kids and babies, lighting preference

[cdmonkey]

I was just wondering what people perfere to use when shooting babies and young kids. Do you diffuse the light as much as possible or prefere a beauty dish.

So for example with a rotalux deep octa, would you use both layers of diffusion or would you use a deflector?

Or white beauty dish?

Or the largest softbox you have?

any preference on catch lights?

Carl

[Austin.Manny]

The preference for babies and children seems to be big, soft light. 43" umbrella, 60" octobox, large softbox. This is my preference too. I wouldn't usually shoot a baby with a 22" BD. The light would be way too contrasty for a typical baby shot.

For portraits of children and babies, the look is usually nice and soft. Large modifiers are definitely the key. As for catchlights, that's totally personal preference. I prefer rectangular for babies, because you usually are going to find them inside, so in my opinion it'd be best to mimic window lighting. But that's just me.

[bobbyz]

Babies are small so even small modifier placed close will appear to be a big source. Here is example of Qbox24. Just one light.

[plusnq]

I use my deep octa, both diffusers for babies. For toddlers and smaller children I use photek soft liters to illuminate he area as they can be pretty mobile.

[TMR Design]

Using a large, soft, diffused light source is the ticket for children.

These were shot with the Elinchrom 53" Midi Octa with inner and outer diffusion panels.

[cdmonkey]

I try an mix things up a little, my son was 4 1/2 in this photo his choice of pose, gridded beauty dish.

[Stacey8221]

This thread is EXACTLY what I'm looking for!! Keep the pictures coming please!!

[cdmonkey]

large octa

[cdmonkey]

beauty dish and softbox

[cdmonkey]

beauty dish gridded

[cdmonkey]

last one for now
deep octa