- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
December 2010 Moms
newborn photos DIY? am i nuts?
I've been giving this a lot of thought. I really want newborn photos of him done because I know he's going to be our only child and this is a time in all of our lives that is so precious and fleeting....i don't have to explain my reasons to you guys, I know you understand....but we're on a budget and the cost of the session + images is more than we can justify right now....
I've been wanting to get a DSLR for years and especially now, I want the pictures I will be taking of our boy for years to come to be as beautiful and creative and just GOOD as they can be. I don't have much photography experience, but I'm a really creative person and a fast learner when it comes to creative things....although who can say which parts of my brain are totally going to shut down when I am sleep deprived and my hormones are totally jacked up...the creativity might be the first to go.
The cost of a newborn session + the digital files (or a print package) seems like it would run about the same as a starter DSLR...am I insane to consider investing in the camera and trying to take these photos of him myself? Being a first time mom, I know I am underestimating how overwhelmed I am going to be, but...is this something any of you have considered or am I just totally nuts? WDYT?
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
This discussion has been closed.
Re: newborn photos DIY? am i nuts?
It is funny you posted this- I was looking at a local photographer"s website to see her packages ($1000+!!). I say invest in the camera and do some research now. Maybe find some photos/photographer's styles you like, and copy! I think a good cheating way to get the look you want is to use a program like Photoshop (where you can adjust the light/color intensity, etc...I think the program is pretty easy...)
Here is the photographer I was looking at (www.joycesmithphoto.com)- the photos I liked are the ones where she swaddled the babies- I could totally do that!
I would buy it.
Do you have any credit cards with reward points that you can turn into gift cards? Or with the holidays coming could you ask for gift cards or cash that you could use for it?
I turned in points for credit cards got $200 in gift cards that I used toward a new camera. My birthday was in September and if someone asked what I wanted I requested a gift card that I could use for it too. I ended up only paying $26 out of pocket for a new Canon. Not a DSLR, but it's a fancy point and shoot with lots of cool features.
We're planning to take our own Newborn photos also. We're pretty comfortable with photography and editing which helps. Get familiar with Picasa now if you're not already, you can do some great things on there in terms of editing and it's free.
Look into some of the refurbished cameras on Amazon or wherever. We bought our cameras new but our lenses we've bought refurbished from Canon dealers and have never had a problem. You'll save alot of money that way.
The library has some great basic photography books that break it down for you. The biggest tip I can give you is not to use your flash...trust me on that one, even inside leave the flash off and adjust accordingly in your editing software.
Also, check out the photography board...those ladies are very helpful.
**tinamachina...i couldn't get to the photo site fromyour link for some reason, so i goggled it. those photos are GORGEOUS and totally worth copying....i LOVE it! thanks for the ideas!
Are you crazy, definitely not. But let me answer this from my perspective, I am a professional family photographer. I have helped several close friends with their DSLR purchases. But I constantly hear from them that their photos look bad, out of focus, have strange exposure and they just aren't getting the photos they thought they would get. I have to explain to them that unless they are willing to take a photography class to learn about exposure, composition, technique and post processing their photos will never look like the ones I can take. As a professional I can take a better photo with a crappy point and shoot than they can with a DSLR. It is not about the equipment, but rather what you do with it.
If you are serious about photography, and willing to put in the time and energy it takes to really learn the craft, go for it. However professional photographers charge for their knowledge, expertise and creative eye. You will absolutely get stunning photos of your LO if you go that route.
I hope this helps. Feel free with PM me with any questions
I would say that investing in a DSLR is a great idea. I bought one a year ago for work knowing that I would be using it more for our kids.
But on the flip side, my brother is a professional photographer and the pictures they produce are insanely better than anything I can come up with on my starter DSLR. My Brother even picked out my camera and gave me some lessons on ISO and stuff that I don't really understand.
I would recommend two things.
1: buy it asap and get as much practice, read a lot and figure out how to use all of the manual settings because they make a HUGE difference in the picture.
2: Contact a local college that has photography classes or a photograpy degree and see if there are any fledgling photographers that will do a session for a fraction of the price of a professional, or free as they need to start there portofolio. They will have a decent camera maybe better than a starter DSLR for you, and will know how to do all the manual settings, and edit photos professionally.
When my brother was starting out, he did my wedding, and several friends weddings, and engagement sessions for free to start his portfolio and get his name out there. Now he and his wife are in lots of photography magazines and travel the world to photograph weddings and families.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!! that is definitely the kind of perspective i needed and i know you're right....i've been very interested in photography for a long time and am always captivated by beautiful photos and interesting use of lighting and the composition of the shot and the whole editing process too, i just feel like i never had a subject i was passionate enough about (or who was willing!) to actually invest the time it would take to learn more. now i know i will...
i definitely don't expect to be able to produce anything as amazing as the professional shots i've seen, but if i can get something satisfactory in the meantime and then continue to learn and grow, i think it will be a great investment....it's just so hard to look at all of the great portfolios and websites out there and not get crazy inspired!
thanks woolly and mommytott too for your advice and perspective