Couch as baby posing spot...

Even before the new addition to our household last week it was clear that a lot of my friends and family expected large quantities of photos. Many asked, "Are you going to take lots of pictures?"

Which I think was a rhetorical question because I take lots of pictures of much more mundane stuff than my own new baby.

What is remarkable is that simply having a new baby at home alters what was previously a good chunk of free time, sleep time and such, so actually setting up and taking photos is quite a task.

But we did need some baby pics so here you go. Couches make great baby photo spots, just drape a cloth on there and you have a nice seamless spot, black, white or otherwise. These are all taken with a single 500ws monolight turned way down low with a 2x2 softbox.

Softbox in close...


... can make the baby cranky. Turning on room lights to get their pupils closed a bit seems to help with the flash-shock.


Black background, moved the light up almost to the ceiling (about 10')for a little bit harder light source. Black cloth gives good shadows..

I also tried the softbox down at eye level, just so-so on the look though. Maybe if it was more to the right, toward the top of his noggin.

OK, so get yourself a baby and start shooting! Just be flexible, patient, and prepared with fresh diapers.

Don J.

Quick Pic - Sports Portrait

Had some fun this morning doing a quick set-up for a portrait of Matthew Rich, who has qualified for the Junior Olympic Nationals event in Sacramento, California. He is in the decathlon... 10 events over two days.

This was shot with the Tribune's 50D, two Elinchrom BxRI500s and a small Canon flash with a red gel for the back wall.


See his story in the Thursday Tribune.

There is still room for folks in the Terrell part of the Worldwide Photo Walk on Saturday.. grab a camera and have some fun with other shutterbugs. For visitors outside of the area, you can also go to that link to find a photowalk near you.

I'm expecting a new point-and-shoot camera to arrive tomorrow. Review to come.

Have a great rest o' the week,

Don J.

Photo fun with kiddos

I don't think of myself as a typical portrait photographer, so when I get the chance to do a set-up that a lot of people will go through, it isn't a couple of lights with umbrellas at 45 degree angles. Instead, I like to play with lights and have some fun while making photos that look (I hope) a little edgier.

A lot of this is probably due to spending too much time reading the likes of Joe McNally.

I just hope parents like having something a little bit different...

These are from a shoot I am in the middle of that we are also doing as a fund-raiser for Kaufman County Relay For Life, so there is a little extra room for having fun there.

For the regular portraits, the lighting is actually pretty even. It is a 3'x4' softbox slightly to the right, and smaller softboxes (the ones that come with the Elinchrom BXRi kits) on each side behind the subjects. I will probably change up the ratios a bit for Wednesday night...


With fast moving subjects (and they move a LOT) the all-around lighting is pretty flexible. There are some middle angles that have odd shadows, but even that isn't so bad considering.


The other thing that happens with strong lights from the sides is dangerous shadows from things like hair. Again, not bad, but distracting once you see it.


After the main shooting was over on Monday, it was time to play with the new lights.. this is the two BXRi softboxes directly left and right (no regular key light), with some fun post processing in Lightroom.

Have a great week everyone

Don J.