Photo Tip #89: Baby Photography and Indoor Events

Greetings Fellow Photographers!
I hope 2010 is off to a great start! Today I’d like to talk about two topics that a lot of you have recently asked me about: baby photography and indoor event photography. But before I get into it, I want to do you a favor and remind you that Valentine's Day is just a few weeks away, so be sure to order your Valentine's Day cards or photo books soon!

Baby Photography
Babies are notoriously one of the hardest subjects to photograph, so the number one rule here is patience. Do not plan to spend just a few minutes and come away with a great shot (if that happens, you are lucky!). Instead, devote enough time (an hour or so) to allow you to really get the shot you want. Don't use a flash; it can startle the baby and the light is very harsh in the photo. Instead, use the natural, diffused light from a window with the shade open. You can use the baby's favorite blankets and pillows in the shot, which serve both as visual props and modeling tools to help position the baby. You can also place him or her in a car seat, but use a blanket under the baby so the car seat does not appear in the shot.

Once you are ready to shoot, it is helpful to have the baby's mom or dad standing right over your shoulder to get his or her attention. If you are alone, you will have a hard time engaging the baby since you are behind your camera. Take detailed, close up shots (remember, no flash) of the baby's face, especially as he or she reacts to something that Mom or Dad is doing. Close ups of the little hands and/or feet are also great shots, especially when you can add a parent's hand or foot in the shot as well to show the contrast between the two. Finally, if the baby is old enough, place him or her on a blanket, and allow the baby to naturally prop up on their belly using their arms. Position yourself in between the window and the baby, so he or she is looking at you and the natural light from behind is hitting him or her. This is a classic baby shot, a must-have for all parents!

Once you've gotten the shot, use post-production tools to warm up the color tones (I will talk about post-production tools in upcoming emails), and try converting some to black and white for the perfect, timeless baby shot. But above all else, remember to be patient, and take frequent breaks as needed (the baby will let you know when he or she needs a break!).

Indoor Event Photography
Indoor event photography is another tricky subject, because what your eye sees is very different from what your camera sees most of the time when you are indoors. You will need to use your manual mode most likely, since most cameras do not have an auto mode that will do as good a job. Turn your flash off (unless you are in the front row), raise your ISO to 1000 or above, turn on Auto White Balance (AWB), and open your aperture as wide as possible (I've discussed manual mode before, but I will do a refresher course in an upcoming email). It is helpful to go a few days in advance or a few minutes early to test the various high ISO settings and make sure you have the right one dialed in.

I also recommend standing back and zooming in, rather than getting as close as possible. The zoom will help to flatten out the photo. If your subjects are standing still (giving a speech, for example), use a slower shutter speed, as low as 1/30th of a second. If there is a lot of movement, (a sporting event, for example), you'll need to use a faster shutter speed (like 1/250th of a second) to avoid blur, or a slower shutter speed if you purposely want blur in the photo.

Many of your shots will have an orange tint to them, but that can be corrected using post-production tools. Also, watch out for spotlights, as they can really throw your camera off, especially if it is in auto mode. Look at your photos on your camera as you take them to get an idea of whether you need to adjust anything.

I hope this helps to answer your questions about baby photography and indoor event photography! I will expand on some of these ideas and techniques throughout the year, so stay tuned!