So a while back I posted regarding some questions about doing some simple studio lighting, etc.. for my new son. Well, I've been practicing, and had a very good subject for about 15 minutes this morning, and think I capitalized on it. Taken with a 50D, 60mm macro @ 5.6, 580EXII off shoe 1/4 into a white umbrella. Any comments/constructive criticism is welcome!

1:


2:


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4:

My two comments are
He's just too cute.
Well done on the lighting and poses.

Well.. I am pretty new on this.. but I can say that both, baby is cute and photography are well done.
Regards

Hi,

My Simple Suggestion: Show more light and less shadows on the face of an infant than you might on an adult.

For these, move the light source or use a reflector (white card).

Steady Hand wrote:
Hi,

My Simple Suggestion: Show more light and less shadows on the face of an infant than you might on an adult.

For these, move the light source or use a reflector (white card).

Thank you for the suggestion. I'll definitely give it a try. Since my studio is pretty... er.. rudimentary.. would a piece of white tagboard work as a white card? Or is it a matter of just rotating the single light toward the front a bit more?

Nero wrote:
Steady Hand wrote:
Hi,

My Simple Suggestion: Show more light and less shadows on the face of an infant than you might on an adult.

For these, move the light source or use a reflector (white card).

Thank you for the suggestion. I'll definitely give it a try. Since my studio is pretty... er.. rudimentary.. would a piece of white tagboard work as a white card? Or is it a matter of just rotating the single light toward the front a bit more?

Try both.

Steady Hand wrote:
Try both.

Now I'll just have to wait for the next 5-minute window of cooperative baby time.. It can be hard to play with lighting when your windows of opportunity are so small..

Nero wrote:
Steady Hand wrote:
Try both.

Now I'll just have to wait for the next 5-minute window of cooperative baby time.. It can be hard to play with lighting when your windows of opportunity are so small..

I have a toy baby doll for this very reason. I set the lighting using the doll and then when my son is ready, I substitute him in for the doll. The doll makes a nice stand in.

bta80 wrote:
I have a toy baby doll for this very reason. I set the lighting using the doll and then when my son is ready, I substitute him in for the doll. The doll makes a nice stand in.

I've been using a stuffed mickey mouse.. good for exposure (has black, bright red, tan, and white), but not so good for determining the direction of lighting

Steady Hand wrote:
Hi,

My Simple Suggestion: Show more light and less shadows on the face of an infant than you might on an adult.

For these, move the light source or use a reflector (white card).


Could you give me a good reason for softening the lights on babys? I think it will look boring, and every pics is so alike.

I don't think Steady meant even lighting, just a little fill-in. My take, #1 really doesn't need anything. I like that one like it is. #2 & 3 don't have any interesting expression. But #4, if like Steady suggested, you had a white reflector low left, that would give just enough light to bring out the smile in his cheeks and lips (mouth area). Another thing I've tried that works, when setting the white reflector, try angling it a bit upwards. That way the reflected light won't be directly back into the side of the face.

With my granddaugher (she's four now) I would hold the white board (white foam board 20x30 from Wal Mart $1.99) just off camera and tilt it a couple different ways while I took several shots. The difference in the angle will suprise you.

Like Steady is saying, There is no set way... Just try stuff.

Larry

Pandacat wrote:
I don't think Steady meant even lighting, just a little fill-in. My take, #1 really doesn't need anything. I like that one like it is. #2 & 3 don't have any interesting expression. But #4, if like Steady suggested, you had a white reflector low left, that would give just enough light to bring out the smile in his cheeks and lips (mouth area). Another thing I've tried that works, when setting the white reflector, try angling it a bit upwards. That way the reflected light won't be directly back into the side of the face.

With my granddaugher (she's four now) I would hold the white board (white foam board 20x30 from Wal Mart $1.99) just off camera and tilt it a couple different ways while I took several shots. The difference in the angle will suprise you.

Like Steady is saying, There is no set way... Just try stuff.

Larry


Thanks Larry! You are definitely right about the #2 and #3 not having the same level of expression as #1 and #4. I suppose i am drawn to #2 as those are the "puppy dog" eyes he always seems to give, and #3 is that "I am about to smile- so here is your chance!" look. Definitely something I'd see as his parent, but wouldn't be seen by others.

And thank you so much for your description of how you would fill in the light for that last shot. It really made sense to me, and I'll play around with some additional fill next time. This was my second try at shooting with the flash off shoe and to the side. I guess I'll discover what a white card can do now!