i clicked the button to post, and it said there was problems.. so i tried again.. and again... and again.. and again.. still problems... but ohh i guess there wasn't a problem afterall
i clicked the button to post, and it said there was problems.. so i tried again.. and again... and again.. and again.. still problems... but ohh i guess there wasn't a problem afterall
Here are two I did with my kids. It's an idea I later saw done at a studio also. The idea is to photography parts of the body which don't usually headline, but we all know are cute anyway...hands, feet, elbow dimples, etc.
Check out my portfolio section of portraits. I have a few baby shots in...
Nevermind, here are a few thumbnail links...
These first two were with natural lighting with a large picture window over my left shoulder. The picture window is a North facing window and it was around 3pm that I took these two shots.
These last shots were taken at a local park in the early afternoon. I used my Sigma 500 Super DG+ flash, which created the highlights in the subjects eyes.
These were all experimenting shots. I am getting better at seeing and understanding lighting.
I did ones with my kiddo much like DrAchoo did. Photographing body parts are a great way to document how little they once were. Now at 3 I cannot believe that he was once that size! The photos are hanging in our hallway and we get compliments on them every day from guests. Priceless.
My one word of advice is be prepared to take many many many shots. Unless it's a newborn, you can be sure that there'll be alot of moving around. Also, get down on their level as much as you can and have fun. I love photographing children. It can definetly be challenging to say the least. :-)
Ugh, I was trying to get a shot of my 1 year old this morning...and this afternoon...and this evening. Patience is right! I was all over the place. I did get some in the afternoon outside but she would face the sun so they are all underexposed and backlit. Back to the drawing board. Next time...restraints!
Depends on how old the child is. The "best" age is somewhere around 9months old : old enough to sit, not old enough to walk. Keeps them in one place.
Give the child something to do : a toy, or bubbles, or even mom playing peek-a-boo out of view of the camera. If all else fails, do the key trick. Hand the kid your keys. Let them play with them and drop them. After a few times, the next time they drop them start laughing hilariously (this works better if you can get a lot of adults to laugh with you. ) Child will look up, see that your laughing, and smile. Push shutter. Repeat. Make sure you don't laugh every single time, or the child will get bored.
On that same note, setting your camera to continuous shot isn't a bad idea. Kids can move *quick*.
Put a filter on your lens. Any filter, it doesn't matter. The point is, children like to reach out and poke the at the lens, and lens hoods don't really discourage them. Filters and both cheaper and easier to clean then lenses.
Smile. If you smile, so will the kid.
If the kid doesn't smile, but is balling their eyes out instead, it's OK -- take a picture anyway. Grandparents will find it hilarious.
I don't know if you saw this thread by idnic the other day but there are a few examples here baby photos She also posted some others she had taken but I couldn't find the thread.
I was curious too what age are you kids? I have some that you might get some ideas from but right now my husband is doing a recovery on my hard drive. (keeping my fingers crossed he can fix it. I have them all backed up but sure don't want to have to go through all my DVD's to get the ones I want back on my computer) I am also redoing my site so none are on it.
Here's a previous thread on the subject, just so I don't have to retype. Age of the baby is very important to your approach. I don't think there's a "best" age since various stages of development provide for different opportunities. What was simple and easy to shoot at one stage of development becomes difficult (or darn near impossible) at subsequent stages.
From 6 to 9+ (sometimes up to 12/13 months), babies are learning to walk and should be crawling (this stage is sometimes skipped or is very brief). Regardless, mobility is high starting at 6 months and captures can be more tricky although the movement may be desirable depending on what you're trying to achieve. Posing is almost certainly going to be tricky, depending on the child.
Crying should not be a reason to stop shooting (unless instructed of course). A baby's mood can and will change on a dime. A smiling face with tears in the eyes can be a nice capture. A pouting baby can be endearing. Orchestrating moments is difficult, but some parents like this anyway.
The use of props (as in studio shoots) is very popular with babies it seems: Baby in big clothes; baby in chest with toys; baby in tub with duckies. You get the picture. It's not my bag, but it might be yours or the parents'.
Engage the parents since they know the baby intimately. Revealing/humorous stories will give you better insight into the baby and perhaps aid you in capturing a personal moment that connects with the parents.
Here are two I did with my kids. It's an idea I later saw done at a studio also. The idea is to photography parts of the body which don't usually headline, but we all know are cute anyway...hands, feet, elbow dimples, etc.
What length lens are you using for those pictures?
