck!

Those are super, Lynne!!!! Lots and lots of great ideas!

~Jan~

Thanks for the ideas, guys. I wonder if he has an exersaucer. That would be good for getting some head shots. Or, can they not use those until they sit up well? My guy is 3 and I totally forgot those things...

urbanaries

saurora wrote:

Those are super, Lynne!!!! Lots and lots of great ideas!

Thanks Susan.....this is a REALLY tough age, because they're too old to do the naked/sleeping newborn pics, but they can't sit or stand.

the Excersaucer is a good idea, also bring a stepstool and don't be afraid to shoot from above. It will be easier to get the older sibling (and parent)'s faces in regardless if they're looking at you, each other....or something in the sky.

Cuties02q

Wow lynne your pictures are great!!! Did you have the family on a bed or the floor?

urbanaries

Cuties02q wrote:

Wow lynne your pictures are great!!! Did you have the family on a bed or the floor?

Thanks! The baby was on a big ottoman and they were kneeling down beside him.