A of mine friend is about to give birth any day now. They asked if I would take photographs of their newborn shortly after he/she comes. Days after not seconds after. They asked because photography is a hobby of mine. More specifically, outdoor and nature photography is a hobby of mine. I’ve never shot portraits, and the limited people photography I’ve do has been on the candid side. My friends know that so they are not expecting the best newborn photos ever, but Id like to turn out something good.
SO, I come to you all seeking advise any one might have on photographing newborns with little more than an XT, a couple lenses, household lighting, and the onboard flash.
A million thank yous for any tips.
Well, all baby photography is essentially candid as well (they don't take cues well anyways). And I second Renee's comments about window light and fast apertures. With fast apertures, focus on the closest eye and make sure it is in focus in the shots. Forget the onboard flash, but you may want to consider some hotshoe flash unit, like the 430ex), that will allow you to bounce. Bounced flash can be quite beautiful, but direct flash never is. Bounce or natural light...
Give yourself lots of time, make sure it's quiet and calm and the right temperature. If you've found examples you would like to try, analyse the lighting and do the shooting in manual. Natural light is nice because you don;t have to bother the baby's eyes with flash. Strobes are nice, because you can use a low ISO, and get the shot easier.
If the baby is awake, try to get some eye contact with a parent, makes a great image.
Expect to have to stop for nursing, burping, and other baby needs. And newborns fatigue quickly.
Sorry to scream that, but its very important. Doctors recommend you don't use strong hot shoe flashes and definitely not studio flashes. They say the flashes from the point and shoot cameras are ok, but I wouldn't risk that either. Apparently some part of the baby's eye/pupil isn't fully developed yet.
chexmix wrote:
DO NOT USE A FLASH FOR 1ST SIX MONTHS !!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry to scream that, but its very important. Doctors recommend you don't use strong hot shoe flashes and definitely not studio flashes. They say the flashes from the point and shoot cameras are ok, but I wouldn't risk that either. Apparently some part of the baby's eye/pupil isn't fully developed yet.
I've never seen a doctor's advice not to use lights.
The hospital photos taken a few hours after birth use strobes.
Whether or not direct flash is bad for the baby, it is definitely bad for the photo. Bounce flash is sooooooooooooo much nicer, and as an added bonus it doesn't hit the baby's eyes directly anyways.
My wife is a NICU nurse and she has NEVER heard of that phrase "no flashes for 6 months" either.
We just started shooting newborns (check my website), and I second the idea of using natural light and a fast aperture (since you do not own a speedlight or a studio light). I would suggest finding a black cloth background for a few shots that you want to be black & white.
Do not use the onboard flash as it is nothing but junk. If you have enough sunlight coming through the window, you can also diffuse it by putting a white sheet over the window. You can also pick up some white foamcore from Walmart and use that as a reflector. Anything helps at this point.
chexmix wrote:
DO NOT USE A FLASH FOR 1ST SIX MONTHS !!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry to scream that, but its very important. Doctors recommend you don't use strong hot shoe flashes and definitely not studio flashes. They say the flashes from the point and shoot cameras are ok, but I wouldn't risk that either. Apparently some part of the baby's eye/pupil isn't fully developed yet.
AFAIK doctors don't recommend against use of flash. I've talked to many of them about this specific issue. I've also read articles to the effect that there is no danger. I believe the rumors of danger to be an old wives' tale. I used flash on my baby with no harmful effects whatsoever. My parents used it on me.
I agree that I would not use the onboard flash. The good thing about newborns is that they don't move fast. If you decide to use some nice natural light, you can use a fairly cheap lens and get good results with a tripod.
I think this old wive's tale is one of hundreds of "overprotective mom" syndrome cases out there. I saw an article on the internet the other day that broccoli was bad for you... Remember the old days when we used to ride around without seat belts, ead red meat and take flash photos of our babies? Somehow those babies turned out just fine...
jvarszegi wrote:
AFAIK doctors don't recommend against use of flash. I've talked to many of them about this specific issue. I've also read articles to the effect that there is no danger. I believe the rumors of danger to be an old wives' tale. I used flash on my baby with no harmful effects whatsoever. My parents used it on me.
I just read in Parents magazine a few months ago about how safe it was and that if a baby flinches/winces at the firing of a strobe/flash, it was a great sign his/her eyes were working properly.
Who likes an on camera flash?? I hate seeing that strong condensed blind spot for 10 minutes after the picture is taken. But with modifiers or bounce light, the light can be sofened enough to not be harsh or irritating at all.
I've also asked my 2 peds and our eye doctor and they all say they never found any facts to support any danger and in moderation it should be perfectly fine.
I have some newborn sessions posted on my website and blog
http://linenphotography.com from my site you can fall the link to my blog. I have I think at least one entire baby shoot posted there.
few tips
do the shoot within the first two weeks of life baby will still be very sleepy and have still have the curl.
Keep the baby warm this is huge!
use the parents as props look at anne geddes pure book lots of ideas
I like to use a sheepskin rug if need be I can use it on a vibrating chair (all babies seem to love those)
If you have a bean bag doggy bed (cheap I think I paid 5.00 for mine from big lots) throw a cloth over it adn the baby will sink into it. Looks really cute I put a heating pad under the cloth for warmth for the naked shots. I also run a heater near by I end up sweating but the baby stays asleep.
I usually work right under a window for moody contrasting light.
Here are a few of my captures.
WOW! This is some great info! Thanks to you all.
The mom is about a week overdue so I have at least a few days to collect some of the suggested items and practice on a doll or something.
I'll check some of your websites too.
Thanks again!
When my first grandchild was born I took photos of him when he was about 10 hours old. His other grandmother held him, I draped her with one of his blankets so she didn't show (she wasn't dressed for photos she said) and used window light with reflector. Everyone loved the results! I used them on his birth announcements.
He's now 23 years old and I still use the technique with a baby's mommie or whoever. They keep warm, feel secure, and loved. Makes for great photos!
"Linen" has some beautiful examples, too!
I heard the "don't use a flash" in a workshop a while back and ask eye doctors whenever I get a chance. They confirmed the "baby's retina is not fully formed" issue but had no idea as to how much flash is safe versus not safe.
My thought is "why push the issue"? Is it worth damaging (possibly permanently) a newborn's eyes for the sake of a good shot or two?
My belief (not grounded in any facts that I can back up) is that strobes (monolights and/or power packs) are a definite no when shooting newborns. Bounced speedlights/lites should be fine.
That said, natural light with reflectors should produce the best and softest images so why not go that route to begin with?
So Cal Al wrote:
I heard the "don't use a flash" in a workshop a while back and ask eye doctors whenever I get a chance. They confirmed the "baby's retina is not fully formed" issue but had no idea as to how much flash is safe versus not safe.
My thought is "why push the issue"? Is it worth damaging (possibly permanently) a newborn's eyes for the sake of a good shot or two?
My belief (not grounded in any facts that I can back up) is that strobes (monolights and/or power packs) are a definite no when shooting newborns. Bounced speedlights/lites should be fine.
That said, natural light with reflectors should produce the best and softest images so why not go that route to begin with?
It's not an issue, hence not pushable. The fact that a newborn's eyes are not yet adult does not imply that they are damagable by flash. Without facts, there is no reason to even believe it. If doctors won't identify it as a danger, neither will I.
BTW, I forgot to mention before (which is a coincidence) that my wife is also a NICU nurse! She said that at her hospital they also use flash to take newborn pictures-- hospital personnel do it.
I am a midwife and newborn photographer. I don't use flash because I think you can get beautiful results using natural light but I bet every paren that snaps their baby uses on camera flash without thinking. There are so many things that could do possible 'harm' but there is not enough research to proove it, but I think there are many greater dangers than flash!
The fact that a newborn's eyes are not yet adult does not imply that they are damagable by flash. Without facts, there is no reason to even believe it. If doctors won't identify it as a danger, neither will I.