Any advice for a first time newborn shoot????

Hello. I've been asked by a friends friend to do her newborns photos shortly after shes born (boy am i nervous) Shes not due till mid july so i have some time to gather any advice on lighting situations from you pros. I've done a maternity shoot for someone else and they came out pretty good however i had some minor wB Issues. I'll be using a black background for this and a white background. Any tips on posing, lighting, and tech info from experienced photographers would be appreciated!!!!

Thanks

Ericka

OH and what type of lens should i use. I own a 18-55mm canon lens, a 75-300mm tamron and the 35-85mm kit lens. I know, they're the cheapy lens but their all i could afford till my next tax return Any advice is appreciated!

Depends on your style. I have some newborn shots on my website that you are free to go to for inspiration. My style for newborns is rather low-key, simple, dramatic, while allowing it to end up a little artsy.

Use your sharpest lens. Your 35-85 is a good range for portraits and you don't run the risk of distortion if you get up close while being zoomed out.

Michelle, I loved your website. I want to create the same effect w/my black backdrop. What was your light set up? Was it one light at an angle? I have a 2 light setup with shoot through umbrellas or white reflectors, so im just curious on how to acheive your same lighting. Great website too! I hope to make a side business of this kinda thing, so i need some inspiration

Ericka

I only use one light. Good luck!!

Don't use a flash, that is sometimes not even allowed in the birthing room. So the fastest lens is best and if I actually had good cameras when my kids were born, I would have gotten a lot closer to the face.

Looking at this thread prompted me to ask another question of you, Michelle (hope you don't mind!) ... the baby in hands shots that you have on your website, how did you isolate the baby and the hands? PhotoShop or barndoors or something else?

Thanks!

No real trickery there. Black background, mom in black along with black material around her (not really necessary if she is already in black, but), and then PS work to blacken the blacks (all of my blacks are 0,0,0 - I pick a black point in Levels and then burn in anything that doesn't turn black).

Nice. I'm yet to set up a studio but am trying to build an arsenal of techniques to use when I do have one. Thanks for your patient explanation

linarms wrote:
Nice. I'm yet to set up a studio but am trying to build an arsenal of techniques to use when I do have one. Thanks for your patient explanation

Anytime! Feel free to PM or email me anytime, I'm always happy to help.