Newborn Photography HELP!!!

Just to add to what others are saying, and I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but focus and sharpness is the other thing you need to practice. It is only practice that will improve your shots. You have a good eye for composition IMO and some of the shots you have posted would be great if only the eye was sharp/in focus. Some would argue that composition is harder to learn so getting the technical side sorted is probably easier to do.

Have you now set the focus to single point? You have options here and AI servo will continue to maintain focus if the subject moves. Might not be needed with newborns but might be useful for toddlers who are not still.

You will need to practice so that you can change which AF point you are using (the rectangle you can see in the view finder when you are composing the shot. There is a button on the back of the camera (top right on yours I would guess) which allows you to change the point using the toggle wheel. You can do it looking at the back of the camera but it is better if you can do this while looking through the viewfinder. Use the toggle dial on the back to change which point will be used. It will need practice to be able to do this quickly and without having to think about which button to press, etc. The focus point should be on the (closest) eye. At wide apertures you will struggle to get both eyes in focus so aim for the one nearest to you.

Maybe have a go at street photography to practice this? You won't need to worry about lighting and you can concentrate on getting focus sharp. Trying this on moving targets/people will help and if you can get a sharp image of somebody who is moving and maybe at a distance, then a child who is still and 2 feet away should be a doodle!

I'm assuming here that you can hold the camera still and the results are not due to camera shake. If they are only practice will help here too.

Hope this is helpful, now stop reading TP and go and practice!!!
 
Ive been practising alllllll day today and im please to say ive figured out the focusing its now set to single point focouing and im using the dial to switch quickly the points. Thanks for the tip about focusing on the closest eye! My neice is 2 and on the move non stop so if i can get good shots of her when shes hyper im getting better lol! I never thought to try out the street photography, im free tomorrow too so i might have a go outside taking some photos ive never done it before so itll be a new experiance!

Yeah the camera is still its just due to my terrible focusing lol bu im hoping now i have my focusing under control it'll help me out a little
Thanks for the comment about the composition its nice to know whilst im doing 108494725 things wrong im doing one thing right and im not totally hopeless lol! Lighting and sharp images is my mission i'm going to be practising! haha
 
Hey everyone, ive not posted in a while and i did some more photos today and wondering if you think they have improved at all and what else might need improving on?!

Hope your all ok!:)View attachment 32212
 
Do you have a few more from this shoot?

This one Much better. Look pretty sharp. Don't forget you can move the focus point so the eye does not have to be dead centre in the frame. Still a little on the flat side but 1000 times better than the last shots with some nice shadow under the hand, ear and mouth. this is what gives this shot detail. Good to see you are taking in what has been said.
 
I've always said from the start i am listening! hehe yeah im just editing a few now so ill pop some into this message. I'm much happier with how these turned out and yeah i played around with the focus a little today my main mission was to get the actual photo in focus lol!View attachment 32214 View attachment 32215
 
Ive shown them to the parents, im so happy with how they turned out and im so happy with their response they love them, so im pretty happy!!

Would like some opinions about the photos, still not perfect I know but if anyone has any comments it'd be great!!
 
The second one the hand is covered in fluff. Very simple to remove, but you might want to finish photos off before showing them to the parents.
 
I bet they pay for everything else in life so why not a photographer? Ah. I know why. Because there's always someone with a camera who will come and do them for free!
 
snap-happy said:
I bet they pay for everything else in life so why not a photographer? Ah. I know why. Because there's always someone with a camera who will come and do them for free!
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That's the problem . And if we like it or not it effects the whole market.
 
I quite like 1&4, but the vignette in the first isn't needed. You've already filled the frame with the kids, so no need to draw attention the viewers eye with a very fake looking vignette.

2&3 I'm not keen on for a couple of reasons. The cuddly toy doesn't add to the image because you can't see what it is, so I'd lose that as it's competing for attention with the star of the show. You'd have been much better off with the light coming from behind you as one side of his/her face is well exposed, while the other isn't. The skin tones are different as well, so you might want to keep it consistent in PP.

Stick with it though. Newborn is bloody difficult as I'm finding out now with my two efforts. Feel free to drop me some critique too! :)

https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/newborn-photography-introducing-louis-new-pics.582131/
 
Thankyou for your critique, very helpful!

I'm still trying to get the hang of lighting lol im just glad there all in focus :')
The one with the teddy, mum asked me to do it it's a keepsake teddy but was far too big to place under baby arm or anywhere else for that matter it was flipping huge lol so i thought the best course of action would be to get it's face and more of the baby :)
 
caitlinjade95 said:
I'm still trying to get the hang of lighting lol im just glad there all in focus :')
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I am sorry to say that they are not. Number one is very soft

I have to agree that the toy is distracting. Having family toys in the photos is great. Just make sure they work for the shot or get rid of it. As a photographer it is on us to tell parents what will work and wont wont so if you cant make it work then dont use it.

You still need to work on lighting. Lighting from the head down could really improve these.

Babys hands. Move them. The hands are covering the face on each of the baby shots. If you focus on a calmer baby that will be very simple to fix.

You really need to book onto a basic photography course. I would suggest doing this before working with any more newborns.
 
Thanks for your advice but to be honest i and the parents like the teddy ones. Both eyes are in focus on the first shot and i like the photo so im happy with it. I just wanted a few opinions on if im improving or not. but thanks anways
 
And I have just given you opinions how how to improve it. Don't ask if you can't take the responce.

The first shot is not sharp at all.

Parents liking a shot and a shot being right are not the same thing. If you want comments from parents go to mums net if you want comments from photographers then appreciate the advice.
 
caitlinjade95 said:
Thanks for your advice but to be honest i and the parents like the teddy ones. Both eyes are in focus on the first shot and i like the photo so im happy with it. I just wanted a few opinions on if im improving or not. but thanks anways
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What you need to think about here is, you have asked for technical & professional advice, and you are getting oodles of both from some very talented and experienced guys and gals. (and I might add, very patient too )
Saying "the customer liked it", is very much a face book attitude and not a professional one by any means.

Either you are trying to "get by" or "do a professional job" The two things poles apart.
 
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Cobra said:
What you need to think about here is, you have asked for technical & professional advice, and you are getting oodles of both from some very talented and experienced guys and gals. (and I might add, very patient too )
Saying "the customer liked it", is very much a face book attitude and not a professional one by any means.

Either you are trying to "get by" or "do a professional job" The two things poles apart.
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Agree 100% A monkey could take a shot that the parents like when it comes to their child. I would say many studios get by taking ok shots that the parents like. If what the OP wants is shots that the parents will like with nothing to compare it too then great, crack on. And too be honest we have all done it. I look back over my work from 5 years ago, 3 years ago hell even 2 years ago and wonder what on earth I was doing. Yes the parents loved them, but that does not mean they are the sort of work I want to be producing.

The "well the parents liked it" attitude is a terrible way to never improve.

And Catlin. Now is the time to start taking comments on the chin, Right nw I am sorry to say you have a lot of the very basics to learn and I stand by opinion you shouldnt be getting within shooting distance from a newborn just yet (these poses only back that up in my mind). You wait untill you are 5 years or more in and you really think you know it all. Thats when negative feedback really hurts. how you use that however can be the difference between being an ok photographer and being an amazing photographer... and by the way I am an OK photographer which is why i get regualr feedback on what i am doing, not from parents but from pros.
 
asphotographymk said:
The first shot is not sharp at all.
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Don't take this the wrong way, but I'd say it's as sharp as a few images on your website, Andy. Perhaps she should edit and sharpen the eyes? This seems to be something you do to many images. Overly white and heavily sharpened eyes may imply that focus wasn't great to start with - and makes images look unnatural (especially so on children). Apologies, you weren't asking for critique but if you are going to hand out advice...

Some constructive advice for you. Professional has the letter 's' twice and approach has the letter 'p' twice - these are both spelled incorrectly on your homepage.

These photos are a big improvement on the earlier shots, and I think number 4 is a great image.
 
Morbid said:
Don't take this the wrong way, but I'd say it's as sharp as a few images on your website, Andy. Perhaps she should edit and sharpen the eyes? This seems to be something you do to many images. Overly white and heavily sharpened eyes may imply that focus wasn't great to start with - and makes images look unnatural (especially so on children). Apologies, you weren't asking for critique but if you are going to hand out advice...

Some constructive advice for you. Professional has the letter 's' twice and approach has the letter 'p' twice - these are both spelled incorrectly on your homepage.

These photos are a big improvement on the earlier shots, and I think number 4 is a great image.
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You are right, I did not ask for critique , generaly the done thing is to not give it unless requested as the OP did. However as I have already said I am always aiming to improve and that is why i submit regular work for critique and professional mentoring. And any negative feedback I get is always returned with a big thank you. I am currently working on my ASWPP panel (which is ready to submit) and the mentoring programme has ripped my work to pieces, for the better. So yes I do take on advice and I am happy to get any comments i can as well as give it when requested. I would love to hear which images you feel are not sharp on my site, having an extensive portfolio if something has been posted that is not right i will change it. I have never said i dont make mistakes, I am however in a experienced enough position to reconcile mistakes.


I do not often do any eye specific sharpening in post in my work I do however like a nice white eye and i do like to lift the brightness in the Iris . This is not anything to do with a lack of sharpness. I would say this sort of eye brightness is something i have done in maybe 5 - 10 images on my website of around 100 photos and the reason is that I can see why this would not be to everyones taste however, and "natural" is not really how i would describe my style so thats not really a bad thing. As i said i would be more than happy to hear which images you feel are not sharp where they should be.

Thank you for pointing out some spelling errors also. Despite it being an attempt to have a dig at me for giving critique (dispute it being requested) i do appreciate the comments.

Any errors that my work may or may not have is not really relervent however as it does not change the fact that I have given some good feedback that will help the OP improve. It also does not change the fact that the first shot is not sharp (we have all done it i am sure but focus issues is an on going problem for the OP)

You may see that as a reason to dig at my work / my website and thats fine but the feedback I have given is nothing but helpful.
 
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I don't disagree about your being helpful. I listen to all your advice but your negative to everything i say and it seems an awful lot like you don't want me to make it. I dont care to be honest if you do or do not want me to make it in the long run, i find your tips helpful along the way but either way i'm doing what i want to do and granted yes i know my photos arn't perfect but like you say you look back on your old photos and thing oh my god but i've not been doing this 5 years there is always going to be room for improvement

yes i do have alot of improvement but basically telling me everything i do is crap then why bother keep on replying. Your comments dont upset me at all becuase i know your trying to be helpful and i appreciate all the pros offering help and advice etc but your the only one through this entire thread that's been as negative as you are. I'm not doing anything wrong by being on this website and yes i have a long way to go but if all you want to do is be negative then let me do what im doing alone because i like to hear some critism but i also want to know what im doing right, which in your opinion could be nothing but thats your opinion and from the first lot of photos i posted they are a hell of alot cleaner and tidier.

So while i do appreicate everything you have said, and i really do mean that. Infact i thank you all for both your positive and negative feedback because i do listen to it all
 
To be fair she only said she liked them and the pare
asphotographymk said:
You are right, I did not ask for critique , generaly the done thing is to not give it unless requested as the OP did. However as I have already said I am always aiming to improve and that is why i submit regular work for critique and professional mentoring. And any negative feedback I get is always returned with a big thank you. I am currently working on my ASWPP panel (which is ready to submit) and the mentoring programme has ripped my work to pieces, for the better. So yes I do take on advice and I am happy to get any comments i can as well as give it when requested. I would love to hear which images you feel are not sharp on my site, having an extensive portfolio if something has been posted that is not right i will change it. I have never said i dont make mistakes, I am however in a experienced enough position to reconcile mistakes.


I do not often do any eye specific sharpening in post in my work I do however like a nice white eye and i do like to lift the brightness in the Iris . This is not anything to do with a lack of sharpness. I would say this sort of eye brightness is something i have done in maybe 5 - 10 images on my website of around 100 photos and the reason is that I can see why this would not be to everyones taste however, and "natural" is not really how i would describe my style so thats not really a bad thing. As i said i would be more than happy to hear which images you feel are not sharp where they should be.

Thank you for pointing out some spelling errors also. Despite it being an attempt to have a dig at me for giving critique (dispute it being requested) i do appreciate the comments.

Any errors that my work may or may not have is not really relervent however as it does not change the fact that I have given some good feedback that will help the OP improve. It also does not change the fact that the first shot is not sharp (we have all done it i am sure but focus issues is an on going problem for the OP)

You may see that as a reason to dig at my work / my website and thats fine but the feedback I have given is nothing but helpful.
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I don't think it's the images that aren't sharp, just your very unique editing style makes them all look oof/soft :)
 
UaeExile said:
To be fair she only said she liked them and the pare


I don't think it's the images that aren't sharp, just your very unique editing style makes them all look oof/soft :)
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I would say that is a very different thing. I do have a pretty unique style which is great. Now the thing with being unique is you will always get people who dont go for it for various reasons. I do tend to tone things down a little for clients but I am far off the white background sit and smile type of studio. The thing is while my portraits tend to be a bit dreamy, with soft edges and a little retro actually my newborn work generally is not like that which is what we are talking about here.

As i said despite not being here for feedback i do always love to hear what people have to say about my work. I think anyones feedback is valid no matter what level they are at.
 
caitlinjade95 said:
I
yes i do have alot of improvement but basically telling me everything i do is crap then why bother keep on replying. l
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Because telling you how great they are like I am sure friends and family do wont help you in anyway.

I will give you an example. As I said I have been working towards my ASWPP qualifications. Part of the process for me has been mentoring. This involves sending 20 images of to a mentor and getting feedback, most of which are things i need to improve. My last panel came back almost 100% positive, with an aproval to submit for the qualification. I honestly felt let down, I felt I gained nothing from this round of feedback. I swiftly uploaded the panel to a forum to happily have it ripped into again by people much better than me, some less experienced and others in between. Happy face came back.
 
I dont want you to sit there and shower me with compliments in any way at all. You could say 'its out of focus but i do like *xxx*' unless you don't like anything about them which im guessing is your emotion.

I like to hear what you dont like about it because i want to get better. I'm not being funny with you in any way at all but you said before you look back on your photos and think 'what was i doing' and yes that might be true but i've not been at this 5 years and everyone has to start somewhere. Trying to put me off/put me down isn't going to stop me doing what i love no matter how many negatives you have to say about my photos all they make me wan't to do is do it better and improve on my photos.

I'm here for help and that's what your saying your giving me but if you don't beleive i can do it/dont want me to/just want to be negative about every inch of a photo i post then don't bother. I appreciate all the help you have given me, really i do but to be told over and over again that they are crap is not what i want to hear, not because it upsets me at all but becuase im learning and im doing everything i can to learn and in my opinion ive come quite far from the last lot of photos i posted.

I'm not going on about the matter any longer i think it's going on for far to long i've said what i want to say but ill say it again I DO APPRECIATE AND LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR SAYING so thanks :)
 
Your images are getting better but they are still not much better than the parents could take with a mobile phone or point and shoot.

You need to be making images that ordinary folk can't take at home with equipment they already have. You are still making very basic mistakes which Andy has very kindly pointed out to you and has tried to give you advice on making them better.

A big part of getting better is to take the advice given and try not to take it personally. No-one is trying to put you down or knock your work.

To get better you need people to tell you the truth not people telling you you are really good when your not so they don't hurt your feelings.

I'm not trying to put you off, I hope you listen,put some of the advice given into practice and come out of it a better photographer.

All the best
 
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I will come out of it a better photographer and as ive said god knows how many times i'm listening to you all:)

Your all entitled to your opinions especially since i've asked for them and i don't want you all to sugar coat it for me at all! If someone asked me what i thought (thought not critism i did ask for opinions not critique but still) if i told them a negative i'd finish with a positive. I havn't heard a positive thing yet lol and to be honest im not expecting to. I don't take it personaly to be honest and i appreciate everything being told to me. End of the day i havn't been doing this half as long as you guys have and im willing to take any advice off people.

Thankyou for your comment
 
The problem is you keep saying you are listening but at the same time taking the comments personally or rejecting them. This is a photography forum, if you ask for peoples opinions you will get a critique, that is the same thing in the eyes of a photographer and the only thing that will help you improve.

The opinions given are honest, you wont find many who will sugar coat it here. postive feedback will be given where positive feedback is due but you will find most feedback will focus towards ways you need to improve, as that is what helps you the most. For praise, post them on facebook. For honest feedback this is a great place.

You will see me post for feedback on here from time to time and feel free to be as negative as you like. Infact i may even pist some shots tonight to give you the chance (and Ian) to rip into me a little. It will make you feel better. As for this thread, I have held on for a while, longer than most. But now I am out.:banghead: :wave::exit:
 
You are asking for advice and getting loads of great feedback but thought I would pop in and leave my opinion :)
I started photography about 5 years ago, after a year I thought I was fantastic and attempted a newborn shoot, while it wasn't an utter disaster it really made me realise how little I actually knew!
I went back to basics, right back! Now after 5 years I feel technically I'm ok, still have loads to learn but so much better than when I started out, now I would love to try newborn photography again BUT I would only do it after taking a proper course, it's no where as easy as it looks, you need to learn compositing if you wish to pose a baby safely! If you really want to make newborn photography your goal then please think about not only your photography but also how you pose the baby - good luck :)
 
tracybradbury said:
You are asking for advice and getting loads of great feedback but thought I would pop in and leave my opinion :)
I started photography about 5 years ago, after a year I thought I was fantastic and attempted a newborn shoot, while it wasn't an utter disaster it really made me realise how little I actually knew!
I went back to basics, right back! Now after 5 years I feel technically I'm ok, still have loads to learn but so much better than when I started out, now I would love to try newborn photography again BUT I would only do it after taking a proper course, it's no where as easy as it looks, you need to learn compositing if you wish to pose a baby safely! If you really want to make newborn photography your goal then please think about not only your photography but also how you pose the baby - good luck :)
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Great post. I see you are in bucks Tracy. Are you local to me? (Milton Keynes)
 
asphotographymk said:
Not far away at all. Just been looking at your site, Lovely looking location portraits. Your style would transfer to newborns very nicley.
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Thank you, I might well try again one day but like I said will get training first I've seen too many badly/dangerous posing to make me aware at just how difficult it is ;)
 
tracybradbury said:
Thank you, I might well try again one day but like I said will get training first I've seen too many badly/dangerous posing to make me aware at just how difficult it is ;)
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Lots of great trainers around. even after a few years working with newborns i am still doing courses. I did a class with Tracy Willis at the SWPP convention which was great. I really want to do a 1 2 1 with sarah wilkes next.
 
asphotographymk said:
Lots of great trainers around. even after a few years working with newborns i am still doing courses. I did a class with Tracy Willis at the SWPP convention which was great. I really want to do a 1 2 1 with sarah wilkes next.
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Thanks, will look them up, need to save up for a course as Ive just bought myself a new lens ;)
 
Thanks for the tips tracy, im planning on some newborn training for safe baby poses etc im keeping my eye out and doing lots of research on that at the moment. I want to pick the right one/one im interested in.

and Andy i don't feel the need to 'rip into you' and to be honest your way up there than me and know one hell of alot more than me, who am i to judge your photos...ive not been as this long enough to start judging them and i wouldn't want to either to be honest. I think everyone has their own style in some way if everyone was the same it'd be boring. For the last time, i do not want things sugar coating, AT ALL. I'm not taking them personally im just trying to learn, listening to all the advice and taking in all the information despite you telling me i'm not...i really am:')

P.s the twitter account you added isn't for my photography/personal one it's my blog one. Just to be a nosy cow, was there any reason you decided to follow me?
 
talking of crit on the last lot (and i'm not anywhere near as experienced as andy so if i disagree with his crit, which i havent read in detail is me thats talking crap not him)

#1 the kid on the right's eyes arent sharp, which is a shame because the kid on the left has a great expression
#2 ugly pose , the oof rabbit or whatever it is isnt helping and his right eye (on our left) isnt fully sharp and theres an unpleasant shadow (this one should have been in the reject bin imo)
#3 nice enough shot but again his right (that is at the top as we look at it) eye and side of face isnt sharp , plus its cropped in to close cutting off one of his hands
#4 probably the best of the set but again its cropped too close cutting off part of his elbow, and its also a shame about the fact that he's sticking his finger in his eye and thus obscuring part of his face.
 
caitlinjade95 said:
who am i to judge your photos...ive not been as this long enough to start judging them and i wouldn't want to either to be honest.
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Everyone has a right to give feedback. Feedback is valid be it from someone who has been a photographer for a week or for a lifetime.

caitlinjade95 said:
P.s the twitter account you added isn't for my photography/personal one it's my blog one. Just to be a nosy cow, was there any reason you decided to follow me?
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Becasue thats what you do on Twitter. I was hoping I would get to see some of your updates. But instead i will learn about beauty products.....
 
big soft moose said:
talking of crit on the last lot (and i'm not anywhere near as experienced as andy so if i disagree with his crit, which i havent read in detail is me thats talking crap not him)

#1 the kid on the right's eyes arent sharp, which is a shame because the kid on the left has a great expression
#2 ugly pose , the oof rabbit or whatever it is isnt helping and his right eye (on our left) isnt fully sharp and theres an unpleasant shadow (this one should have been in the reject bin imo)
#3 nice enough shot but again his right (that is at the top as we look at it) eye and side of face isnt sharp , plus its cropped in to close cutting off one of his hands
#4 probably the best of the set but again its cropped too close cutting off part of his elbow, and its also a shame about the fact that he's sticking his finger in his eye and thus obscuring part of his face.
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Pretty much the same as what I said. Thats a conection that is Pete.. Me and you. :hug: .... :exit:
 
yeah but you're easy ... even tony got you on the ground the way i hear it ;)
 
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