What’s Your Preference?

cdawson · #1 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 07:34 PM

I am new to the photography world, but since having this cutie last year I am motivated to learn and improve. I am interested in hearing your thoughts on how to achieve a great B&W portrait....both getting the best results out of the camera and through editting techniques.

I am also in need of more consistency....I seem to keep and edit only about 5 pictures for every 100 that I take. Any thoughts? Is this normal?

Canon Digital Rebel XS
Shutter Speed: 1/125
F1.8
ISO 200
Focal Length: 50mm

Benji · #2 (**permalink**) 03-06-2010, 04:41 PM

You can convert a color image to a b & w, but you cannot (easily) convert a b & w to a color image, so I suggest shooting color all the time.

While black backgrounds are easy to get, they look out of place IMHO in child photography. Whites, pinks and powder blues are children's colors and are airy and lend a sense of lightness and purity to an image. Blacks are heavy and oppressive. The term "darkness" is frequently used in the scriptures to describe the devil and his demons and where they live. Yes, a white background is harder to obtain, but mothers will reward you with $$$ if you use it. Wal-Mart and K-Mart type studios use dark backgrounds because they are easy, and these places are cheap. You want your images to look better
(i.e. more expensive) than them, otherwise they will go there. Your backgrounds, poses, props and lighting must be better than theirs. Money doesn't talk, it screams.

Benji

cdawson · #3 (**permalink**) 03-06-2010, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benji

You can convert a color image to a b & w, but you cannot (easily) convert a b & w to a color image, so I suggest shooting color all the time.

While black backgrounds are easy to get, they look out of place IMHO in child photography. Whites, pinks and powder blues are children's colors and are airy and lend a sense of lightness and purity to an image. Blacks are heavy and oppressive. The term "darkness" is frequently used in the scriptures to describe the devil and his demons and where they live. Yes, a white background is harder to obtain, but mothers will reward you with $$$ if you use it. Wal-Mart and K-Mart type studios use dark backgrounds because they are easy, and these places are cheap. You want your images to look better
(i.e. more expensive) than them, otherwise they will go there. Your backgrounds, poses, props and lighting must be better than theirs. Money doesn't talk, it screams.

Benji

Thank you for the feedback....all great points that I will definitely incorporate in the future.

raylfreeman · #4 (**permalink**) 03-07-2010, 01:18 AM

Stop the 50mm 1.8 down to 2.8.

SusanH1970 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-07-2010, 04:40 AM

Actually, a huge current trend among baby/newborn photographers IS black and whites on a black backdrop. Consider the work of Anne Geddes, Jodie Otte, Linnea Lenkus, and Sandy Puc', (who were all doing it before Walmart, etc. picked up on the trend) for example. While the pastels are sweet, the black is very dramatic and showcases the beauty of a baby quite nicely.

To the OP: I think your image is lovely. Focus looks good and there's just the right amount of contrast. Just watch your foot and hand chops.

private · #6 (**permalink**) 03-09-2010, 03:30 AM

What I do not like about the pink and blue backgrounds is that they leave color casts which means more work for me in post processing.

And like Susan said using black is the current thread, and I take high offense that you compare it to a satanic portait - cuz its not.

Benji · #7 (**permalink**) 03-09-2010, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by private

What I do not like about the pink and blue backgrounds is that they leave color casts which means more work for me in post processing.

And like Susan said using black is the current thread, and I take high offense that you compare it to a satanic portait - cuz its not.

Let me refresh you memory on what I said in my above posting, "Blacks are heavy and oppressive. The term "darkness" is frequently used in the scriptures to describe the devil and his demons and where they live." This is not "comparing" a baby portrait to a satanic portrait it is simply stating a fact.

Benji

SusanH1970 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-09-2010, 03:04 PM

Hmmmm....heavy and oppressive?

Anne Geddes: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/doct...des%20baby.jpg

Jody Otte: un3 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Linnea Lenkus: http://www.photographypros.com/portr...g_beach_01.jpg

All above are highly paid. Hmmm, did someone say "money doesn't talk, it screams"?

Benji, with all due respect as I know you've been a professional photographer for a very long time, before you tell someone new to the business that shooting a baby on black is wrong (or cheap or dark and oppressive), perhaps you should take the time to learn current trends. Clients today see images such as the above and ask for it. Perhaps it's not your cup of tea and you prefer not to do these types of images, but out and out telling someone else they shouldn't isn't fair.

Oh, and most clients don't read the Bible for inspiration before booking a photographer, as far as I know.

Benji · #9 (**permalink**) 03-09-2010, 05:29 PM

I checked all of them out and noticed on at least two of them the child's dark hair blending in with the dark backgrounds. This was called "floating heads" back in the day.....

Ben