Q&A: How do you photog newborns?

Happy Wednesday all!

I am guessing she is really asking about what to put the newborns on and what type of lighting I use. 

For the lighting, I use natural light.  I get as close to a window as possible.  Then I reflect light back onto the newborn if I need to.  I do love the lighting effect of only a half lite subject.   I rarely use a flash.  I photog my newborns in their homes, so sometimes the lighting is not ideal but that is what I love about it.  The challenge of finding the perfect light.  If I have to use the flash, then I use a diffuser to soften the flash.  But with the 50mm 1.2, the need for a flash has yet to come into play.  I simply can not say enough about that lens.  I normally shoot an entire session with the 50mm, that and the 70-200mm.

For the next part…what do I use for props, hidden and/or seen?  I use just about anything and everything that tickles my fancy.  I love shooting at client’s homes because that means I always have something new to use.  I peek around their place and look for gems.  And then work with it.  For my images with an entire black background, I use a black backdrop and then something soft and fluffy for the babies to lay on. Then drape a black cloth on top of it.  Sometimes it is a pillow, a couch, a bean bag, anything really.  Your imagination is your limit.   If you can think it…you can use it…Look at things differently….Look at things to see how they will showcase your subject….I have this obsession with things and babies..I am constantly seeing how I can “use” things with my babies.  What I can put them in…

Hope that gives you a little insight. 

Shelia