Lighting for pics of infants????

[photogirl]

Can anyone help me? I am wanting to get into taking pics of infants and children, most of my friends say I have the eye! I have the canon 20d with 420 ex flash, 17-85 lens and the 50 1.8. What I want to buy now is some lighting for this set up. Are strobes or continious lights better? Soft boxes/umbrellas? It seems the choice is too vast, any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am a newbie at all this so the simpler the better. Thanks so much

[cdifoto]

I usually keep it really simple. I use available light with the 50mm 1.8, shoot in RAW, then use RSE (Raw Shooter Essentials) to add fill light after-the-fact. I don't use flash mainly because I don't own one, and partially because it'd be a bit harsh on a baby's eyes unless bounced. Bouncing isn't always feasible anyway, especially when the ceilings are high. Here are a couple shots:

Outdoors with some selective color post processing & a tiny bit of glamour blur:

http://www.cdi-ink.com/albums/userpics/10001/kylebw.jpg

Indoors with only a bit of saturation & levels adjustment:

http://www.cdi-ink.com/albums/userpics/10001/KYLE-0008.jpg

http://www.cdi-ink.com/albums/userpics/10001/KYLE-0010.jpg

It's not exactly portrature but if it was, I would use an umbrella on one side as soft fill and a softbox as the main light on the other in a studio setting with muslins as backdrops.

[D Thompson]

CDI - Nice shots! I like the desat background of the top, it really sets your child off. Quite an expression on the middle shot. I've tried RSE a little, but I seem to like the results of DPP a little better. Maybe I just haven't tweaked enough in RSE to get the results :confused: Thanks for sharing those shots.

Dennis

[cdifoto]

CDI - Nice shots! I like the desat background of the top, it really sets your child off. Quite an expression on the middle shot. I've tried RSE a little, but I seem to like the results of DPP a little better. Maybe I just haven't tweaked enough in RSE to get the results :confused: Thanks for sharing those shots.

Dennis

Hey thanks! Unfortunately he's not my child though...he's my nephew. He's so easygoing and loves my camera so it helps a lot. I make faces at him from behind the camera and he reacts really well to it.

[Norm in Fujino]

Can anyone help me? I am wanting to get into taking pics of infants and children, most of my friends say I have the eye! I have the canon 20d with 420 ex flash, 17-85 lens and the 50 1.8. What I want to buy now is some lighting for this set up. . . . I am a newbie at all this so the simpler the better. Thanks so much

You might start with the Lightsphere II (http://secure.mycart.net/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=3354218&showprevnext=1). I've heard some very positive things about it, and have just ordered one myself. Sounds perfect for quickly changing scenarios (read: kids).

[D70FAN]

You might start with the Lightsphere II (http://secure.mycart.net/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=3354218&showprevnext=1). I've heard some very positive things about it, and have just ordered one myself. Sounds perfect for quickly changing scenarios (read: kids).

I talked to a wedding photographer who doesn't shoot without it. I keep meaning to order one, so thanks for the reminder.

[cdifoto]

I talked to a wedding photographer who doesn't shoot without it. I keep meaning to order one, so thanks for the reminder.

Another item I need. Heck I don't even own a flash yet but I already need a diffuser for it. lmao.

[photogirl]

Thanks everyone, must get my hands on a lightsphere 11. If I was to set up studio in my spare room, what would you reckon would be a good bet? Photoflex starlite/softboxes etc, strobes and softboxes! Why is there so much to choose from? Aaarrghhhh!

Thanks everyone, I love this site!

[ekk]

wow 39bux. nice price. but id have to get a flash first. dangit :D