help!!!!!!

[ssil2000]

hi guys,

this week my son Zavier was born, happiest week of my life!
now all i want to do is photograph him, i know babies are a bit sensative to flash i need help to figure out the best way to illuminate him (rooz what did you do for lucas??) a softbox or something? will another sb600 be enough?

HELP!!!!!

i plan on doing weekly(probably be daily but for the project sakes weekly) shots then drag it out to monthly then as he gets older yearly, i want to actually do a book for him.

please help me!

Sergio

[eddie_dane]

you can get some great results near windows.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Congrats Sergio,

I'd suggest natural light and shorter focal lengths instead of flash.

[K1W1]

Congratulations. Now start saving. :)

[Elisha]

Bounce or trough softbox/umbrella.
Direct flash pisses them off.
Congrats.

[jcon]

First, congrats on the wonderful gift!

I will second the suggestion of bouncing. Also use the provided diffusor to soften the light.

[achuang]

Having taken quite a few shots of my nephews growing up in their first year, I've used umbrellas with good success if they'll stay still. Since you've got a D80 and SB600, you can use the commander mode to control the flash. Just pop the flash on the stand that came with it and point it at a wall or corner and that seems to work well. On-camera bounce flash works well, that's what I've been doing lately since my older nephew doesn't stay still. Don't be afraid to bounce off any surface because it'll give you some variety over the typical ceiling bounce shot. You can mimic soft window light with an umbrella or softbox, but if you don't want to spend the money then go the natural route.

[tim11]

Congratulations.
If you are worry about the flash just use the 50 F/1.8 near a window.
I took the shots of my newborns with direct flash *** (but that only because I didn't know any better). And they are all still have perfect eyesight... I wouldn't do that again to any baby but the bounce techniques should be safe for them. Have fun. The hard part will be which shots will go on the wall? :)

[Rooz]

congrats sergio ! i hope like all new fathers you are enjoying the thrill of your little one but also suffering sleepless nights and nappies full of baby shit !!

on the question of flash, i always bounced it, never directly at the babies eyes. as i learned more and more about flash its more about placing it off camera in a position where it provides light but doesn't nuke em. thats where the wonderclamps come in very handy !!

[ssil2000]

ok, now a combination of natural/flash should do the trick any suggestions for cheaper alternatives for more flashes? would a sb2x do the trick? should i get something to bounce the natural light?
i reckon i can spend 3-400 given its "for the baby" :)

[tim11]

It's all depend on what kind of quality you try to get. I am more than satisfy with a shot of my youngest son taken with F30, no flash; but the hospital delivery room was quite bright and I shot at ISO400 or lower. Just choose the time when the baby doesn't wiggle too much.
Personally a SB600 will do me. You can always shoot more if you are not happy; the baby is yours to keep don't forget. :D

[achuang]

I don't think that you need to buy another flash to get good results. Having the SB600 on camera or off camera will get you good results.

[tim11]

It's not that you are shooting commercially that you have to make it happen in one session. Spare the $300-400 for the next lens. :)

[ssil2000]

i was actually considering selling my 18-55 and 50 and put it towards a 35, i do find the 50 to be a bit long in tight spaces where you cant backup a few feet. i get him home tomorrow so i can start finding the best spots in the house :)

[RichNY]

Put the baby in a refrigerator (you might have to move a shelf if you've got yourself a big baby) You'll get nice smooth light and depending on your model, the baby might even be back lit ;)

*If you first wet the baby's bottom they'll stick and won't be able to move around which will allow you to use slower shutter speeds.

[rawpaw18]

I love your sense of humor Rich! :)

[tim11]

ssil2000, have you taken any shots of the baby yet? I had mine taken when he was just 4 minutes out of the oven. LOL. He is now 2.5 y.o.

[Rooz]

lol me too tim...well, maybe not 4mins !!
if i recall correctly it was a d80 and a 50/1.8. (dayum i've been thru some lens' !!)

[tim11]

For me it was with the Fuji F30. I didn't have a DSLR back then; did I? :confused:
Here are the shots...
http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showpost.php?p=184859&postcount=138
:)

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Nice shots Tim, great memories. Here's the earliest I can find, 1 week old.

Sergio, where are the photos? Don't sell your other two - I suspect you'll regret it since although the 50's a bit long it's served you well and without the zoom bet you feel limitted. Unless you really can't afford the 35 without selling.:(

[XaiLo]

I just took some of my grandson last week. used two sb800's shoot through umbrellas with real low power output ranged most of the time between 1/16 - 1/128 by a window I'll be posting some soon. You can always get a reasonable reflector to use or some white posterboard to use.