My baby shots are coming out horrible

Hi all, our baby is about 2 months old and most of my shots are taken indoors with crappy lighting using my 40D and 17-55. As you know, its impossible to keep a baby still so i try to stop the lens down, but its still not fast enough to mitigate blur. Can anyone help me? Do i need to get a good flash or just start taking pics with my 50MM1.4 in bad light?

thanks all.

The shots look fine for a on camera flash? (I asume as you said Get a good flash), and I find Bal/fill flash is better from a flashgun. Number two needs croping a bit tighter, the remote is distracting..

TTk wrote in post #6380106
The shots look fine for a on camera flash? (I asume as you said Get a good flash), and I find Bal/fill flash is better from a flashgun. Number two needs croping a bit tighter, the remote is distracting..

actually those are all just natural or available light. no flash.

at this age they shoot not be moving that much, esp in the one she is asleep. those images look fine. a flash and a faster lens are both options. I would look into sigma 30 1.4, or sigma 50 1.4. also it looks like there is good ambient light. consider shooting at iso 800 or 1600.

Use the window light; don't just accept the baby where it is... move it over to the window. Think about your background - that is the main thing that is distracting in these shots. Try a white blanket or a black dress or whatever you have that will make for a simpler background (rather than the out of focus TV, couch, etc).

Well if the shutter speed is too slow and you're all the way at f/2.8, you can either raise the ISO, or use your 50mm f/1.4.

I have a five month old son, and for the first week, it was all natural light with my 30mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.8. Then I started using flash and the pictures got much better. Definetly think about getting an external flash.

For now, you can experiment with your prime lens and/or using natural light from the window.

I think those pictures look pretty good as is though.

Good luck!

get in tighter. otherwise, i think they look fine

Put your baby in front of a big window or sliding glass door and zoom in for a tighter crop. Set you shutter speed for about 80 and ISO at 400. Let the camera choose your aperture. Tweak the settings if they are too light or dark. Keep practicing and I know you'll get it. That lens always performs well for me.

I would work out the equivalents of F2 and no more than ISO400. You should be ok indoors with that - or move near a window to get the indirect light falling on the eyes. I do this all the time with a 50 1.4 w/o issue. And definately - compose in your mind and see the stuff in the bk - the remotes and such.