Newborn shoot...cc please

[carseasoncity]

I just did my very first newborn shoot. I took his mother's maternity pictures, and she liked them enough that she came back to have the baby's pictures done. He was just 8 days old. Newborn pictures are a little harder than I imagined. He pooped on his dad, my blanket and went pee on my backdrop twice. Please give me some cc. Thanks!
Brandi

[Titus213]

Now that is pretty neat! Great idea for posing a little one. I am drawn to #1 but there is something there that puts me off. I think it's probably the conversion. #2 is my favorite but both poses are terrific. Using available light?

[Radtech1]

My God!

Both are wonderful.

The only thing that I wish, was that the blanket was small enough to be entirely in frame. It feels as though the shot "spills out" of the photograph where the blanket goes out of frame - if ya know what I mean.

But in terms of lighting, structure, evocation they are great.

Rad

[carseasoncity]

Here is the original of the first one. I think I did midnight black and then converted to black and white. I really suck at black and white conversion which is too bad, because I love it. It sometimes makes me want to go back to film, just to get true black and white. I actually didn't use natural light on these, but one umbrella light. Thanks for the cc, maybe I'll try a different technique on the first one.
Brandi

[Titus213]

The color version of #1 is outstanding, I love it.

[tlc]

i only shoot black and white - so i have been there and done that. download all the b&w conversins you can from that cs2 download site. i love the gorman conversin and the MW conversion. i use them constantly.

i also use midnight sepia however, i desaturate it to almost nothing just so there is a hint of the sepia - otherwise, it will be to oheavy and unnatural - such as in your first shot. which i love by the way, just too heavy on the sepia.

[strmrdr]

love the color version of the 1st one it is awesome!

[Ariane911]

Absolutely beautiful!

[jeptranport]

Wow...all I can say is wow
I don't know much about photography "yet" but those shots just pull me in

[thrumyeye]

Wow! I also just shot my first newborn and your posted photos blow mine away. I have to convert mine yet, have only taken a quick glance, but know that your pose/layout is what I want to achieve, but was uncertain how.

And yes - much more difficult than I imagined and have experienced with 3 months + babies!

Keep it up! This is great work any parent would LOVE to have!!

[cjsa]

Those are fantastic

[DLUKE94]

I'm no pro but the color version of #1 is my favorite. I only hope to be able to do that one of these days.

[carseasoncity]

Thanks for all the great feedback. I sometimes start doubting myself, and this forum gives me the encouragement I need to keep trying. Thanks for all the advice and help. Brandi

[D. Craig Flory]

The 1st image is precious. One glaring problem with it is the low-key background with hi-key clothing and prop. If you had used a hi-key or pastel background it would have worked much better.

[gkuenning]

Brandi, don't doubt yourself. Anybody can learn to expose properly, but some of us (me) will spend a lifetime trying to come up with the kind of ideas that jump into your head on a daily basis.

If that were my baby, I'd probably want the shot on a poster. Or a billboard.