Baby shoot

divamum · April 10, 2013

Did another newborn shoot for a friend. This little guy was 10lbs when he was born, and we did this at three weeks - he's huge! Couldn't even fit him in my basket, and he was pretty active, too. Not the easiest shoot I've ever done - still going through the set, but I think we got some ok shots. C&C always welcomed!

All window light.

1. Yeah, he really was trying to pick up his head!

2.

3.

4.

Dooginfif20 · April 10, 2013

I love all of them except the last one

Mike J · April 11, 2013

Dooginfif20 wrote: »

I love all of them except the last one

+1 but love, love #2. In #4, the added grain? in #4 is throwing me. Were you going for an old film look?

jpc · April 11, 2013

#2 is excellent.

divamum · April 11, 2013

I was shooting all natural light at high ISO's, and since it had plenty of noise anyway decided to throw some more grain at it for effect. I kinda like it, but initial responses suggest that maybe I'm misjudging this one....

#2 seems to be becoming my "go to" baby shot - I know lots of people do sets of hands, but I'm absolutely besotted with baby toes. Can't get enough of 'em! There's one in this series where he has them curled, and I just about died - the depth of field means it's a bit "off", but I love it so much I'll probably include it in the set anyway. They're more a pj/lifestyle than "formal portrait" kind of family, so I suspect mom will probably like it even if one foot isn't perfectly in focus

lensmole · April 11, 2013

IMHO #4 is the strongest.

Dooginfif20 · April 11, 2013

Dont get me wrong the pose and emotion in the picture are great for #4, but in all honesty the quality looks like it came from a point and shoot. Maybe dial back on the grain and see how it looks

Sam · April 11, 2013

Overall nice work. Mama will be happy!

Sam

Dangerchris · April 11, 2013

Grains adds nostalgic feel to 4 which I like. And a timely yawn (?) from baby ups the ante.

divamum · April 11, 2013

Thanks guys!

Doogin, I will admit it's not the first time I've spent ages on an edit, only to look at it the next day and think, "It looks like a bad Instagram picture done in 15 seconds"

This set has been tricky to edit - I simply must get them done this weekend - but I'll have another look at that one. Usually if I do a "funky" edit, I'll also try to provide a very naturalistic one; I should go back and look at this one....

Bryce Wilson · April 12, 2013

As you know, I do a fair amount of photography of young children. But, because I just find newborns and infants so tough to get a WOW factor from, at least for me, I don't go out of my way to get that kind of business. If someone walks up to me and takes me by the shoulders, shakes me and says in a loud voice, "I want you to take pictures of my baby" I acquiesce and do it.

That said, I find number two extremely well done and would put it on my wall even though I don't know the child.

The others to me are just, eh. With four having potential except for the grain.

One thing I have found with the infants I do, do. The more elaborate sets', scene and props are the better I like the images. Seems to just kick up the cute factor that isn't there with a plain old infant that can't really do anything but sleep, eat and poop.

Hackbone · April 13, 2013

When I think of babies I think of happy, bright scenes, clothes etc. The darkness doesn't work for me.

divamum · April 13, 2013

Thanks guys. Bryce, glad you like #2 - me too

I still have to rework #4 - I'll post later when I get a chance (two other headshot sets which are both rush jobs, and need to get the proofsets uploaded first....)

As for props Bryce, it's just not my thing - I love the results you get with kiddos, but it's just waaayyyy outside what I do and I don't think I could make any kind of successful stab at that look!! Windowlight and two kids was tough enough...

When I think of babies I think of happy, bright scenes, clothes etc. The darkness doesn't work for me.

Hack, "darkness" meaning exposure (I'm still recalibrating my monitor after the computer came back from repair), or "darkness" = black blanket? We did all of these at their home, and black fuzzy blankie is what I gotz (they know I'm not a baby specialist - they're friends who asked me to do it). Their house has very colourful walls and furniture, so my options were kinda limited and I reckoned a dark solid neutral was better than lots of distracting background.

Still have to get through and finish this set - not one I'm finding easy, even though there are some good shots of the little guy. I did also manage to get some with his EXTREMELY uncooperative big sister, but she wouldn't stay put unless it was HER idea, and they all became grabshots which the parents will love, but can't say they're technically dead-on. I was using only windowlight on a dull March day, so shutter speeds weren't high; I wish I'd had the 70-200is for this shoot, but the rental hadn't arrived yet when I did it!!!!

Hackbone · April 13, 2013

As in props..I try to tell my clients generally to stay from black as it looks as if you head is just floating there. Invest in some normal size (3x4ish) thin baby blankets or that light woven fabric ( it's name is escaping me). then have the parent hold the child on the blanket with the blanket up their chest to their chin and you have a ready made (mommy or daddy) portable posing table.

divamum · April 13, 2013

Gotcha. On a plus note, I actually was going for the "floating baby" look, so at least I achieved what I set out to do (I actually like that look, particularly in black and white - I'll be doing a lot of conversions for this set

)

We did some with him in a lap (great tip), but he was fussier that way - definitely quietest just hangin' out on the blanket

Icebear · April 13, 2013

I love #4. It is so intimate and quiet.

divamum · April 13, 2013

Ladies, and gentleman, we appear to have.... controversy! Love it. My usual solution in cases like this is to offer the client my arty-farty edit AND a less ott one, so seems like I'm on the right track

Baby shoot

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