Quote (CitizenScuba @ Apr 13 2010 10:22pm)
I figured flash being off would help... I don't have a sync cord for my flash though, so I'd have to be firing that manually. Not that getting a shot that way would be impossible, but I imagine it would be a pain in the ass... Worth a shot though. I have read that natural lighting in baby pictures is the best option. It was a bit too dark to shoot without the flash, so I was just trying w/e came to mind while I was shooting...
Anyway, thx for input.
Edit: That post will help thx! It wasn't light enough outside to be using the window when I was shooting, but I had mentioned that to my cousin. Next time we shoot she is bringing the baby over to my house because window lighting is more available....
Edit 2: Dirty window!?!?! Why dirty?
Hm.. i'll just quote Scott Kelby directly from his book. I brought 3 of his photography books.. i hope he doesn't mind if i copy a few excerpt here.
Quote (Scott Kelby)
By diffused, I mean that it's not getting direct sunlight, so any soft light coming in from a window works just great. If your window is really, really dirty, that's even better because it makes the light even more diffuse. So look for a window in our house, studio, office, etc., that has non-direct sunlight coming in. Then set your subject near that window, and position them so you're getting side lighting (if the natural light hits the subject head on, they'll look kind of flat–you need that extra dimension that side lighting brings).
Quote (Scott Kelby)
If you're faced with nothing but harsh direct sunlight through your open window, you can cheat– just go to wal-mart, kmart or target adn buy two things: (1) a frosted white shower curtain (or shower curtain liner), and (2) some tacks or push pins. Go back to your harsh light window, tack up your frosted shower curtain, and enjoy the best diffused natural light you've seen.
Quote (Scott Kelby)
The most ideal window light is a north-facing window, but any window getting nice, soft, non-direct sunlight will work...... You can position your subject standing or sitting, but to keep the light from looking flat, make sure your subject isg etting side light from the window– not direct light. The soft shadows on the other side of the face will enhance the portrait and give it depth and interest.
Quote (Scott Kelby)
By now you've probably heard how hard it is to photograph babies. That may be true, but newborn babies usually have a distint advantage –– they're asleep. That's right, newborns spend most of their days sleeping, so getting great shots of them is easier then you'd think–– but you have to put them in the right setting or everyone who looks at the photos will say something along the lines of, "Aw too bad she was asleep." Generally, people like babies to be wide awake and smiling in photos, but there's a very popular brand of newborn photography where the baby and mom (or dad) are sharing a quiet moment, and it really sets the stage for a touching portrait. I saw this first-hand when David Ziser (the world-class wedding and portrait photographer) spent one evening photographing my newborn daughter, Kira. Now, David had a huge advantage because my daughter just happened to be the cutest little baby in the whole wide world, but he did stack the deck in his favor with a simple, but extremely effective, technique–– he had my wife and i both wear long-sleeved black turtleneck shirts (you can find these at Target). Then, he photographed Kira as my wife held her in her arms (I took a turn as well). David shot very tight (zoomed in), so what you basically got was a sweet little baby resting peacefully in her mother's arms....
Wow.. that was a long type-up.
To give credit where it's due.
This is the book where i got the excerps from.
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photography-Book-Scott-Kelby/dp/032147404X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271214411&sr=8-1Great book imo. All 3 books in the set are full of knowledge and tips.