Lighting Tip on Photographing Babies
September 17, 2009 by Lee Hughes
Filed under Photo Tips from our Forum
This lighting tip was given in response to a questions from one of our Forum subscribers. It illustrates how important it is to have direct access to a community of aspiring photographers and experienced photo mentors.
In this case, our subscriber is shooting something new to him – babies – and needed some lighting guidance
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H E L P – please!
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Does anyone have any suggestions on how to light baby shoots? I have a couple of shoots coming up in the next couple of weeks with one 9 months and another 7 months. Now these little guys (girls actually) are not my favorite models and I really could do with some help with finding the best way to light them.
My studio is quite small (21’x15’) with polished timber flooring
I certainly want to be able to provide some really nice work for the parents but at this point I’m not quite sure where to start. I do know that I’m going to spend most of my time crawling around on the floor!!
Thanks in advance
Geoff from Western Australia
P.S. Thanks again for the help. By the way I love your videos – keep ‘em coming!!
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Instruction from the Forum:
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Remember with kids, it’s ESP. Expression Sells Portraits… and that’s what mom wants. I usually like to work with a large light source as the main light so I can focus on the child and not have to worry about the lighting as they move around on the set. Focus on the child and getting a good expression and mom will be happy.
With kids I usually go the route of simplicity… especially when they can walk. Light them just like a real person…. just smaller. Keep the light close to the floor. Use a large soft box as the main light – your 4′ x 2′6 or Octobox would work fine. Reflector for the fill and a background light.
You can also try window light with one reflector. I did it many times years ago. It works GREAT! .
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The Results
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OK guys, following the suggestions and after crawling around on the floor for an hour this evening here’s a few pics from the session. These are straight out of camera, warts and all.
Basic Setup:
5ft Octobox Camera Right feathered (about 1/3) towards Apex (the ‘model’) metered f11
Large 6′x4′ Reflector (Roscoflex N) camera left
Kicker camera left behind and at approx 45deg metered 5.65
Background light camera right firing across white background 8″ parabolic fitted with 20deg grid, barn doors and a basic red gell
Shot with Nikon D700 with Nikon 70-200 f2.8 (Portrait Picture Control) 1/125th F11
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Comments from Forum Members:
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Hey Geoff – I think you did a terrific job on these images! I love the second shot. The expression on her face is precious. Lighting is good on the first two, but the third is considerably darker. And the horizontal bands of color (I think it’s part of the wallpaper) behind her head is distracting. If these are right out of the camera, as you say they are, then I’m impressed. Great job! And thanks for the detailed lighting scenario.
Feedback is important. We learn from each other.
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