First photo shoot! URGENT help pls.

[Nutcliffe]

got a studio shoot for cash in one weeks time :D !! never done one before, absoloutely ****ting myself, really dont want to let the client down or myself for that matter.:oops:

the shoot is a 5 month old baby girl, believe she can lay on her back, front and sit up. i'd like to make them really special, ive got the lights etc to do the job etc, gonna have to rely on a flashed white bedroom wall and a cream carpet for the background, i have nothing in the way of props at all.

please can you give me some idea of best posses, simple cheap props.
INSPERATION REQUIRED.

Is this the best section to get advice for this post?

PLEASE CAN YOU ALSO POST SOME OF YOUR PICS FOR IDEAS PLEASE.:confused:

thank you all.

[kav]

What equipment do you have? Camera/Lens/Lights

If you have not done this kind of thing before, maybe props are the last thing you need advice on :)

K.

[Nutcliffe]

hi kav, i have taken many studio pics before but mainly my 6/7 year old children, my cameras the 350d and the lens i'll be using is the canon 50mm 1.4, my flash units are portaflash which are pretty basic but good enough for this.

not sure what type of images the client wants, the childs mother is coming to see me tomorrow to discuss, so i need an idea of what type of shots/angles etc would best suit/ flatter a 4 month old baby girl,

thanks

[Dante King]

please at least go out and spring on a roll of seamless paper for a proper background. This would be minimal cost and greatly improve anything you do.

[Nutcliffe]

hi dante, the cream carpet will be used for above full body horizontal shots , for vertical shots bambino will be sat upright on a bright white sheet laid on a double bed n pushed tightly against the white wall, when flashed will give me a seamless look to the pics.

[kav]

Hi,

The last couple of baby shoots I've done (6week and a 15month) I've not taken any studio lights.

I went with my 430ex and reflector, bouncing mostly. Depending on what the client wants, I've tried to use what furniture was in the house.

If its nicely decorated you could put a sheet on the sofa with a cushion underneath to prop the baby up a bit and shoot close in with a 50mm and a large aperature.

Also bean-bags are useful. I used one in the middle of the room with a sheet on top and a non-distracting background, again close in with a 60mm and large aperature.

Just to get some big smiles, I had the parents waving toys out of the frame, so the baby would get all hyped up.

I also took along a 24-70 2.8.

Just be prepared for the following:

Runny noses
Baby falling asleep!
Tantrums, crying and all the other cool stuff babies do :)

That's another reason I went with a 430ex and not studio lighting, more flexibility.

If the baby is really aloof, you could probably get away with setting up the lights.

Hope that helps,

K.

[Nutcliffe]

thanx kav, can you post any of your baby pics for me mate.

[kav]

thanx kav, can you post any of your baby pics for me mate.

Hi,

Sorry I cannot post them online.

Check out some of these pages:

http://www.photoflexlightingschool.com/Lighting_Lessons/Basic_Lighting/Portrait_Indoor/index.html

[Nutcliffe]

much appreciated kav, great link, do you have any links that deal with baby portraiture?

[Titus213]

Here's some ideas for posing with props...

This is a wicker basket under a pink blanket (real chicks btw): http://www.norwoodphotos.com/gallery/1815512/1/90663402/Medium

Hats.... Same baby, same pink blanket, same black background:
http://www.norwoodphotos.com/gallery/1815512/1/90663809/Medium

I've also been told a bean-bag chair works to help support them but never been able to track one down.

[Nutcliffe]

thanks titus again much appreciated.
any more links guys/gals?

[poloman]

I happen to have an 8 month old granddaughter who has been forced into an early modeling career by her overzealous grandfather! I agree with KAV. Use a flash on a bracket bounced at the most. I wouldn't even use a soft diffuser. See if you can set up somewhere with a lot of natural light preferably a north or West exposure. Use a fast lens. If you don't have one, I'll bet you can rent one for a reasonable rate. See what you can do without the flash. Babies startle easily and have sensitive eyes. I think studio lighting will give you nothing but trouble. Spend some time at the beginning "charming the baby". Talk softly in a higher than normal tone. Kind of sing song. Shoot way more than you think you need as babies expressions are unpredictable. Place a grey card in the first frame in each room you shoot for a reference. You'll get plenty of good shots.

[Nutcliffe]

cheers lads, the shoot is in the morning so im gonna try it with natural light first so im hoping for a little sunshine, luckily the 50mm 1.4 good with poor light so i should be ok. still a little nervous but i ve been practising with one of my childrens dolls, results are good so i'm thinking things are gonna be ok.i need to get perfect shots and hopefully give a reasonable service as im hopefull i can make this a full time occupation.