Thread: When there is a nb on the street...

you gotta jump in for practice!

I haven't done a newborn since back in April! And it is definately a skill I wanted to use instead of loose. So I was honored to get a chance to meet baby T yesterday morning for a quick practice shoot. It was in no way a pb'ing shoot...which was actually GOOD cause the stress was off.

Like Tasha said, he has a horrible case of baby achne. Poor guy had it literally all over his entire body. So I need some major help on skin tones here. This is just the first that Ive pulled out, but I would like to better my technique for the rest of them.

I did a levels layer, curves layer on his face, used the clone tool on the blemishes and then a color balance layer. Finished off with a multiply layer and a screen layer. That was it. He isn't really jaundiced at all which was nice, but the red tones from the achne are driving me buggy. Any help is appreciated!

ISO:640, SS:1/125, f/2.8, 50mm

You can see some of the trouble spots on his hand and in the corner of his eye. Even around his lips. Poor thing!

Kelly- love this shot- I think the skin looks a bit cool though (I'm not calibrated, though). I can see some red on his forehead and face, and his right arm by his hand and his ear. I don't know how to tell you to fix it, though, so I'll let others chime in on that.

Thanks Jenny! I am having a hard time with his skin. He is such a cutie, but yeah...new borns are a challenge.

okay, you are right Jenny, his skin definately benefited from a sat layer and a warming filter. I know his skin is still messed up and I need to fix it, but I think it looks warmer overall which I like personally...

just wanted to say the edit on his skin looks much better He looks so peaceful

i so love his expression! so precious!
also i really like your last edit! i am not calibrated nor am i good at skin tones, but it looks good to me

I can't comment on color at work, b/c this monitor makes things look kinda pink. His expression is adorable, and I love the mutlicolored blanket. It adds so much texture and dimension! You have a great pose here too.

In terms of other CC, what were you using for lighting? The light is pretty bright on his back, but his face is shadowed, save for a patch of lighting on his nose. I think I would have turned him to have the lighting hit his face, maybe with a touch of directional lighting. I think it would draw more attention to his adorable little expression--right now my eye went straight to his back.

(giving it to you straight b/c I know you like it that way! You're a quick learner! )

All good points. I HAD been working perpendicular to the light source untill this set of pictures. There is a big window to his back and I was shooting infront of him. If I had him the other way, I was shooting the couch and his siblings. Dang it!!! See, THIS is why I need practice. I loose sight of crap when I don't exercise the muscles.

Thanks on the blanket. I made it.

Oooooo you made it!? That's awesome!

Can I buy one from you? Pretty please? I'm shooting my BIL's newborn baby girl at the end of this month. Though I suppose that is too short of notice, LOL!

I'll call you later. I'll have it done in like a week, okay?