What settings for new baby pics?

adam c · Feb 20, 2005

Any suggestions for settings for brand new baby pics? Expecting number 3 any day now!

First pics will be typical hospital shots - not sure of light, but probably some or most with flash. Currently intend to use manual, about 1/125, f8 ish - but would welcome suggestions. Especially - which metering mode for flash and non flash shots.

Thanks

Adam

adam c · Feb 21, 2005

adam c said:
............Especially - which metering mode for flash and non flash shots.

Thanks

Adam

BillCat · Feb 21, 2005

For my baby's birth I stayed at ISO 800 f/2.8 Av and no flash. 20D and Canon's 24mm 2.8 lens. I could hold this combination with one hand which was important.

When there was enough light I went to a lower ISO.

For baby only photos I'm using the 50mm 1.8 lens and no flash.

I don't know at what age flash is safe, but I wouldn't be using it for a new born. Natural light also tends to look better.

Bill

adam c said:
adam c said:

............Especially - which metering mode for flash and non flash shots.

Thanks

Adam

Click to expand...

adam c · Feb 21, 2005

BillCat said:
For my baby's birth I stayed at ISO 800 f/2.8 Av and no flash. 20D
and Canon's 24mm 2.8 lens. I could hold this combination with one
hand which was important.

Sadly I don't have a 24mm 2.8! I do have the 17-85mm IS, but even with the IS, it is obviously somewhat slower! I also have a 50mm 1.8 but think that may be a bit too close to use to start with as I don't want to have to keep swapping lenses - I can just imagine the wife's ocmments!

BillCat said:
For baby only photos I'm using the 50mm 1.8 lens and no flash.

I'm looking forward to using mine in the coming weeks.

BillCat said:
I don't know at what age flash is safe

There has been quite a lot of discussion on this. The general opinion is that flash is not harmful, even to a just born baby.

BillCat said:
Natural light also tends to look better.

Agreed - provided there is enough light!

Adam

Julius Seizure · Feb 21, 2005

Here are 5 brith photos you may consider taking...

1) Look of excitement of your wife as she is wheeled into the operating room (if she is doing a c-section)

2) A closeup photo of the concentrated look of the ob/gyn as he/she is working on your wife

3) Baby's first cry a few seconds after delivery

4) When baby is given to your wife for the first time, hand nearby nurse your camera (with a wide angle lens already attached) to take the first family photo of the three of you. Your first family photo in the first moments of birth! This is likely to be your favorite photo.

5) After your wife recovers, a photo of her and baby looking happy and content.

Time to come out!

Concentration

Still attached

Our very first family photo

Hard work done now - time to rest

Some more tips

-No flash, bump ISO to 1600 or 3200. Grain can give character. Use Noise Ninja if your not into grain

-Write down the photos you plan to take beforehand. You tend to forget things in the excitement

-I bought a tiny voice recorder to record baby's first cry. I taped it to the bed.

-In the First Family Photo I asked the nurse to hold the camera above her head and point it down at us. I think it turned out nicely.

Good Luck!

http://www.donaldlee.net

adam c · Feb 21, 2005

Thanks Julius! Not too sure about photos 1 & 2!!!

Julius Seizure said:
Here are 5 brith photos you may consider taking...

1) Look of excitement of your wife as she is wheeled into the
operating room (if she is doing a c-section)

2) A closeup photo of the concentrated look of the ob/gyn as he/she
is working on your wife

Member said:
-Write down the photos you plan to take beforehand. You tend to
forget things in the excitement

A good idea - especially as this is no. 3 for me - got to make sure it gets at least the same treatment as nos 1 & 2!!

Member said:
-I bought a tiny voice recorder to record baby's first cry. I taped
it to the bed.

Another really good idea - especially as I already have a small digital dictation machine which should be great for this - although I suspect 'the wife' won't be keen on any of the earlier sounds being recorded!!

Member said:
In the First Family Photo I asked the nurse to hold the camera
above her head and point it down at us. I think it turned out
nicely.

I do too! She should consider a change of career!! - or perhaps it was all in the set up ;-)

Member said:
Good Luck!

Thanks!

pdqgp · Feb 21, 2005

I went with no flash as I didn't have an external at the time. With the 10D I shot these. Exif under each":

Doctor catching baby:
http://www.pbase.com/pdqgp/image/17602884

Clean up:
http://www.pbase.com/pdqgp/image/17610961

All finished:
http://www.pbase.com/pdqgp/image/17525963

Mainly ISO 800 shots without a flash. With a flash, likely a shutter of 1/80th and Aperture of say f/5.6. That's what I would try anyway.

Congrats!

adam c said:
Any suggestions for settings for brand new baby pics? Expecting
number 3 any day now!

First pics will be typical hospital shots - not sure of light, but
probably some or most with flash. Currently intend to use manual,
about 1/125, f8 ish - but would welcome suggestions. Especially -
which metering mode for flash and non flash shots.

Thanks

Adam

--
-tim
http://www.pbase.com/pdqgp

hockeynut · Feb 21, 2005

Which lenses? Flash?

adam c said:
Any suggestions for settings for brand new baby pics? Expecting
number 3 any day now!

First pics will be typical hospital shots - not sure of light, but
probably some or most with flash. Currently intend to use manual,
about 1/125, f8 ish - but would welcome suggestions. Especially -
which metering mode for flash and non flash shots.

Thanks

Adam

--

' We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. '

George Orwell

Charlie Pledger · Feb 21, 2005

Check with the hospital and your doctor in advance about their photo and video policies. Things are getting much tighter and when we had our second child two years ago we were told no video/photos before they had checked the baby out. We were told it was a policy the hospital had at the mandate of the doctors. I assume to protect them and make sure there was no evidence in the event of mal-practice.

Definitely shoot raw because of the unknown WB situation and shoot both flash and natural light shots. Shoot a lot and sort them out later when you are up in the middle of the night!

Good luck & Enjoy!

Charlie

RDKirk · Feb 21, 2005

Charlie Pledger said:
Check with the hospital and your doctor in advance about their
photo and video policies. Things are getting much tighter and when
we had our second child two years ago we were told no video/photos
before they had checked the baby out. We were told it was a policy
the hospital had at the mandate of the doctors. I assume to protect
them and make sure there was no evidence in the event of
mal-practice.

I think I'd follow the rule of "It's better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission" in that situation. If you ask them to think about it, they might say no even if there is no established policy.

If you don't ask, you might not get stopped even if there is an established policy

If you get stopped, you get stopped.

--
RDKirk
'TANSTAAFL: The only unbreakable rule in photography.'

RDKirk · Feb 21, 2005

Wider lenses, because shooting distances will be very short.

No flash. It will annoy people, hospitals often don't permit it for safety reasons (some areas have high oxygen contents), and the pictures will be much better taken with available light.

--
RDKirk
'TANSTAAFL: The only unbreakable rule in photography.'

RDKirk · Feb 21, 2005

Raise the ISO to 1600--I presume you don't intend to blow these up to 16x20 anyway. In addition, grainy (noisy) delivery room photos are rather accepted and expected--they're more "documentary style" in appearance.

--
RDKirk
'TANSTAAFL: The only unbreakable rule in photography.'

RDKirk · Feb 21, 2005

BillCat wrote:

Flash is not a problem for the baby, but many hospitals don't allow it for safety reasons, it wil annoy staff and other patients and make them start wondering if they want to have pictures taken at all, and as you say, the pictures are better without it.

--
RDKirk
'TANSTAAFL: The only unbreakable rule in photography.'

RDKirk · Feb 21, 2005

adam c said:
adam c said:

............Especially - which metering mode for flash and non flash shots.

Thanks

Adam

Click to expand...

--
RDKirk
'TANSTAAFL: The only unbreakable rule in photography.'

adam c · Feb 21, 2005

...are the lenses I will take. I also have an old 80-200mm pocket rocket, but not much use here!

Only the built in flash or an old 199A!

I have been using the "deodorant cap diffuser" on the built in flash with some success!!

Adam

hockeynut said:
Which lenses? Flash?

Brian Kennedy · Feb 21, 2005

adam c said:
Any suggestions for settings for brand new baby pics? Expecting
number 3 any day now!

Shoot at high ISO (1600 or even 3200) with a fast lens and no flash, in raw mode so you can adjust WB later.

If color noise is a problem at those high ISOs, then make them B&W in postprocessing, where the grain looks good. I got some excellent B&W pictures that way.

--
Brian Kennedy
http://www.briankennedy.net/

adam c · Feb 21, 2005

RDKirk said:
I think I'd follow the rule of "It's better to beg forgiveness than
to ask permission" in that situation.

Stevejac · Feb 21, 2005

ONe of the hospitals at which I practice has just banned videos in the Delivery Room. I guess it's because of malpractice worries but I think it's misguided.

I'm a pediatrician, so I'm not at many deliveries. I've had folks video the circumcision. I think that's strange, but I don't care if they do it.

I certainly wouldn't use flash in the delivery room. You wouldn't want anyone to be blinded, even temporarily if things get 'interesting'. Also, the light in even new 'homey' labor-delivery-recovery rooms is pretty good, especially on the Mom and the infant warmer.

With regards to the baby resuscitation, you should ask in advance where the team will be standing. Unless there are problems, there'll just be two folks, one and the head, and one on the side. That gives you the other side to take pictures/videos, etc. The person on the side probably has a preference, so you can find out in advance where to stand when they're working on your new baby.

As was previously mentioned, flash is harmless to newborns in reasonable doses. You won't see the eyes open much until day 3. Dim the lights and he/she may open them earlier. You'd keep your eyes closed in room or daylight if you'd been in the dark for 9 months too!

Brian Kennedy said:
adam c said:

Any suggestions for settings for brand new baby pics? Expecting
number 3 any day now!

Click to expand...

Shoot at high ISO (1600 or even 3200) with a fast lens and no
flash, in raw mode so you can adjust WB later.

If color noise is a problem at those high ISOs, then make them B&W
in postprocessing, where the grain looks good. I got some excellent
B&W pictures that way.

--
Brian Kennedy
http://www.briankennedy.net/

--
Steve Jacobs

adam c · Feb 21, 2005

Stevejac said:
ONe of the hospitals at which I practice has just banned videos in
the Delivery Room. I guess it's because of malpractice worries but
I think it's misguided.

I'm a pediatrician, so I'm not at many deliveries. I've had folks
video the circumcision. I think that's strange, but I don't care if
they do it.

I certainly wouldn't use flash in the delivery room. You wouldn't
want anyone to be blinded, even temporarily if things get
'interesting'. Also, the light in even new 'homey'
labor-delivery-recovery rooms is pretty good, especially on the Mom
and the infant warmer.

With regards to the baby resuscitation, you should ask in advance
where the team will be standing. Unless there are problems,
there'll just be two folks, one and the head, and one on the side.
That gives you the other side to take pictures/videos, etc. The
person on the side probably has a preference, so you can find out
in advance where to stand when they're working on your new baby.

As was previously mentioned, flash is harmless to newborns in
reasonable doses. You won't see the eyes open much until day 3. Dim
the lights and he/she may open them earlier. You'd keep your eyes
closed in room or daylight if you'd been in the dark for 9 months
too!

hunk · Feb 21, 2005

Used only canon 85mm 1.8 at 1600, no flash

http://www.x32.nl/kiara/index.html

What settings for new baby pics?

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