Newborn Photography HELP!!!

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caitlinjade95

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caitlin
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Hi there,

I hope this is the right place to post this, i really wasnt all that sure.

My dream job is newborn/child photography and i am in no way professional at all. I have the canon 600d with an 18-55mm lens and a 50 1.8 lens.
I know that safety is really important but i cannot find a course near to me at all that offers a workshop or a qualification like so. I live in rochdale, about an hour from Manchester and it's so frustrating as i don't want to take any steps until i know that i have the correct safety training.

At the moment i practise on my neice who is now 18 months but i've been photographing her since birth. I'm not a professional and i know i need to learn all of the steps it takes so please don't think im posting this in the hopes of becoming a photographer tomorrow - i dont. There is no better place to ask than here which is filled full of different experiances of photographer.

I wondered if any of you know of any courses (if you live near me) or anything i can do to get more experiance.

My plan would be to work a full time job aswel as being a photographer freelancing and mobile on the side. I would go to their houses to take the photos.
I would eventually love to have my own little workspace once i have moved house and i know for certain this is what i would like to do.

I would also love to ask if any of you could suggest any other lenses i may need for this style of photography so i can note them down and begin looking into them.

Also any other equipment i might need (softboxes) (flashes) and that kind of thing just so i can make myself a list to begin reasearching. I know i need props and a beanbags etc and things like that it's the technical side of things i'd love the help with.

I hope someone out there can help me as this is what i want to do and it's time i start taking steps in the right direction!!
 
instead of looking at what is local to you why don't you instead look at the people who are doing what you want to do in the style you want to do it and go to them for 1 to 1 training?

The majority of newborn photographers who are up in their game will do 1 to 1 training so don't wait for them to come to you go find them.

Also look to go to the newborn photography show in birmingham there will be training there no doubt.

Don't be surprised to pay £500+ for a 1 to 1 or £300+ for a group session.
 
Most Newborn photographers who offer training (including myself) won't train anyone in a 60 mile radius to them (otherwise they end up training their competition).

See who's work you like & check out if they offer training. You may need to travel to them, some will come to you.
 
Hi again Catlin. If you look back over previous threads you have started you will see i reccomended a few newborn courses that may be good for you.

One is Sarah Wilkes (mentioned above) who i guess is about 1.5 hours from you.
It is also worth looking at banpas who host training all over the uk (and have done some recently in Manchester).
RUSS JACKSON PHOTOGRAPHY/NEWBORN BABY POSING LIMITED also have a workshop in Cheadle around March

Or alternativly you could alway contact newborn photographers who you respect and ask to do 1 2 1 training

I see many good courses costing upwards of £500, if it works out then its worth it.

If you look you will find plently.

Most newborn workshops are not "photography training". They are aimed at people with a certain degree of knowledge and skill. As I have said previously said in the other threads you may be better of looking at a general photography workshop rather than a focus on newborn photography
 
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Put the 'newborn' training on the back burner, your understanding of the basics needs building first. I think you're at the point where you could do with a mentor or a local college course to gain a basic understanding. Follow that with a general lighting workshop. Then you can concentrate on the specifics of newborns and babies.
 
Phil V said:
Put the 'newborn' training on the back burner, your understanding of the basics needs building first. I think you're at the point where you could do with a mentor or a local college course to gain a basic understanding. Follow that with a general lighting workshop. Then you can concentrate on the specifics of newborns and babies.
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I am afraid this may be falling on deaf ears. I have been saying this to the OP in the other almost identical threads to this one and simply got flamed with comments such as
caitlinjade95 said:
@asphotographymk i get it 'you know it all' i'm finding it very frustrating that your not reading what i'm saying! I don't feel comfortable with newborns yet posing them etc which is what you've been ranting about for god knows how long i have photographed newborns in a natural state to practise photography and ive already said im looking into courses!!

.
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I must have said 100 times in the other threads that now is not the time to be thinking about specialising. I find it very frsutrating these days that rather than simply having a love for photography and learning the skils of what can be an amazing hobby, people feel the need to speilize / start a business 5 mins after buying a camera. Just enjoy photography, master lighting (all subjects), learn camera craft. Who knows what sort of photography anyone will want to get into after years of training
 
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Caitlin, there are some incredibly talented photographers, and business men and women on here.
You would do well to heed their excellent advice, and not go starting another thread,
just because you didn't like the answers you were getting.

It becomes very frustrating to those that are trying to help you,
it also makes the forum cluttered, with your multiple threads on the same subject.

Please stick to one thread, and have the courtesy to reply to the people that reply to you,
or you will find the information you are seeking, dries up very quickly .
 
You are a kind man ;). I am not sure I would be so much. Its amazing, as a photographer i find myself having to have immense patients with newborns and young children yet get an adult who grinds my gears and my patents seems to be gone.
 
Still no reply from the OP...pah, the yoof of today eh? They don't even have the courtesy to pop back and say "thank you for the free advice". ;-)
 
Grogues said:
Still no reply from the OP...pah, the yoof of today eh? They don't even have the courtesy to pop back and say "thank you for the free advice". ;-)
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And happily posting asking for critique too ;)
 
1) im not sure how to close a thread or delete one
2) i havn't replied as nobodys actually said anything relating to what i asked
3) i do appreciate all the advice, i have looked on the other threads and got myself a list of photographers who offer training close to me or within some travelling and i plan to take some training
4) i asked for some critique because i had the chance to take some photos of a newborn and i did so without any poses, it was just to practice and get a feel for things, so i wanted some opinions on what is right and wrong
 
caitlinjade95 said:
2) i havn't replied as nobodys actually said anything relating to what i asked
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In which case I have some more advice for you.

You really need to get some practice reading the written word.

Because there are actually lots of replies relating to what you asked
 
CanonDjango said:
Because there are actually lots of replies relating to what you asked
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Prime example below. :)

OP - I wondered if any of you know of any courses (if you live near me) or anything i can do to get more experiance.

AS Photography replied - "One is Sarah Wilkes (mentioned above) who i guess is about 1.5 hours from you.
It is also worth looking at banpas who host training all over the uk (and have done some recently in Manchester).
RUSS JACKSON PHOTOGRAPHY/NEWBORN BABY POSING LIMITED also have a workshop in Cheadle around March

Or alternativly you could alway contact newborn photographers who you respect and ask to do 1 2 1 training

I see many good courses costing upwards of £500, if it works out then its worth it.

If you look you will find plently.

Most newborn workshops are not "photography training". They are aimed at people with a certain degree of knowledge and skill. As I have said previously said in the other threads you may be better of looking at a general photography workshop rather than a focus on newborn photography"

 
and i have taken his advice on board becuase if you just looked at what i said i've looked into training and im going to be booking some too..thanks to his advice. I did say that.
 
caitlinjade95 said:
2) i havn't replied as nobodys actually said anything relating to what i asked
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To me that reads, "Nobody has actually told me what I want to hear, instead all these photographers keep going on about learning photography first and then move on to the newborn stuff, don't they realise I don't want or need to know about photography, I just want to take photos of newborns"
 
nope not at all, im all for hear hearing the reality of it im a 19 year old girl, i dont even know where to begin, its good to hear the reality of it and what photographers know i need to do first to start but when people are really negative about it it's almost like they think a 19 year old tenager cant someday become a photographer, i already know i need the training, i wanted a chance to post on here to get opinions..its why i did it lol but i know what i need training i dont need 500 people to tell me that i already said very first that i know i need it, i just wanted a little guidence that is all
 
Hi Caitlin

Let me say straight away what i state below is not from a position as a pro photographer but a person who looks and learns what the various fields of social photography are doing so to speak.

You came and asked for help in a specialised area that IMO is very niche requiring skills that are in many ways an extension of portraiture and that in of itself has its special needs to produce high quality images.

Your request for pointers and guidance about this field was answered with extra advice to make sure to learn the camera and lighting craft but you seemed to take umbridge to that advice as it was given saying please learn and develop your photographic skills first then go for the newborn niche from which you wish to eventually make money.......there would be nothing wrong with applying for the newborn training but rest assured without the camera craft you would be wasting your money at this current stage in your learning curve.

Please do not be put off by advice that is not to your liking because sorry to tell you life will have some rocks in the road we all travel.

Another thought to realise - you may see adverts for photographic assistants but it is not uncommon that such a role is that of an apprentice........and such lowly positions start by making the tea or if you are very lucky as a VAL, what is that you say....Voice Activated Light stand . in other words the photographer tells you where to position the lights..... horrible job you say, when can I take some pictures...but think you will learn a heck of a lot about the way light and lighting "works".

So please for your own sanity and future walk before you run ~ learn the craft first then specialise :)

Best of luck with all that you undertake :)
 
The thread that keeps on giving.

My first and lasting thought on reading all this, is that the first things you need to understand as a portrait photographer, are people and communication. So much more so when your client is a member of the public...even
more so when they are the parent of a new born.
 
theurbanclown said:
Nice of everyone to bully a 19 year old girl.
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I must admit that this had made me feel a touch uncomfortable too. I wouldn't go as far as to call it bullying, but the wagons do appear to have been circled a little.
 
It's not bullying at all, that's a ridiculous thing to say. The OP asked for some advice, which was given by a few people in good faith, and then she didn't have the courtesy to say thank you and acknowledge the time taken to provide this advice (irrespective of whether she agreed with the advice). This understandably got a few people riled. It's good manners to say thank you, even on the internet, especially in a professional forum environment.

I wish the OP well, she's obviously determined to do what she wants and that's cool, I'm sure she'll eventually be a success. But she does need to learn a little courtesy and stop being so shirty in her responses (in my opinion).

It isn't bullying. Not in a million years. :)
 
Grogues said:
It's not bullying at all, that's a ridiculous thing to say. The OP asked for some advice, which was given by a few people in good faith, and then she didn't have the courtesy to say thank you and acknowledge the time taken to provide this advice (irrespective of whether she agreed with the advice). This understandably got a few people riled. It's good manners to say thank you, even on the internet, especially in a professional forum environment.

I wish the OP well, she's obviously determined to do what she wants and that's cool, I'm sure she'll eventually be a success. But she does need to learn a little courtesy and stop being so shirty in her responses (in my opinion).

It isn't bullying. Not in a million years. :)
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This^
 
caitlinjade95 said:
1) im not sure how to close a thread or delete one
2) i havn't replied as nobodys actually said anything relating to what i asked
3) i do appreciate all the advice, i have looked on the other threads and got myself a list of photographers who offer training close to me or within some travelling and i plan to take some training
4) i asked for some critique because i had the chance to take some photos of a newborn and i did so without any poses, it was just to practice and get a feel for things, so i wanted some opinions on what is right and wrong
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1) im not sure how to close a thread or delete one
You can't delete a thread, this is a community, and we figure that other people might search for the same advice and find the answers useful, you can report it and ask a mod to close it though (though I don't see why it'd be appropriate)

2) i havn't replied as nobodys actually said anything relating to what i asked
Except then you admit:
caitlinjade95 said:
and i have taken his advice on board becuase if you just looked at what i said i've looked into training and im going to be booking some too..thanks to his advice. I did say that.
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3) i do appreciate all the advice, i have looked on the other threads and got myself a list of photographers who offer training close to me or within some travelling and i plan to take some training - so you have got the help you asked for (see why we get confused and run out of patience?)

Sincerely, you have had some great advice, consistently from this forum, but your response still seems to be that we aren't helping. I can only surmise that's because you don't want to hear what we're saying. That's a shame, because you can't learn if you refuse to listen. In the grand scheme of things, it's unimportant, you'll either fail or succeed based on your drive and your ability, the only difference is that you'll do it quicker following the advice of others (effectively learning from their mistakes rather than making your own).
 
Stating the obvious ;)

Age and youthfulness is no impediment to engaging with a well informed group in an atmosphere of learning and mutual benefit.

Caitlin, if you are interested there is an even younger member here at TP who as far as I call tell has asked for help and support and developed his skills....do have a look at Joe https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/members/joeturner11.55756/
 
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i dont think your bullying me but your all saying alot of negatives and feels like your trying to put me off what i wan't to do. I've said from the very beginning i am a total beginner, i have a dslr yes and i am 100% well aware this does NOT make me a photographer. I already knew i needed to take training, which is why i asked for help off people who would know whats good and whats not and who knows better then me.
I'm willing to work hard and i know i need to learn photography skills. This is the reason i started the other thread asking for creative critism i know i need to learn. I came on here hoping to get some tips and advice on the direction i should be moving in because i dont know do i. I'm 19 and i can't see myself being a big shot anytime soon not even in the next 5 or so years. I want to spend my time learning, practising getting some experiance under my wing before i even attempt at starting my own business. I want to become a newborn and child photogapher and thats the end of it but thats not to say i don't want to widen my feild and gain experiance in all aspects of photography. I want to try portrait photography and landscape and all the other areas of it too. 99% of the people posting on to this thread are being helpful but that other 1% and its the same people are just repeating themselves and making things worse, if you dont like what im asking then don't comment. I'm not saying i dont want you to say whatever you think will help me but don't just try and put me down because you can. I know there are alot of people on here with a hell of alot more experiance but if someone else created this thread and i was reading it then i'd be put off posting a thread. some things being are not relevant.

So if this thread gets deleted thats fine, no more negative comments being thrown my way but if it stays open then please, to the same people, stop saying the same thing and move on to another thread.

Thankyou to all the people who have replied to this thread and i assure you i have taken the time to reasearch what your saying and i am acting on advice given. I'm not going on about this any longer because its really not needed.
 
Hi Caitlin

I thought this online course/tutorial newborn-posing-kelly-brown https://www.creativelive.com/courses/newborn-posing-kelly-brown

At $129 is not too cheap but there is one introductory video that hopefully covers enough to aid you in your aims and help you decide if the cost of such an online tutorial is worth it???
 
thankyou very much for this!! I'll look into that now, its not a bad price if its going to help me learn, thanks alot!
 
caitlinjade95 said:
thankyou very much for this!! I'll look into that now, its not a bad price if its going to help me learn, thanks alot!
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You are welcome, I hope it helps.

For what it is worth I think Creative Live is a good resource especially so if you are able to watch them free at time of transmission......so possibly a good idea to subscribe and get the invitations.
 
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