What settings would yall suggest for a new born in a hospital?

[eml58]

I'm also dealing with an irritated wife, so I can't really bring a studio in a bag to the room... I've been bouncing light off the ceiling and side walls reasonably effectively, but I'm also noticing some scratches along the baby's skin, so I have been softening the photos in post. I personally think most babies look really awful shortly after having emerged from the womb, so I'd appreciate any suggestions on how you think I should photograph them. I have been using an 85mm f/1.8 as my lens of choice and mixing in some wide photos using the 24-105.

Thanks for the help.

Congratulations to both of you.

It's been too long since I needed to take Baby Photos of my own Boys, but from what I can see your getting some great advice from CR people.

My only advice would be to work on enlarging your Bank Balance, your going to need it.

But, it's the most pleasurable way I've found to spend Money, so Good luck & The Very Best Wishes.

 

[rpt]

Congratulations! The last time I took baby pics was December '87! That time my mom held my younger girl in the well lit corridor. Shot with my AE-1 with the 50mm 1.8 and I am guessing I shot 1/50 and f8 but that was a quarter of a century back...

Anyway, as for the scratches, tie up the lovely little bundle so that the hands can't come out to scratch. Also get the nails clipped. Enjoy the time. And like Mt. Spokane said, pay attention to your boss (wife).

 

[AcutancePhotography]

What settings would yall suggest for a new born in a hospital?

I think putting the camera on green box automatic. It is not reasonable to expect a newborn to be able to manually adjust aperature or shutter speed. The newborn is going to have enough problems just holding the camera.

 

[Terry Rogers]

I had a 580 master pointed towards the ceiling on camera and 430 set up in the corner of the room pointed up towards the ceiling as well to create as relatively soft light as I could without being intrusive. Both set to TTL. As far as the editing goes, until you get a chance to clean up some of the newborn "goop" of the babies skin (not sure what the technical term is), I would suggest converting to black and white and adjusting the color channels until there is little contrast between the stuff and your child's skin.

The B/W was shot with my 50mm at f2, ISO 200, 1/200th (manual mode) with the flashes on TTL +1/3 stop. The Color image with my 50mm at f2.8, ISO 200, 1/200th (manual mode) with the flashes on TTL +1/3 stop. I'm using an Xsi.

If I had a camera with a speedlight master built in I would have probably set up each flash at either end of the room pointed up at the ceiling.

 

[wsgroves]

Oh and if you need them to stop scratching themselves...just put mittens on them. Works like a charm. Did for both our kids and no scratches.

 

[jdramirez]

What settings would yall suggest for a new born in a hospital?

I think putting the camera on green box automatic. It is not reasonable to expect a newborn to be able to manually adjust aperature or shutter speed. The newborn is going to have enough problems just holding the camera.

funny. if I wasn't at work I would have laughed aloud.