PP request: help me get this right for a present

Devrij · 25 Jun 2012 at 20:13

I wouldn't normally ask this kind of favour, and I usually prefer to do my own stuff anyway, but this is a subject I've never shot before and I want to make a print as a present so I'd like some advice on how to best process this shot.

My neighbours just had their baby and I snapped it today, thought it was a nice shot, and thought it'd be a nice present to print it for them. I don't know whether to go B&W, leave it colour, if I go colour do I go desat retro or what. I know a lot of you guys on here have some awesome skills so I was hoping for some suggestions (I wasn't sure whether to crop, where to crop etc.) so it's perfect when it goes to print. I'm not going to post a massive jpeg on here for the sake of your eyes/bandwidth, but here's a reasonably high res shot in the link below:

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo159/The_Devrij/IMG_3510.jpg

Now, I have the RAW original if anyone wants a fiddle, that's just a SOC shot with a slight boost to exposure (think all the white threw off the metering), but ideas or anything are all appreciated.

Schizophonic · 25 Jun 2012 at 20:24

Do you have other pictures? The one you've picked isn't something I personally wouldn't print.

Stuff · 25 Jun 2012 at 20:25

Just my take on it

Raymond Lin · 25 Jun 2012 at 20:26

I am going to say this will look nicer in B&W for the reason that it is more about the scene, be it that it is his finger in the mouth...

The other reason is that is because that watch is so god damn distracting. I don't know about you but my eyes keep on wondering around the photo.

I personally don't think this will make a great print, its not enough of baby, too much of everything else. New borns are difficult to photograph, I've tried it a couple of times, they can't hold their head up and have zero attention span and cry at anything and everything.

Here is one I made earlier.

Stuff · 25 Jun 2012 at 20:37

Scumbag Raymond

Devrij · 25 Jun 2012 at 20:38

Raymond Lin said:
I am going to say this will look nicer in B&W for the reason that it is more about the scene, be it that it is his finger in the mouth...

The other reason is that is because that watch is so god damn distracting. I don't know about you but my eyes keep on wondering around the photo.

I personally don't think this will make a great print, its not enough of baby, too much of everything else. New borns are difficult to photograph, I've tried it a couple of times, they can't hold their head up and have zero attention span and cry at anything and everything.

Here is one I made earlier.

Cheers for the feedback guys. I did worry about the watch, it's massive and white, and matches the baby's shirt and his, which I'm now seeing is a bad thing!

I'm not sure I'll really get an opportunity to reshoot it, and I'm not sure how I'd go about it if I can. Their crib isn't particularly photogenic, and if I did a group shot I wouldn't know how to arrange it so it didn't look messy and busy. Perhaps if I had the baby on a fluffy rug or something? I don't have any lighting besides a ETTL flash (no features besides being able to bounce vertically, but not sideways). How would you guys go about it with that equipment?

Andy90 · 25 Jun 2012 at 20:40

Try to take a shot over the shoulder of one of the parents as they cradle the child in their arms. That would make a nice shot. Get rid of any watches / bracelets.

Another popular shot of newborns is to have a small wollen hat or inca type hat on them and photographed when they are asleep and lying on their arms.

Devrij · 25 Jun 2012 at 20:43

Schizophonic said:
Do you have other pictures? The one you've picked isn't something I personally wouldn't print.

Only a really boring one of him holding her. It'ss horribly composed in hindsight. Obviously the colours could be improved, but I thought it wasn't really worth putting effort into.

Raymond Lin · 25 Jun 2012 at 20:46

Devrij said:
Cheers for the feedback guys. I did worry about the watch, it's massive and white, and matches the baby's shirt and his, which I'm now seeing is a bad thing!

I'm not sure I'll really get an opportunity to reshoot it, and I'm not sure how I'd go about it if I can. Their crib isn't particularly photogenic, and if I did a group shot I wouldn't know how to arrange it so it didn't look messy and busy. Perhaps if I had the baby on a fluffy rug or something? I don't have any lighting besides a ETTL flash (no features besides being able to bounce vertically, but not sideways). How would you guys go about it with that equipment?

I didn't use any flashes, indoors.

Fluffy rug, well, small pillow, towel and bed.

Crib, this is more about the scene, mother feeding baby and the toy in the crib.

Don't stick fingers in mouth, hold it instead.

And feet, baby feet are easy to shoot and cute.

Devrij · 25 Jun 2012 at 20:56

Raymond Lin said:
I didn't use any flashes, indoors.
*snip*

Awesome, those are ideas I can run with. You shame me with your skill! Not sure if newborns can lie on their stomachs, but I get the idea. Scott (neighbour) has these big rough builder's hands so I might try to use that to contrast with the baby's soft little hands similar to your shot. Presumably I'm after a spot where I have lots of indirect light from a window as opposed to artificial light?

Raymond Lin · 25 Jun 2012 at 21:04

Use the window, side on to it is best. It is basically a giant softbox if the sunlight isn't directly coming in.

Russinating · 25 Jun 2012 at 21:27

Just to jump in on the bandwagon, here's a few of mine. Criticism I've had is that they're a bit cold for newborn photos, but I think they're more natural, and being as film is my usual medium warmer ones always feel like the WB is off to me.

Excuse the small photos, robbed off Facebook.