First (possible) baby shoot---Need help!

[dutchess85]

I had some one contact me about taking photos of their niece's baby. I have never taken any photos for someone in a professional manner. They liked my work.What do I need to do?

Any help and tips would be great!

Lighting is always challenging, and what you have will depend on how you shoot. If you have lights, keep them close to keep the light soft and avoid creating harsh shadows. If you don't have lights, you can either shoot outdoors early or late in the day or shoot near a big window inside.

For posing ideas, check out photos on the net. You can usually get a lot of good ideas from there. Posing (or lack of) will depend on the baby's age. Less than 1 month, very easy (get them warm and full, and you can pose them as they sleep). 1-3 months, harder (they move, but it's hard to get them to smile). 6 months, easy again (they smile a lot). 9 months, hard agan (begin to crawl, so they don't stay in one place long).

Expressions change very fast. They look happy one second and concerned the next. Take lots of photos and you'll catch a few good moments.

And remember to have fun!

[BigFuzzy]

Also, keep in mind, if possible, to keep your flash off the camera. Flash directly into the face of your subject flattens the subject by removing the natural shadows that give faces depth. If you're unable to get them off camera, turn the flash heads and bounce them off a wall or ceiling (if light colored) and it creates a nice big soft light source. Or bounce it off a reflector/white paperboard.

Make sure you get the basics right... like focus. Don't worry if you have to bump up the ISO a bit to get faster shutter speeds, just get it sharp (when/where needed). I also like using lots of bokeh in these types of shoots by using something like a 50mm at 1.8 .. gives the images a nice soft feel.

Consider focusing on some things like details. Think shots of the feet or hands.. or tight crops on the faces.. don't always do full body shots.. booooring.

Though it's done a lot, I find images of babies (or any model in fact) taken in front of what's obviously a large cloth/sheet somehow draped or hung up to be very amateurish looking, especially if it has lots of wrinkles in it! (I've been guilty of this as well) If you have to, ensure the background is blurred out to hide it as much as possible. To me, simpler plain backgrounds are the best.

I agree, go to flickr or some site like that and do a search on baby, or infant, or toddler, depending on the age and get some ideas. The single best thing you can do before shooting is being prepared. Have ideas (5-10) in your mind of things you want to try before you get there that way you're not wasting time (and losing their confidence) thinking.. This way, as soon as the baby is cooperating, you're ready!

Also, is it of the baby alone, or with the parents/mother/alien guardian?

As with any baby/family types of shoots, there is a natural, and needed, level of cheeseyness in the images. But also take a look at what's out there, and figure out how you can make it different.. distinctly yours. I look at so many photos and think; "Yep, seen the whole baby sitting in front of a boring white/black/grey background 1million times, how can I make it different" and go from there. Put your twist on it.

So, be prepared, try to be different, and have fun. But I can't emphasize BE prepared. Have ideas ready. I walk into every situation knowing a few things that I want to do before I even get there.. makes things go so much smoother.

Also, check out the work of these two DPS members.. THEY know how to take baby photos!

Digital Photography School - Photography Forums - View Profile: RuthieMae
and
Digital Photography School - Photography Forums - View Profile: SusanH1970

Good luck!
Al

[dutchess85]

Thanks Photoboothguy and BugFuzzy. I have only done this as a hobby and well I honestly don't have any equipment except my Nikon Camera (which is only a CoolPix). So yeah nothing fancy. The person wanting to use my does love the photos (which where taken with it).

Have to admit I was really excited at first but now feel ashamed because I don't have something better. (really wish I did). I want to do the BEST I can possibly do. I wasn't planning on charging but instead was going to use the prints to start a "professional type" portfolio. Any tips on that?

[BigFuzzy]

Kit means very little at times. You can take very good photos with P&S if you know what you're doing and put a little effort into it.
Don't be insecure, first off, if they like what you've already done with the camera you have, chances are you can't do worse, plus since it's a photo of their family, they're likely to like it even more, so you have an edge.

Not so sound smartass-ish, but you build a pro type portfolio by having lots and lots of good photos. So, #1 you need to shoot as much as you can. Get as much practice as possible. I'm traveling while writing this, so I can't be more specific, but there's lots of info out there about putting together portfolios (both physical and online), some searches will show you the way! After you have a lot of photos you're happy with, then you can think about a portfolio. Work on variety, don't have a port with only one person or style in it 10 times in your port. It'll show how little experience you have or how limited you are.

Anyway, good luck.. sorry to be so short (yet very wordy! )

Originally Posted by dutchess85

Thanks Photoboothguy and BugFuzzy. I have only done this as a hobby and well I honestly don't have any equipment except my Nikon Camera (which is only a CoolPix). So yeah nothing fancy. The person wanting to use my does love the photos (which where taken with it).

Have to admit I was really excited at first but now feel ashamed because I don't have something better. (really wish I did). I want to do the BEST I can possibly do. I wasn't planning on charging but instead was going to use the prints to start a "professional type" portfolio. Any tips on that?

[dutchess85]

BugFuzzy: Thanks! You put my mind at ease. I take photos very often (almost daily) and I try to read and learn as much about photography and taking photos as possible. I will def. try not to limit what is in my portfolio. Thanks again, you def. made me feel more at ease and have really help.