Newborn Portrait Lens

I am looking to do some pictures of my newborn in a few weeks and was looking into gettting a quality lens.

Any recommendations.

Thank you

You really have what you need. A flash and a fast prime. Learn how to bounce the flash and/or pick up the Stofen Omni-bounce diffuser for it.

If you really want a lens, what is your budget?

What are you looking to spend? How much room do you have to work with? People normally gravitate towards the 35L for hospital room shots as there is not much working distance. And depending on the size of your house/size of your shooting area you can use any lens you want. Just like in math you have to know what you are solving for before you can start the equation. So figure out exactly what you want, how much you want to spend and how much room you have to shoot in and then find the best lens that fits your needs.

For indoor standard house size, 35L/24-70/24-105/18-55/50 could all work
Indoor large house size, 85/100/70-200/135 could work
Outdoor, ANY LENS IN THE EF LINEUP could work

Most of the shots will be done indoors , either in bedroom or 12x 12 empty room.
Will be using some props, etc.

Budget is probably round $750 -$1000

Thanks

russ925 wrote in post #14959544
Most of the shots will be done indoors , either in bedroom or 12x 12 empty room.
Will be using some props, etc.

Budget is probably round $750 -$1000

Thanks

I see no reason at all to go out and buy a lens at this time. What you have will do the job very well. The 18-55 is probably the best choice for you to start with.

My son made many high quality photos with the original Digital Rebel and the first-generation 18-55.

I'd get the 35F2 or a similar lens. This will let you take photos in low, natural light and cramped quarters. There are times when a longer lens won't work, and I don't care for flash shots of newborns.
If you want better optical quality, you will be looking at the Canon 35L, and that runs over your budget.

ive never used one, but sigma 30 1.4 seems to be a popular choice for indoors on a crop camera. assuming you get a good copy that is

on a crop - 35mm would be perfect in my opinion

A friend of mine has a 35L 1.4 that he will lend me - think I will use that and use the $$$ for the 70-200 I want.

Thanks!!

russ925 wrote in post #14959642
A friend of mine has a 35L 1.4 that he will lend me - think I will use that and use the $$$ for the 70-200 I want.

Thanks!!

You have to remember that lighting is the most critical component of good portraiture. If you're going to use your Speedlite, make sure that you bounce it off a large surface area reflector to soften the lighting. You could use white foam board or anything similar. You can even use white foam and make a large scoop-shaped reflector that you would fasten to the Speedlite (with it aimed up).

By the way, a focal length around 50mm would probably be better than 35mm so that you can keep the camera a little further from your subject. The perspective in the image with the camera further from the subject would very likely be better.

Experiment with the equipment that you currently have, using a doll or a teddy bear as your subject.

russ925 wrote in post #14959642
A friend of mine has a 35L 1.4 that he will lend me - think I will use that and use the $$$ for the 70-200 I want.

Thanks!!

The 70-200 is going to get limited use, at least for children photography until they get older. I would get a 17-55 or a Sigma 17-50/2.8 now if you are using it as an excuse to spend money. But Skip is right, you don't need anything now. Babies are very easy to shoot because they don't move for 6 months or so.

The 70 - 200 is not for newborn photography, I had rented it a while ago and loved it ever since.

I think I will work with what I have and just worry about the lighting set up.

Thanks

artyH wrote in post #14959616
I'd get the 35F2 or a similar lens. This will let you take photos in low, natural light and cramped quarters. .

So will the 50mm f1.8 that the OP already owns. As for "cramped quarters" they will be shooting a newborn less than 2 feet tall in a 12' room. I doubt that will be an issue.

I'd maybe look into a macro lens such as the 60mm. Macro shots of newborns are always nice as well. For anything wider, as others have said, you're fine.

As someone who just had a baby, I have to agree that 50mm on crop is a little awkward sometimes for baby pics. They can't sit up, which means most pictures have to be taken from above unless someone's holding the kid up for the camera. I've gotten much better shots from my 28mm lens than from my 50mm. To the OP: good luck with the 35L - be super careful with it! - and congrats on the baby.