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2 month old baby, how to photograph?
- Thread starter NEEDSHELP
- Start date
Ed Halley
Veteran Member
If it were not safe to use flash, we'd have a couple of generations of blind people by now.
A two-month old cannot sit up on their own, so you'll have to prop them up. Usually, this is in a cradle-like shape, but from "the Zeltsman Approach" website, there's an interesting home-made stand that fits the purpose:
See more at http://jzportraits.home.att.net/
--
[ e d @ h a l l e y . c c ] http://www.halley.cc/pix/
pfiltz
Veteran Member
2 month old babies, cannot support their own heads yet. That child in the pick is older than two months. Your very limited with poses. You can put them in a bassinet and shoot down at them from an angle, or have them laying on their backs, stomach's, or sides with someone to support their backs if shot on their sides. Sometimes if they are on their stomachs, they might raise their heads, but only for a second. You have to be very quick to grab the shot.
Here is a 8 week old. Maybe if others have 8 month old shots, they can post a sample or two for you as well. This was lite with 2 strobes for b/g, and a large multidome for the baby.
Regards,
Phillip@keepsake
http://www.keepsakephotography.us
Here is a 8 week old. Maybe if others have 8 month old shots, they can post a sample or two for you as well. This was lite with 2 strobes for b/g, and a large multidome for the baby.
--If it were not safe to use flash, we'd have a couple of generations
of blind people by now.
A two-month old cannot sit up on their own, so you'll have to prop
them up. Usually, this is in a cradle-like shape, but from "the
Zeltsman Approach" website, there's an interesting home-made stand
that fits the purpose:
See more at http://jzportraits.home.att.net/
--
[ e d @ h a l l e y . c c ] http://www.halley.cc/pix/
Regards,
Phillip@keepsake
http://www.keepsakephotography.us
Vernon Foster
Forum Enthusiast
home (bag the studio set-up). Take a white sheet and use a simple 50mm lens. Use window light. Toss a small pillow under the sheet and work from that set-up. And no, 2 mon old (as Pfitz stated) can't support their head. Window light with a white sheet is ALL you really need to produce beautiful (and sellable) images. vf
When you're green you grow..When you're ripe you rot!
--Here is a 8 week old. Maybe if others have 8 month old shots, they
can post a sample or two for you as well. This was lite with 2
strobes for b/g, and a large multidome for the baby.
--If it were not safe to use flash, we'd have a couple of generations
of blind people by now.
A two-month old cannot sit up on their own, so you'll have to prop
them up. Usually, this is in a cradle-like shape, but from "the
Zeltsman Approach" website, there's an interesting home-made stand
that fits the purpose:
See more at http://jzportraits.home.att.net/
--
[ e d @ h a l l e y . c c ] http://www.halley.cc/pix/
Regards,
Phillip@keepsake
http://www.keepsakephotography.us
When you're green you grow..When you're ripe you rot!
Jd Foslien
Well-known member
My first job at Sears Portrait Studio they used this kind of V like cradle to prop them up and then bring the cameras up high. So they got flashed just like everyone else but I agree with using window light suggestion just at home. Be as creative as you like because afterall she is family. Especially take enough time for the cookies to get done.
One way. Bring your tripod up hi and shoot down at you pillow cradle area. The baby is on there butt facing up. Put two rectangular pillows in a v so they cross in the back. you may want to use more. Cover with a blanket. Mom or Dad can put hand under blanket and support the head a little also.
One way. Bring your tripod up hi and shoot down at you pillow cradle area. The baby is on there butt facing up. Put two rectangular pillows in a v so they cross in the back. you may want to use more. Cover with a blanket. Mom or Dad can put hand under blanket and support the head a little also.
Gilbert44749
Leading Member
Get a lot of closeups...fill the frame with their different body parts: fingers, hands, feet, face, etc. Flash is ok to use, but natural light is even better through a window. Try to get nice soft light.
I have a bunch here:
http://www.pbase.com/gilbert/audrey
The following were taken within the first month...
--
-gilbert
http://www.gilbertmabel.com
I have a bunch here:
http://www.pbase.com/gilbert/audrey
The following were taken within the first month...
--
-gilbert
http://www.gilbertmabel.com
Arglebargle
Leading Member
I agree on the 50mm lens, or a 35mm may be better, because if I am shooting down into a crib or bassinet 50mm can be too long to get the whole baby in the frame. Also if you have an infant carrier (or a swing) you can throw some material over the car seat and get a nice backdrop while the car seat props up the baby. I find the best time to take photos is soon after they wake up and before they get hungry, after they eat they get a little sleepy and cranky. Sleeping photos are precious too! Good luck, from a new father who has taken (almost) nothing but baby pictures for the last three months.
lipstickface2
Leading Member
ohmygosh.
i looked at your gallery.
that baby is out of control cute.
i must pinch those chubby cheeks!
--
Portfolio: http://www.technicolortiara.com
i looked at your gallery.
that baby is out of control cute.
i must pinch those chubby cheeks!
--
Portfolio: http://www.technicolortiara.com
Arglebargle
Leading Member
Sometimes I take photos outside in the shade too.
Here's some photos of mine, most with the 50 1.4:
http://alanbelanich.fotopic.net/c210930.html
Here's some photos of mine, most with the 50 1.4:
http://alanbelanich.fotopic.net/c210930.html
Gilbert44749
Leading Member
Richard Crowe
Veteran Member
I am not sure this will work with an infant as young as two months, but for kids slightly older - I used to do it this way:
Background: while wall, sheet or white window shade.
Lighting setup: You can use straight flash, bounce into an umbrella or use a softbox (commercial or home made) for lights #1 and #2. Light #3 will be straight on flash. When I was a baby photographer in the mid 1950's I didn't have the luxury of modeling lights. So I know that couple of used Vivitar 283 strobes with peanut slaves would work. Nice thing about adjustable flash units is that you can have lights #1 and 2 the same distance from the baby and control the light output by adjusting the flash intensity. That way you don't need a meter.
Light #1 at the side of the camera pointing directly at the child - could possibly be the camera onboard flash.
Light #2 at about a 45 degree angle pointing at the child - really need pretty flat lighting, certainly no more than a 1:2 ratio.
Light #3 on the background from behind the baby. Overexpose BG by about 1 stop for high-key effect. This will also provide a hair-light. Alright I know most babies don't have a lot of hair - this is just a term.
Use a table to pose baby. Place pillow at edge of table closest to camera and drape pillow and table with blanket or sheet.
Pose baby on table. (I shouldn't need to say this - but make sure there is someone close by to ensure baby is safe).
Now here's the trick -
Place baby facing camera so both elbows are on pillow. Place baby's right hand over its upper arm just above the left elbow. Now gently place the baby's left hand beneath the right upper arm, just above the elbow.
You have effectively tied baby's arms in a harmless, but secure knot. Place the baby's chin over the point where the forearms cross.
Baby is now secure and has the head supported.
It's best to have someone besides Mom as the security person. Mom should be as close to the camera as possible. Use a squeek toy or rattle to get baby's attention.
I would shoot at a fairly wide aperture so that you are using the least amount of light possible.
Background: while wall, sheet or white window shade.
Lighting setup: You can use straight flash, bounce into an umbrella or use a softbox (commercial or home made) for lights #1 and #2. Light #3 will be straight on flash. When I was a baby photographer in the mid 1950's I didn't have the luxury of modeling lights. So I know that couple of used Vivitar 283 strobes with peanut slaves would work. Nice thing about adjustable flash units is that you can have lights #1 and 2 the same distance from the baby and control the light output by adjusting the flash intensity. That way you don't need a meter.
Light #1 at the side of the camera pointing directly at the child - could possibly be the camera onboard flash.
Light #2 at about a 45 degree angle pointing at the child - really need pretty flat lighting, certainly no more than a 1:2 ratio.
Light #3 on the background from behind the baby. Overexpose BG by about 1 stop for high-key effect. This will also provide a hair-light. Alright I know most babies don't have a lot of hair - this is just a term.
Use a table to pose baby. Place pillow at edge of table closest to camera and drape pillow and table with blanket or sheet.
Pose baby on table. (I shouldn't need to say this - but make sure there is someone close by to ensure baby is safe).
Now here's the trick -
Place baby facing camera so both elbows are on pillow. Place baby's right hand over its upper arm just above the left elbow. Now gently place the baby's left hand beneath the right upper arm, just above the elbow.
You have effectively tied baby's arms in a harmless, but secure knot. Place the baby's chin over the point where the forearms cross.
Baby is now secure and has the head supported.
It's best to have someone besides Mom as the security person. Mom should be as close to the camera as possible. Use a squeek toy or rattle to get baby's attention.
I would shoot at a fairly wide aperture so that you are using the least amount of light possible.
MichelleAz
Member
I have two pics of my two month old in my pbase gallery. I have a one light studio setup at home that I used for both of these.
http://www.pbase.com/michelleaz/portraits
http://www.pbase.com/michelleaz/portraits
My niece and her husband asked me to photograph their 5 week old daughter a few months ago. They said they really wanted B&W shots so I had my wife purchase some black material from a fabric store. One piece was laid across the bed and another was suspended for the background.
I also used what I think is called a "boppy pillow" underneath the fabric for some shots when the baby needed propped up or when I took shots of her on her belly.
I took many full length shots and then took closeups of her hands and feet. I selected several of the shots which lended themselves to square crops and cropped them to 3" square. I Assembled them in photoshop on a black 14" x 17" black background. Although not shown in this example, I selected a nice font and printed the baby's name and birthdate in the lower third of the final 14 x 17 image. Some photoshop work was required to get the foreground and background totally black.
I had these printed at a local shop at both 14x17 and many 4x6's and the parents and grandparents were speechless. The parents also selected many of the full size color images for prints. I have since received several requests from new and expecting parents for this type of shot, but my wife says I have to shoot our 7 week old first.
As far as lighting goes, I used 1 Alien Bee AB400 in a softbox and a 42" reflector. Other lighting techniques could be used also.
This image suffered greatly from downsizing, but still demonstrates the idea.
Heres one of the original color shots:
I also took a few shots of my daughter just laying on her changing table which can be seen at the bottom of this gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/tjohn/ellery_rose
Just my amateur contribution
Regards,
Tom
TJohn
http://www.pbase.com/tjohn/galleries
I also used what I think is called a "boppy pillow" underneath the fabric for some shots when the baby needed propped up or when I took shots of her on her belly.
I took many full length shots and then took closeups of her hands and feet. I selected several of the shots which lended themselves to square crops and cropped them to 3" square. I Assembled them in photoshop on a black 14" x 17" black background. Although not shown in this example, I selected a nice font and printed the baby's name and birthdate in the lower third of the final 14 x 17 image. Some photoshop work was required to get the foreground and background totally black.
I had these printed at a local shop at both 14x17 and many 4x6's and the parents and grandparents were speechless. The parents also selected many of the full size color images for prints. I have since received several requests from new and expecting parents for this type of shot, but my wife says I have to shoot our 7 week old first.
As far as lighting goes, I used 1 Alien Bee AB400 in a softbox and a 42" reflector. Other lighting techniques could be used also.
This image suffered greatly from downsizing, but still demonstrates the idea.
Heres one of the original color shots:
I also took a few shots of my daughter just laying on her changing table which can be seen at the bottom of this gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/tjohn/ellery_rose
Just my amateur contribution
Regards,
Tom
--
TJohn
http://www.pbase.com/tjohn/galleries
Sven Hedlund
Senior Member
I have a few shots of my newborn daughter at my http://www page. Click on "Signe" (her name) in the left column.
Best regards,
--
Sven Hedlund
http://www.svenhedlund.com
camptown
Forum Enthusiast
You can also make a great effect by adding a few props that are of importance to the moms/dads or the child...
For example:
Have fun with it, and watch for those great shots that present themselves when mom or dad step in to try and reposition the baby or calm him down.
CT
http://www.CraftyAg.com - personal
http://www.AMTaylor.com - commercial
For example:
Have fun with it, and watch for those great shots that present themselves when mom or dad step in to try and reposition the baby or calm him down.
CT
--
http://www.CraftyAg.com - personal
http://www.AMTaylor.com - commercial
My response was in the posted on your other thread:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=10479641
I took this of my 3 mo old son (at the time). Cloudy morning (8ish) as he lay on his "bouncy seat". Tripod, no flash.
Morten Schmidt
Forum Enthusiast
This image suffered greatly from downsizing, but still demonstrates
the idea.
Heres one of the original color shots:
I also took a few shots of my daughter just laying on her changing
table which can be seen at the bottom of this gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/tjohn/ellery_rose
Just my amateur contribution
Regards,
Tom
--
TJohn
http://www.pbase.com/tjohn/galleries
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