In this post I wanted to share a couple of portraits from a recent newborn session.

A couple of weeks ago my cousin gave birth to a precious baby girl.  Five days later she texted me  and asked if I had any time to stop by  that afternoon and take a few pictures for her.  We all know that babies are sleepy during their first two weeks of life and this is the best time to capture those sweet sleeping images so I couldn’t resist!  

Tip #1 – Turn Up The HEAT!

I told her to crank the heat up and I would be there in an hour.

Here’s a list of what I took with me for this session.

1. Small white vinyl backdrop (5′x7′) 
2. Large soft blanket
3. Heating pad
4. Few cute props
5. ….and of course my camera

No Excuses…Use What You Have!

I want you to know that all I had was the items I listed above. I didn’t have a big fancy studio or my professional lights. I used natural light and bounced my flash when I need to. So, because I didn’t bring a backdrop stand, I just draped the backdrop up on her bed.  The lighting was pretty good and the bed was high enough that she didn’t have to bend over much.  Anyone who has given birth and has had a c-section will tell you that bending over can be dangerous and not to mention extremely painful!  I like to make sure the Mom is comfortable and doesn’t have to do much bending during the sitting!

Before draping the backdrop over her headboard, we took a large piece of plywood and put it underneath, so when I set the props down they would have a hard surface to keep them stable.  Always remember that safety is your first priority with newborns!

I usually let Mom choose which props she would like to use first.  Since my cousin is a bird lover, she decided to use my  grapevine basket that looks like a little bird’s nest.  I scrunched up a neutral colored blanket that was warmed up in the dryer and put it inside the nest.  

Next…we placed Baby Gianna in her warm nest where she  looked so cozy and peaceful. She was even smiling at times.  I think she must have been dreaming of mamma bird bringing her lunch

Ok…so next we decided to try the distressed green wooden bucket I just purchased.  Once again we warmed the blanket and place her inside. Her cheek was a little scrunched up at first so I took a small washcloth, folded it a couple of times and placed it under the blanket to lift her head.  Mom was standing right next to baby and I told her never to look at me and only focus on Gianna.   

I’m posting 2 more shots below to show you that you are never  limited to what you have. You can use creative cropping to zoom in and get an entire different look and you can also use a Digital Background to give you even more options.

This was so much fun and  I plan on getting together with her again this week! 

I’ll keep you posted and share some more photos from her next session:)

This is an example of how you can create a close-up to give your clients more options. From my experience, the close-ups always sell.

This shot below was done on the white vinyl and wasn’t edited, but I wanted to take this on white so I could create the next shot.

Ok…here is the edited version using a Digital Background. It’s actually from 2 different Digital Creation’s inside the DC Club. I might see if Scott can make this available as a Free download

Now…get out there and take some newborn portraits. It’s so much fun and people will tell everyone about the job you did for them. New parents are always so excited and telling everyone they know. Why shouldn’t it be  you?

As always…leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts!

Here’s another simple idea for the Holidays that can be done using real physical presents and backdrops or using Digital Backgrounds & Props.

These examples are from our Digital Creation Club’s new set called “Holiday Happenings“.

It’s gonna be a BIG HIT :-)

Here’s the breakdown of this shot and what makes it so GREAT!

1. Use Simple Presents (Stay away from busy wrapping paper and patterns)

2. Have child or the children dress accordingly. If they come in a bad outfit…your shot will pay for it. Usually simple clothes are the best and adding a hat gives it a nice touch too. You may even want to start collecting hats to offer at your sessions.

3. The background or backdrop also needs to go with the theme and should not be distracting.

That’s basically it for this shot. You can create this set very easily and your clients will love it.

TIP: Try to surround your subject with the presents like in this image. The kids will have fun and the portrait will show.

No Presents – Older Subject

Here we used the same background and just skipped the presents. Once again…look at the clothing and see how it’s simple and goes very well with this background.

The other thing you should also notice is that posing also helps create your professional portraits.

Feel Free to swipe these ideas and study the clothing and posing to help make your images even BETTER!

Sometimes it’s the small things that make a BIG difference.

I received an email the other day asking about Holiday Portrait Ideas for families and small groups. So…I wanted to share some portrait ideas and posing tips to help you create Amazing Shots this Holiday Season.

Here’s a portrait we just created for our Digital Creation’s Club and it’s called “Home For The Holidays”. Remember what I said before? You should always name your sets and themes that you advertise.  Go ahead and swipe our new name “Home For The Holidays”

Pic #1 – Home For The Holidays Theme (Family Pose)

Posing Tip: Try to always group subjects tight together avoiding gaps. Use the children as bookends to complete the pose.

Pic #2 – “Home For The Holidays Theme (Children Posing)

Posing Tip: Have the children look at a present or a book. This will help create a more natural pose and the parents will love it!

Pic #3 – Presents By The Tree Theme (Children Posing)

Posing Tip: Have your subjects touch hands and lightly touch heads. This will create a sense of closeness and bring the image together.

Sometimes it’s the simple things that make a great portrait. It can be a certain pose or a new portrait idea that inspired you to create a unique shot.

Feel Free to study these images and swipe these ideas to use in your own photography sessions.

I wanted to post a short Constructive Criticism Session that we did for our NPB Pro Inner Circle Group.  I wanted to post this because it discusses some very important elements you need to use when creating your images.

We discuss Posing, Composition, Cropping and Framing the shot…so it can BE GREAT!

Enjoy the lesson and get out there and use this stuff

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Share some LOVE and click the “LIKE” button below!

Update: If you already read the original post…scroll down to the bottom.

New Digital Creation’s Member Doesn’t Mess Around!

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Original Post:

I wanted to post a couple of new portrait ideas for you that will work well for Easter or Spring shoots.

These were created for our Digital Creations Club as Digital Backgrounds and Props, but you could create similar shots using unique props and backgrounds.

The first shot we named “Spring Bowl“. I know pretty unique

It’s pretty simple and only requires a few items to create this shot.

• 1. Hand painted background or soft muted muslin backdrop. The key here is to have soft colors that give a springtime feel.
• 2. Find a large bowl that is unique and has earthy soft colors. You want to have the bowl blend with the backdrop and have a special unique shape.
• 3. Add painted Easter eggs around the bowl. This is optional to give it a Easter theme and to accent the soft colors in the background.

The second shot we named “Spring Basket“. Yep…we got really creative with that name too!

This is very similar to the first shot. The basket is what makes this shot different from the last. Props can add so much to your shots…if not overdone. You want to find unique props at antique stores, thrift shops, flea markets, garage sales, any place that sell unique items.

This shot we used the same backdrop, but just added the new basket.

Now…because we created a Digital Creation Set, we produced two portraits with just one shot. We shot the baby on a white backdrop and then cut her out to insert her in the Bowl and the Basket.

So…I hope you can see that anyone can create unique portraits with just a few unique props. Sometimes clients will come to your studio for a special unique prop they saw from a friend’s portrait session.

My Final Thoughts…..

It’s all about being UNIQUE!

We wanted to make it even easier for you to give this Digital Background thing a try. Until Friday, the 25th you can gain access to the club for just $1. This is another way of saying thanks to our loyal NPB subscribers.

Check Out The Digital Creation’s Club Here

Here’s another example below

Check Out The Digital Creation’s Club Here

Update:

New Digital Creation’s Member Doesn’t Mess Around!

Misty didn’t mess around. She joined the club, downloaded the monthly Digital Creation and created a beautiful portrait. She asked for some advice through Facebook and I responded what I recommended. It’s funny, because I created a tutorial in the club for February that shows exactly what I did.

I’m including the before and after shot from the simple technique I shared with Misty.

Here’s the adjustments I told her I applied to the image that improved the overall portrait.

I wanted to share this image, because it shows how someone decided to give our club a try and received an AMAZING portraitin return.Misty didn’t waste anytime and has proved that she can do this.

Check Out The Digital Creation’s Club Here

It’s finally here! Our very first publication of some of our Digital Creations that we’ve created over the past 2 years for our NPB club.

We’ve included over 100 images in this Creative Guide using NPB Digital Backgrounds and props that helped create these Amazing Portraits.

(Right click and “Save As” to your computer)

Click Here to Download!

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*NOTE: If for some reason you can’t view the guide from the above download link, you may need to update your PDF reader.

Check for the latest reader HERE!

You can also try to download the optimized version below.

Click Here To Download

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Make sure to click the “Like” button and share this with your friends.

]]> http://newportraitbiz.com/blog/813/digital-backgrounds-portrait-guide/feed/ 39 http://newportraitbiz.com/blog/337/digital-photography-tips-using-photoshop-and-digital-backgrounds/ http://newportraitbiz.com/blog/337/digital-photography-tips-using-photoshop-and-digital-backgrounds/#comments Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:27:03 +0000 NewPortraitBiz http://newportraitbiz.com/blog/?p=337

In this post I wanted to share a studio portrait that one of our NPB students (Carol) created and posted on our NPB forum. I thought it was a great example of how you can create a beautiful portrait using Digital Backgrounds with some basic tools.  I think you’ll see after you watch the video

Click Here to check out our NPB Digital Creations Club.

Here’s an example of the finished portrait. Great Job Carol!

]]> http://newportraitbiz.com/blog/337/digital-photography-tips-using-photoshop-and-digital-backgrounds/feed/ 17 http://newportraitbiz.com/blog/277/pet-photography-tips-for-better-portraits/ http://newportraitbiz.com/blog/277/pet-photography-tips-for-better-portraits/#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:52:35 +0000 NewPortraitBiz http://newportraitbiz.com/blog/?p=277

Whether you are wanting to get a treasured photo your own family pet or you would like to photograph pets as a part of your photography business, there are a few things you should know before you just show up with your camera and expecting award winning pet photos. Here are a five tips to help you get the photos you’re looking for.

Tip #1 – Patience

First and foremost we must realize that stunning photos of pets involve a lot of patience. Waiting for that right pose or expression that represents the character of the pet may take a little time. Sometimes we get lucky and it happens very quickly, then there are the other times when it feels like we will never get THE shot! It can be frustrating but extremely rewarding.

Tip # 2 – Shoot Often

Shooting continuously can accomplish a couple of things. First it gets the pet used to the sound of the camera, second it allows you to capture candid shots in between formal poses. You might be surprised at some of the images you captured when you review them.

Tip #3 – Use Different Angles

The eyes are the most important part of the photograph. The character and soul of the pet can be more dramatically captured by getting down to their eye level. Shooting down from above by standing on a chair or something solid can also product effective and unique photos. Be adventurous! Experimenting with different angles may also generate exceptional portraits. Remember, the eyes must be in perfect focus.

Tip # 4 – Toys & Treats

There tends to be some controversy on the use of pet toys and treats to stimulate the pet in order to make a more appealing shot. On the one hand, the toys and treats can help you get more intense and striking images but on the other hand, some animals will become over-stimulated and become difficult to work with. Talking with the owner and observing the animal under both circumstances before the shoot can help you decide whether or not to use the props.

Tip # 5 – Composition

We can get so busy trying to get that perfect expression or interesting shot that we forget what is around us and in the background. Make a visual check through the viewfinder to see if you are using the rules of good composition. Are you using your thirds? Is the background uncluttered? Does the background complement the subject?

For example; it may not be wise to shoot a black dog with a dark background. If you find your location is not working, move around to the other side or change locations completely. It can make the difference between an ordinary shot and a stunning portrait.

There are a lot of things to remember in a very short space of time when you are working with animals. Taking pet portraits is challenging to say the least but is extremely rewarding. Capturing for the owner the essence and character of their much loved family pet turns that stunning portrait into a priceless memory for them.

Happy shooting!

Taking family portraits presents a wonderful opportunity to capture the intimate relationships between all the family members.

What we will focus on here is mostly the immediate family that usually consists of between two and six people. Here are a few Digital Photography Tips For Great Family Portraits to remember when working with families:

Tip #1 Make them Comfortable

It is difficult to get great expressions on faces when people are straining to maintain a certain pose. It’s important to make every effort to pose the family in a way that will give you the best opportunity to capture their best ‘side.’

Tip # 2 Watch your Composition

Part of the challenge of family portraits is to compose your shot in a way that will draw the viewer into and around the photograph in a pleasing way. Pose family members in triangles. The natural flow of the portrait will then allow the viewer to see each family member in an easy and progressive manner.

Tip # 3 Using Props

Using a big wing-backed chair with mom or dad sitting in the chair and the rest of the family members posed around it always makes a great shot. Using park benches, trees, rocks, fireplaces, stools and even the ground or floor are all good ideas to help you capture that unique shot. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination and creativity!

Tip # 4 Dressing Similar

This should be discussed before the family shoot is to take place. It will save you a lot of headache if all the family members are dressed in complimenting styles and colors. Strips, polka dots, clashing colors and printed clothing can give you a disconcerting and uneasy feel to a photo. We want to produce a photo that will convey the harmony and love between family members and draw the viewer to the faces; not be distracted by clothing that is outlandish or clashing.

Tip # 5 Watch the Lighting

If you are shooting in a studio, make sure you have your lights set up to enable every person’s face to be clearly seen. Although shadows can add intensity and interest, make sure it is balanced properly. Taking family photos outside can present a whole new set of  challenges.

Shooting at the golden hour of the day (one hour before the sun goes down) is an option that will give you wonderful lighting conditions. Once again, it is of prime importance that all family member’s faces can be clearly seen.

Taking family portraits can present some very interesting challenges. You, as the photographer, have the opportunity to capture the very character and intimacy of the family unit. It takes planning and practice to create a stunning portrait that will become a  treasured family memory for years to come.

Happy shooting!

You can have the best camera and the best lighting, but if you don’t practice your composition and learn how to frame your shots, you pictures will be just average. It all starts with a vision and learning how to put a picture together in the cameras viewfinder. The camera is a tool that allows you to transfer your vision on the photo paper.

In this article you will find 6 composition and framing tips to help you improve your photography skills  and create shots that are  more than just average.

Tip #1 Shoot Vertical

When shooting a human subject, your format will be vertical 99% of the time. This is what a photographer calls a  “Portrait”. If you shoot horizontally, it’s referred to as a “Landscape”.

Tip #2 Shoot Off Center

One thing that a lot of beginning photographers do is capture their subject exactly in the middle of the frame. There is no rule that says you have to place the subject in the center of the photograph.  Some  compositions can be more exciting and dramatic if the subject is framed off-center. It gives the image a sense of movement and leads the viewer into the photographer.

Tip # 3 Fill The Frame

Try to fill up the frame with the subject.  It is natural to show too much of the  surroundings by shooting too wide.  Very successful head shots can be produced when there is no space above the head or even with some of the head cropped off. This simple tip alone can make your ordinary photos look more professional and interesting.

Tip # 4 Using Your Subjects Eyes

The eyes are our most expressive feature. Try to keep the eyes in the upper third of the frame and not exactly in the center.  Very often the viewer of a photograph is drawn to the face and expressive eyes can make a very dramatic photograph.

Tip #5 Create Your Own Center

There should be only one center of interest when creating you images.  You may have several subjects in the photograph but you can still achieve this by having the subjects touching one another or overlapping.

Tip #6 – Learn What To Crop

Don’t crop off limbs at the joints.  For example, a photograph that is cropped at the elbow will look strange.  Cropping at the forearm or bicep area will give a more natural look.

Final Thoughts:

Use these simple Digital photography Tips to help you improve your composition and framing. Practice often and learn from every shot you take and soon you will be shooting like a professional.

As always…leave you comments below. We would love to hear from you