Baby Portraits for C&C

PaulieC · 23-09-2008 10:21am #1

Hi All,

My sister recently had a baby and I decided to do a few portraits for her instad of the usual types of gift. I plan to get some prints (stcstc, that's you!) to give her for a Christening present.

Setup was Canon 30D with 50mm f1.4 set at around 2-2.8, flash bounced off the ceiling, with someone holding a black cloth in the background. Processing done in Lightroom, 2 stock presets. I prefer the standard B&W, but her house is predominantly beige in colour so thinking the sepia-toned versions might suit better.

Any comments?

Thanks
Paul

quilmore · 23-09-2008 10:34am

nice work
did you liquify the eyes of the last one? a bit alien looking kid otherwise

PaulieC · 23-09-2008 10:46am

quilmore wrote: »

nice work
did you liquify the eyes of the last one? a bit alien looking kid otherwise

eh I think I went a bit overboard on the minus Clarity slider in Lightroom 2 there. Now that you mention it, it does look a bit wierd. Thanks!

magicbastarder · 23-09-2008 11:04am

yeah, it looks a bit compressed.

smelltheglove · 23-09-2008 11:19am

I love the first one, I did a very similar one for my step sister not too long ago, you're giving me the much needed kick up the ass now to go get proper shots of her and the baby together.

AnCatDubh · 23-09-2008 12:33pm

#1 and #3 are best for me. With #3 i'd think a little wider on the crop - some more of the sisters face would add a little extra context. Nice overall imho.

I agree on #4 - the eyes are unnatural.

AnimalRights · 23-09-2008 12:35pm

cambo_gueno wrote: »

Hi All,

My sister recently had a baby and I decided to do a few portraits for her instad of the usual types of gift. I plan to get some prints (stcstc, that's you!) to give her for a Christening present.

Setup was Canon 30D with 50mm f1.4 set at around 2-2.8, flash bounced off the ceiling, with someone holding a black cloth in the background. Processing done in Lightroom, 2 stock presets. I prefer the standard B&W, but her house is predominantly beige in colour so thinking the sepia-toned versions might suit better.

Any comments?

Thanks
Paul

I seen these already on pix.ie?
Unless I'm going mad, it was 2 diff mothers with a baby/babies?
I shall now try and search.
/edit
aahh it is indeed you, thought would've used cambo_gueno as your name rather than PaulACampbell.

/edit edit
This is the 2nd woman and for some reason it reminds me of one of the sisters from Gunn's!
http://pix.ie/paulacampbell/682701/in/album/327187

PaulieC · 23-09-2008 12:38pm

AnimalRights wrote: »

I seen these already on pix.ie?
Unless I'm going mad, it was 2 diff mothers with a baby/babies?
I shall now try and search.

It was. Two couple had babies around the same time, one of whom was my sister...

Quackles · 23-09-2008 12:39pm

They're gorgeous, your sister will be thrilled

Man, I can't wait to get a new model!

makoluck · 23-09-2008 12:51pm

I love this first one!!
Can you make a short description how did you make conversion to B&W?

Thanks.

PaulieC · 23-09-2008 1:15pm

makoluck wrote: »

I love this first one!!
Can you make a short description how did you make conversion to B&W?

Thanks.

Hi, I used Lightroom2 to process the images. Unfortunately, i know little or nothing about B&W conversions so i used the Stock presets that come with Lightroom - High Contrast B&W and Vintage Light (I think). I also upped the black slider to completely black out the background as there were visible creases on the material I used

FX Meister · 23-09-2008 1:31pm

1 and 2 are quite cliched but some people love that.
3 and 4 don't really do much as it's not a very nice looking baby but then I'm sure the parents thinks it's the most beautiful baby in the world so it doesn't matter.

missmatty · 23-09-2008 1:36pm

FX Meister wrote: »

3 and 4 don't really do much as it's not a very nice looking baby but then I'm sure the parents thinks it's the most beautiful baby in the world so it doesn't matter.

:eek:

By the way the pics are great imo. Like no2 best

PaulieC · 23-09-2008 1:43pm

FX Meister wrote: »

it's not a very nice looking baby but then I'm sure the parents thinks it's the most beautiful baby in the world so it doesn't matter.

nice...

Quackles · 23-09-2008 1:44pm

FX Meister wrote: »

3 and 4 don't really do much as it's not a very nice looking baby but then I'm sure the parents thinks it's the most beautiful baby in the world so it doesn't matter.

That's a bit below the belt, miaow

For the record, I think baby is gorgeous!

Thumpette · 23-09-2008 1:52pm

Jaysus, nasty comments. I think it's a gorgeous baby and lovely pictures. I love the first one.

Dodgykeeper · 23-09-2008 1:56pm

I think they are great and the baby looks good!

Love the ones with the hands!

I myself will be taking delivery of a new model in Late Jan early Feb so will be using these for inspiration!

melekalikimaka · 23-09-2008 1:58pm

amazing work, best baby shots i have seen here, really like i'm in a bit of awe to be honest

PaulieC · 23-09-2008 2:26pm

Thanks all for the comments...

@FXMeister: I was looking for comments on the composition of the images as opposed to a beauty measure, but your comments on the cliche factor are noted. I was going to mention cliche it in my original post because I know they are cliched to an extent, but I think that cliches are sometimes only cliches because so many people like them. I wanted something that I knew my sister would like to mount on the walls of her house, not some off-the-wall Damien Hirst kind of BS

Dades · 23-09-2008 2:52pm

Great stuff, Paul.

Easy know it's not your own nipper - I've a 4 week old and have yet to get more than a couple of pics off the camera. Work/Feed/Eat/Sleep/Clean - Lightroom? I think not!

I like #2 and #3 btw. The sepia is really warm, suits the subject matter. Great idea to use the black bg. Must remember that...

Oh - it's I think it's less that all babies look like aliens - just our conception of aliens are based on babies! :eek:

FX Meister · 23-09-2008 4:17pm

cambo_gueno wrote: »

nice...

Sorry but I just don't see why I should have to lie about unbeautiful babies. Wrecks my head when my mates show me their kids pictures, they all look pretty much the same anyway.

thebaz · 23-09-2008 4:36pm

I'm not a huge fan of "baby" shots , but the first one is wondefull - creative and a bit different

Dodgykeeper · 23-09-2008 4:38pm

FX Meister wrote: »

Sorry but I just don't see why I should have to lie about unbeautiful babies. Wrecks my head when my mates show me their kids pictures, they all look pretty much the same anyway.

True, but people dont usually say anything about it

Ideo · 23-09-2008 5:43pm

FX Meister wrote: »

Sorry but I just don't see why I should have to lie about unbeautiful babies. Wrecks my head when my mates show me their kids pictures, they all look pretty much the same anyway.

Jesus, give it a rest will you. Telling the OP that the baby is ugly doesn't exactly fit into the realm of C&C!

OP, No. 1 might be cliched but I'm sure your sister will be delighted with it - it's a great shot! Maybe in the 3rd photo you could try the mother and baby touching noses? It might work, then again it might not! Just a thought...

Baby Portraits for C&C

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