TIP #2 PROPER LIGHTING FOR NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY

Okay! We are onto the second tip for newborn digital backdrops:). This is best lighting for newborn photography!! I think it is SO important when learning how to use digital composites or for photographing any baby in general. When we lived in the Middle East (where my photography journey began!), I had all the natural light in the world! Almost every day was sunny and there was plenty of natural light streaming into the windows of my clients homes and into my studio.

When we moved back to the Pacific Northwest (Victoria, Canada) I knew that I had to make the change from shooting in natural light to studio light. I knew how many days would be rainy here and how the consistency of studio lighting was the way to go!

We all know how important lighting a newborn baby is for achieving flattering shadows in any portrait. The goal is to have beautiful, soft lighting with defining shadows (not harsh lighting with strong-edged shadows).

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WHAT LIGHTING IS BEST FOR NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY, NATURAL LIGHT OR STUDIO LIGHTING?

I’m going to answer with a harsh (but realistic question)…how much do you value your time?! Do you love editing and want to spend hours and hours fixing work that you have done to try to make it look right? Do you try to get white balance correct and struggle on dark and dreary days to get enough light into your images? Are your newborn skin tones all over the place?
 
If you answered yes to any of those questions, then making the switch to studio light will pay off in spades.
 
The reality is that unless you are working in a studio with consistent daylight every single day, you are going to be at the mercy of the elements and you are also going to be bound to the time of day that the sunshine is optimum with your window light.
 
After developing my skills as an outdoor family photographer (in the Middle East-lots of natural light and sunny days!!), I attempted newborn photos indoors using window light but couldn’t get my images to look right!
images showing newborn photography with natural lighting

I wonder why??!! Even though natural light can be beautiful in images you are dependent on the window light coming in. Some days are sunny and bright and others are dreary and grey. We are now on the West Coast of Canada and we get grey, rainy days about 6 months of the year. This also affects your white balance throughout your session and forces you to continually change your settings to adjust to the changing light. 

newborn photos showing after of what it looks like with studio lighting. Nice and soft and glowy.
Studio light gives you the opportunity to shoot any time of the day with any type of weather or light outside. You can mimic the ‘look’ of natural light when choosing the right studio lighting. Low powered lighting allows you to shoot with a wide open aperture and get those dreamy newborn images. This will decrease editing time, your frustration levels and give you consistency so you have the same look from session to session! This sweet baby girl was photographed here 4 months apart. Yahoo! Consistent lighting!!
 
Investing in Studio Lighting will be one of your biggest investments and will pay off in dividends if you are struggling with light and looking to achieve consistency in your images!!

After researching studio lighting, I landed on the Einstein & 86″ PLM. Plenty of light and better yet, this system was able to mimic the natural light of a large window in studio. In addition to:

  • Consistent lighting every time
  • Easy maneuvering
  • Ability to pack up the setting and replicate in any room
  • No stress on rainy or gloomy days
  • Low ISO levels (resulting in crisp & clean images)

You bet! This girl is now TEAM STUDIO LIGHTS!!

HOW DO YOU SET UP LIGHTING FOR NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY? 

Light

I recommend the Paul C. Buff Einstein light (Einstein E640 Studio Flash Unit). This light allows you to set on a lower light setting so that you can shoot at a wider aperture to allow that soft bokeh with newborns.

Light Modifier

I use the very large 86″ PLM system. It is a huge white umbrella. I chose the silver liner (black on the outside cover) with a white fabric diffuser over it to soften the light entering into the images. It really functions as a large window would (however your consistency will improve using studio lighting).

Trigger

I also purchased the CyberSync Transmitter & Transceiver Module from Paul C. Buff. This way I have a wireless system.
Camera: Canon 5D Markiii

Lens

My go-to lens for almost all my portraits is the Canon 24-70mm lens. It has such a huge range and is so versatile for parent shots as well!!

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The direction of light is also SO important when shooting for composite images!! You need to match the direction of your light in the original baby image to the digital layout you are compositing into. This will ensure the look is realistic! I photograph all of my newborn sessions with the studio light at a 45 degree or 90 degree angle to baby.

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All of my composites are created using studio light but can work for newborn photographers who shoot with enough natural light in their work spaces. Just pay attention to how the shadows fall on baby and look at how they fall on the digital backdrop. I always shoot with my light from the left of camera and thus the shadows fall slightly to the right. If necessary, I use a white or silver reflector on the right to fill in any harsh shadows (being careful not to light the baby with too much light-this creating a ‘flat’ lighting situation!). You can do the same when shooting for these composites. Replicating lighting leads to more believable composites.

Well, that’s an introduction into lighting for newborn photography! Please let me know if you have any questions below and feel welcome to join our community Newborn Digital Backdrop Group for more tips and tutorials.

Related Posts:

Simple Newborn Photography Studio Setup

The Pros and Cons of Running a Photography Business From Home

Aperature for Digitals and Why It’s Important to Change Things Around