1st Birthday Home Studio (White Background)

[corosario]

A few months ago, some friends asked me to take a few family pictures at a local park. They enjoyed what I did the first time and now they wanted some pictures of her daughter for her first birthday, but they wanted indoor/studio style pictures.

The lighting used for these shots was my D-lite 4 kit (with softboxes) and one 580EXII + one 430EX for the background.
Main light @ f/8 (3-4 feet away)
Fill light @ f/5.6 (4-5 feet away)
Both Speedlites @ f/16 (2-3 feet away from background)
Processing done with LR 2.1

I'm trying to get comfortable when working with lights, so I will appreciate any feedback and/or criticism. Thanks for looking!

Canon 40D + Sigma 17-70mm 3.5-4.5 DC, ISO 100

1. 30mm, f/9, 1/125
http://sportsduo.smugmug.com/photos/390485763_PfTH4-XL.jpg
2. 36mm, f/8, 1/125
http://sportsduo.smugmug.com/photos/390486217_5om2U-XL.jpg
3. 30mm, f/8, 1/125
http://sportsduo.smugmug.com/photos/390488527_oe2kp-XL.jpg
4. 30mm, f/8, 1/125
http://sportsduo.smugmug.com/photos/390489643_2dE6E-XL.jpg
5. 30mm, f/8, 1/125
http://sportsduo.smugmug.com/photos/390490080_gz3aw-XL.jpg

[slapstix55]

great pictures! Love them.

[StroupePhotography]

Great shots. I really like the 2 last shots. They had me smiling thinking what fun that had to be.

[jgrussell]

Every one of them is a keeper, the last two are hilarious. Very nicely done!

[rmr21]

Those are all great!!! LOVE the last one......great expression!

[corosario]

Thanks for all your kind words. The session was a lot of fun. I couldn't believe how much cake she ate!

[Chris71]

Very nice! Great job blowing out the BG, and the colors are amazing.

[reneethomas]

I love the last shot. It looks af if the little girl is saying oh, no I am in trouble now. All the shots are great, the parents will be very happy!

[John E]

OMG! What a mess! Since I also have a recent one year old, all I can think about seeing these shots is having to clean up the mess (and the mess my little girl made at her own 1st birthday party). In the first shot her eyes are a little dark but the rest are great! Don't you just love this age?

[sunnygirl]

WOW, they have to be the best 1st birthday shots I've seen.
I just love #5 - would make a great shot for a caption competition - imagine what she's thinking and about to say.
I bet the parents will just adore these.

[JoshTPhoto]

Hi, great pics! What material did you use for the background?

Also how did you get the white to extend all the way underneath them? Pardon my ignorance as I am new to studio portraits.

[kajawhit]

Very messy but VERY cute! Great job!

[vfr800_fi]

Love the pics! Nice job.

[benmanon]

nice... 8-)))

BeN

[theveed]

Last shot takes the cake!!!!!! (pun intended)

[corosario]

Wow, thanks for all the comments. You guys are too kind!!!

The parents did enjoy the pictures a lot and now they are talking about Christmas pictures. :D

Hi, great pics! What material did you use for the background?

Also how did you get the white to extend all the way underneath them? Pardon my ignorance as I am new to studio portraits.

banxai75,

I use white seamless paper for the background and white tile board for the floor. I tried following Zack Arias' tutorial (http://www.zarias.com/?p=71), but I was only able to get one tileboard from the hardware store. During post-processing, I had to use Lightrooms Adjustment Brush (Exposure setting with auto masking)to dodge the areas where the background and tileboard met and where the tileboard ended (since I only had one tileboard and not two which is what is recommended).

[camlew2]

Fantastic work! Well done!

[Satnav900]

Love them! Only thing i'd add is perhaps a shaddow - maybe its just me but it makes them pop out more :oops:

[shb]

great pictures ! really like them

[Maureen Souza]

Fun shots...GREAT!!!

[Svetlana]

WOW! Wonderful!!