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Anyone do "head shots" for infants? Not sure if head shots is the
correct terminology for a six month old, but anyway...I'm looking for
recommendations/heuristics/settings for getting together some shots of
my six month old son. Normally, I wouldn't care for these type shots,
but everyone at his day care, other parents, friends, etc keep telling
us how gorgeous he is, that I should look into baby modelling,
whatever. So what the hell, I have some camera gear, why not. At any
rate, any tips or ideas falling outside of the box would be
appreciated.

wrote:
> Anyone do "head shots" for infants? Not sure if head shots is the
> correct terminology for a six month old, but anyway...I'm looking for
> recommendations/heuristics/settings for getting together some shots of
> my six month old son. Normally, I wouldn't care for these type shots,
> but everyone at his day care, other parents, friends, etc keep telling
> us how gorgeous he is, that I should look into baby modelling,
> whatever. So what the hell, I have some camera gear, why not. At any
> rate, any tips or ideas falling outside of the box would be
> appreciated.

Basically, telling someone their kid is cute/pretty etc. is basically
saying "Nice, job, the kid doesn't look like you". All kids are cute
at that age. If they aren't, you call them "interesting". Like, it's
"interesting" the way your kid has three eyes". Or, what an
interesting monobrow. Just wait 'till he grows up....

Just out of curiosity, is it a first grandchild for someone?

Okay, all the usual rules apply. Don't photograph when he's tired,
hungry, wet, or "uncomfortable" or dirty. That basically leaves 5
minutes right after lunch.

Prop him up with pillows so he doesn't move too much.

Work quickly, but STAY CALM.

Let him play with a favorite toy as you are setting up, etc. Then
wrestle him for the toy and hold it near the camera so he looks at it.
But don't shoot him in the eyes with your flash.

It that doesn't work, do a mommy/baby picture. She'll like that in 15
years.

Pat wrote:

> Basically, telling someone their kid is cute/pretty etc. is basically
> saying "Nice, job, the kid doesn't look like you". All kids are cute
> at that age. If they aren't, you call them "interesting". Like, it's
> "interesting" the way your kid has three eyes". Or, what an
> interesting monobrow. Just wait 'till he grows up....

I agree, though this is different. I felt like that with our first
child - My god is she beautiful, though not in a "commercial" way.
He's different - at daycare, he's always got the teachers wanting to
hold him, teachers from other classes are always stopping by to see
him, people who otherwise have no interest in complementing him do,
he's just got that something that you can't explain - it's not just the
look, but the aura, I guess. He smiles constantly, laughs a lot for a
six month old, etc. I'm not new at this kid thing, and I'm a hard-core
cynic, believe me. The thing that confirmed my feeling was that a lady
who had been in the kid modelling game said I should look into it - and
I had the same feeling...I wouldn't have with my first born.

> Just out of curiosity, is it a first grandchild for someone?

Nope.

> Okay, all the usual rules apply. Don't photograph when he's tired,
> hungry, wet, or "uncomfortable" or dirty. That basically leaves 5
> minutes right after lunch.

Which is the reason I'm posting - he always seems happy, and it shows
in his eyes. If he's not, if you just smile at him, he starts
grinning...it's just different with him.

> Prop him up with pillows so he doesn't move too much.
>
> Work quickly, but STAY CALM.
>
> Let him play with a favorite toy as you are setting up, etc. Then
> wrestle him for the toy and hold it near the camera so he looks at it.
> But don't shoot him in the eyes with your flash.

I appreciate the tips.

B

I photographed for Olan Mills for a while - I know cheesy but I was
into doing intereesting poses and compositions - some ideas:

- saw another guy do this - when she's sleeping - prop her in the right
position - a little sitting up - need lots of the same colored soft
pillow - try white - then cover with a pink blanket - make sure a dood
portion of the face is showing - now the tricky part - move her hand so
that's just touching the far cheek or lips while also resting on the
pillow - get your wife in there - she'll know when it's a totally
"cute" shot - then take the shot - also, try pink gelatin paper over
the flash - it will wash pink over the scene

- butt shot - no nudes but the classic diaperless shot while she's on
the floor on the rug - get that tripod down low - don't shoot down

- also, you can sometimes get grreat hand poses even if awake - propped
up again by pillows maybe - small pillow or something in front - keep
going up and grabbing both hands and pulling them together in front of
her with a pose that looks good - let go of the hands making all sorts
of goggley-woogley noises and stand up and back out of the image -
you'll need someone else to fire the shutter or have a real long
shuttter release in you hand - may have to do it over and over 'cause
the hands will most likely keep pulling apart - but oon the 20th try
they will stay there long enough to get the shot - and by making noises
and backing sideways out of the shot her focus will remain on you and
will be looking out of the frame instead of the ever common look
straight at the camera pose

get creative

On 29 Jun 2006 06:38:13 -0700, wrote:

> At any
>rate, any tips or ideas falling outside of the box would be
>appreciated.

Get down to his level or even lower (if possible). Use the largest
aperture you can (highest f-number).


--
Alex
atheist #2007

Alex wrote:
> On 29 Jun 2006 06:38:13 -0700, wrote:
>
>> At any
>> rate, any tips or ideas falling outside of the box would be
>> appreciated.
>
> Get down to his level or even lower (if possible). Use the largest
> aperture you can (highest f-number).
>
>

The largest aperture would be the smallest F-number and the highest
F-number would be the smallest aperture. Whichever did you mean?
Besides... you need to keep your shutter speed relatively fast and
F-numbers > 22 start to effect image quality (and i don't mean in a good
way).