Newborn baby photos are a very popular service that many families find desirable and their latest addition images to treasure forever. Despite being so popular, many photographers, myself included, have never considered or attempted this type of shoot. There’s probably a good reason for that.
I consider myself a very patient person and am always willing to work a little harder and adapt to tricky situations, but this shoot with my 3 1/2 week old nephew was an understatement. was also challenging, with a word of warning. : Projectile vomiting is to be expected and something to be prepared for.
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I don’t know about other photographers, but personally I wouldn’t charge friends or family for a shoot. In my spare time, I can take the opportunity to practice a different style that I wouldn’t normally consider, and usually take my time. There is no need to be professional or the added pressure of editing and delivering images in a timely manner.
Of course, this also has a downside. It took some awkward conversation to remind relatives how copyright works. I also reiterate that giving credit on social media and providing good reviews on social media helps my business through word of mouth and does not kill them afterwards. Free shooting.
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On several occasions, without my knowledge, a family turned up with printed mugs or canvases made from images I had taken. The result was a blurry and pixelated print. A res version of the image that boasts a higher dpi for printing.
While it’s certainly easier to work with a paying client than a family member, not charging for a shoot when plans go awry can also work to your advantage, especially if you need reimbursement. Baby Hayden ( Or the little H we call him H) and the shoot started as usual.
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The equipment and setup I used for this shot was very simple and consisted of my two cameras: Canon EOS 5DS. (opens in new tab) Paired with Canon EF 50mm STM (opens in new tab)and my sony a7iii (opens in new tab) Combined with Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS (opens in new tab)There was also a microfiber cloth, Nitecore Stick-it Wrapper (opens in new tab)portable fan, Fudesy (opens in new tab) A light stand and background setup kit from Amazon, and a SmallRig RC 220B video light that I used and reviewed for the first time for this shoot.
I set up the RC 220B in normal mode using about 45% intensity at 6500k, sitting on the floor with the light behind me, mounted on a light stand and adjusted the beam so it was pointing downwards towards a small H. created by A perfect look in natural sunlight that wasn’t too overwhelming for his newborn eyes.
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What did you learn from your first baby shoot?
The first rule I learned shooting a newborn baby is to make sure the room temperature is tolerable for the baby. I was hoping for cooler weather given the heat wave the UK is dealing with, but without the indoor air conditioning it wouldn’t have made much of a difference in the photos. Humidity even though it started getting dark outside.
The flat at the time was a little on the warmer side, even with all the doors and windows open, so Hayden was in diapers/nappies at first. This meant that some of the onesies and costumes that Hayden’s mom had planned couldn’t be made to put on Hayden.
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For the scenery and backgrounds, I tried to replicate the tendency of newborns to be placed in soft and safe baskets/buckets lined with blankets. I quickly learned that this didn’t work as I wasn’t in the mood to be placed or lie down. I am quiet.
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Editing an image to black and white in post-processing is also a great way to save parts of an image that didn’t always go as planned, but some photographers find doing this really salvation. Opinion is divided as to whether it’s a grace…turned out to be, or just a cop?
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About 5-10 minutes into the shoot, everything seemed to go relatively smoothly despite the extremely hot temperatures and Hayden’s positioning. But when we ditched the bucket idea and placed Hayden on the soft carpet next to his trusty elephant stuffed animal, all the tantrum tantrums started happening.
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Now, with the nature of the family shoot in an environment I’m already familiar with, and Hayden’s mother on standby, this wasn’t a big deal. I would have been surprised if another shoot was lined up.
It took Hayden about 40 minutes to calm down. She made repeated trips to the cold balcony for some fresh air, with the musical Mickey Mouse playing Rockabye Her Baby on a loop to soothe and soothe Hayden.
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Then vomiting occurred. We’re not talking about cute little stumps or milky hiccups.
This, of course, meant that poor Little H needed a bath, and his Moses basket, which we never really got a chance to use, needed a deep clean.
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The lesson from this is quote a day shoot (or a minimum of 3 hours of give or take) for a client wanting newborn photos, unless, of course, you’re an absolute pro in newborn photography like Karen Wiltshire. is to (opens in new tab)and not a complete newbie to the genre like me.
The extra time allows for regular breaks, feedings, cleaning, winding up, and any unpredictable tantrums that may occur during a shoot, but when planning a shoot, consider temperature, time of day, and more. , factors such as the baby’s own schedule should also be considered. amount of wasted time.
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Images were shot using both camera settings, switching between them occasionally based on the type of zoom (both lenses are prime) and the depth of field required for the shoot. Macro G OSS 90mm allows you to capture close-ups and details.
Overall, we were able to create about 10 usable images, most of which were elements such as Dumbo and Mickey Mouse’s cameos as well as his hands and feet. The picture of Hayden, who is so cute, was a task to capture the sweet moments between tears. Use a fast shutter speed.
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