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Question from Albita: “Having my first session of a newborn. Its in the hospital. Baby is here. The session is in the hospital room. Should i take my tripod with me? Any suggestion for lighting, any suggestion on what aperture should?”
Mollie: Very low aperture, I’d think. Let lots of light in and get nice, intimate, shallow depth of field.
Valerie: Newborns do not love flash! Use a wide lens if you can, an aperture of 1.4…
Lais: for babies I usually recommend 7.1, although you can use as low as 1.4 if you are going to be focusing on a specific feature. Shoot in neutral cause you’re gonna have to balance. DON”T use flash. Don’t bother with the tripod unless your camera can’t go much higher than 1600. Don’t go below 1/60. Good luck!
Amy: I hand hold my camera for newborn sessions. I also use my Gary Fong lightsphere I use w my external flash if I am not using my studio lights.
Jeanne: Assuming you aren’t using a flash.
Sometimes the best light is daylight from the windows. Put the baby in mom ad dads arms with a black/dark (my favorite) drape across them, turn off the overhead lights and you’ll get some stunning photos with focus on the baby
If you’re using a fast lens there should be no need for tripod.
Bring a grey card if you have one to help with white balance as it will be mixed light.
If you’re going to do the pose positions have the baby on the bed with face facing the widows to use that light so the face gets the most light falling on it.
Aperture depends how how deep you want focus to be. Play a little once you have the babe in a good position.
If the babe is awake shoot in bursts to capture all the little facial squirms.
Take some surrounding pics to give to the family as well. The hospital sign. Nurses note board, room number, bassinet etc. wrist bands identification etc.
Wrap the babes finger around mom or dad to help cement how tiny they are .
Be like Gumby. Take a moment to savor this miracle.. And have fun!
Crystal: Make them all black and white and include mommy instead of just doing baby. No flash, open blinds in hospital to allow light in and you can also turn on lights in room if you can custom white balance or plan on them being black and white. Let me update my blog and I’ll show you what I did for my last hospital visit
Alysha: I worked doing newborn hospital photography for almost 2 years. I used bounce flash almost every time. As long as you don’t point the flash straight at baby then it’s fine. No tripod, handheld is best with newborn sessions. Open the blinds and turn off those overhead lights!
Crystal: Here is my blog if you want to check these out. Keep in mind though, these are freebies I do for my church as a ministry, and I only spend about 15 minutes in there and very minimal editing. So don’t judge too hard, please!http://serendipityphotographybycrystal.wordpress.com/
Morgan: @Crystal Chabannes-will you email me please?? Photosbymoe@gmail.com
Albita: Thanks everyone. Now i am more confidence
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