1st Baby pic

[Dawna]

So this is my first time attempting to do a real "professional" job on baby portraits. How do you think I did? Personally I think the lighting is a little too bright and not soft enough for a baby shot. I did use a soft box with the lighting turned down but I had it on strobe so it flashed too bright. Suggestions on what to do next time?
Shutter priority
shutter speed 1/15
f/4.2
iso 100
focal length 32

[SusanH1970]

Actually, the exposure looks fine to me; there are a couple of blown spots on the blanket in front, but the baby looks well exposed.

The biggest issue I see is it's out of focus, most likely due to camera shake from shooting at such a slow shutter speed. Why did you use 1/15 if using a strobe?

[Dawna]

Well Susan GOOD question!! I don't normally shoot on shutter priority I had shot 2 wild Indians just prior to taking these pics and ooops I forgot to switch over. Still learning! That's why I asked. What would you have done??

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by Dawna

Well Susan GOOD question!! I don't normally shoot on shutter priority I had shot 2 wild Indians just prior to taking these pics and ooops I forgot to switch over. Still learning! That's why I asked. What would you have done??

LOL I know the feeling!

I almost always shoot manual, but if you're not comfortable doing that, try aperture priority. If you're not getting fast enough shutter speeds, bump your ISO up.

What sort of light/softbox combo are you using?

Forgot to say before - adorable baby, yours?

[Dawna]

I am an aperture priority girl, That's my favorite, but after I learned active boys don't sit still very long I switched. :-) one day I hope to be all manual, guess I better get crackin on the shutter priority.

I have a 110W MonoLight, with a 16"x24" SoftBox. I was wondering if I purchased an umbrella and bounce the light would it make the light softer than the softbox?

By the way thanks and no it's not my baby.

[SusanH1970]

When I first started, I was all over Aperture Priority like white on rice, lol. Still am sometimes if the light changes too much and too fast when shooting outside, but I've gotten so used to manual that I can meter and change settings on the fly quickly enough. Well, that, and I'm a control freak, haha! Don't feel like you have to rush into shooting manual. Heck you don't even have to at all if it's not your thing; there are loads of photographers that don't! If you like it and it works for you, fine. If not, it's not the be-all and end-all of photography.

110W sounds like it doesn't put out a whole lot of light. I'm no expert when it comes to studio lighting, I just know and use what I have (AlienBee 400 with a softbox, used sometimes in conjunction with a reflector). However, a softbox will most certainly give you softer light than an umbrella. The light is also easier to control - umbrellas are prone to lots of spill.

16x20 is pretty small for a softbox if you're using only one light. The one I use is 32x40 and I'd still like to go bigger, though it gets the job done.

What exactly is the light you are using?

[Dawna]

I just purchased a little starter kit form cowboy studio. I wanted something to learn with that wouldn't break the bank.

I love reading the articles on DPS and have learned a lot. I also use Friday Photo School videos. They are great learning tools. They too use a light meter. Are they hard to use? I just think with little kids running around and won"t sit still it would be very hard to get it right. I really prefer natural light (well maybe cause I don't have people invading my home lol).

Anyway I have learned A BUNCH in this year. I hope to keep moving forward and see where it takes me. I really enjoy photography and I am learning just how much there is to learn and all there is to do.

If ya wanna take a look at my website and let me know any other pointers, I would love to hear them.

Dawna NicholsPhotography,Portraits to Have and to Hold - Dawna Nichols Photography

[SusanH1970]

Ah, okay. I'm not familiar with Cowboy Studio lighting so I'm no help there, lol.

I don't use a hand-held light meter, I just spot meter using my camera's internal meter. I'd love to get a light meter for studio work, but I can imagine using one outdoors while chasing little ones around would be about as easy as nailing jello to a tree, lol.

Great that you're learning so much! We all are, the learning never ends. It's such a passion and I never stop wanting to learn more and more every day.

I'll take a look at your website later, I've got to go start dinner now! Oh, and thanks for liking my FB page!