Post Your Best Portrait Shots!

[Mark Elberson]

Taking pictures of babies isn't too terribly difficult, is it? I know I've regretted nearly every 2-6 year old shoot...

Wonderful shot, Mark! I don't have much experience except for with my grandkids & I fully agree with Sean ...2 & 3 yr. olds are MUCH more difficult!

To take a good picture of a newborn is much more difficult than a 2-6 year-old in my experience. I almost exclusively shoot children. In the past two years I've shot about two dozen children's portrait sessions and about one dozen newborn sessions. Lighting a newborn is easy because it's pretty much like shooting still life. Getting both the pose and perspective right can be very challenging. I still learn something every time I shoot a newborn and it never has to do with f-stops, lighting ratios, etc. When you get it right though it's very satisfying as you know that you are capturing a moment that is the most fleeting. I have a new 6-week-old of my own and you can almost watch her grow!

[DLS]

I have a new 6-week-old of my own and you can almost watch her grow!

Well said Mark - me too! My daughter is 6 weeks old today and my wife and I have tried a couple of photo sessions......very challenging to say the least. The timing has to be perfect. We find outselves setting up.....then waiting until she is ready, ha ha. What a challenge. Here's one from 2 weeks ago....

I used natural light from windows camera left and bounced flash off the white ceiling, 430EX. A few touch-ups in LR3 to lessen any harsh shadows and soften the image a bit.


C&C welcome everyone. As you can imagine, I have no clue if I'm on the right track or not. Thanks in advance. I think my biggest flaw is DOF - I think I needed a bit more....



Cheers,

Damian