Get it right in camera, Newborn Photography Education

One of my biggest frustrations I see online is “It’s ok, I’ll fix it in post production.”  Yet, it really doesn’t have to be this way.

What if your newborn photography could be so well executed that you have nothing to “fix”?

What if the focus of your editing is more about your creative vision and not about fixing up mistakes from the session.

I want to see the basics of photography become second nature so we can create the images we love and our clients fall in love with straight out of the camera.

In what I’m creating this week, my focus is on getting both the technical and aesthetic aspects of your images correct in camera.  To help everyone achieve this we are filming a brand new tutorial – “Getting It Right In Camera”.   And when I say “it”, I mean everything – lighting, exposure, camera angles, composition and cropping – all of it.  I can’t wait to share it with you because this class is a little different!

Last week I opened up an opportunity to have a guest in my photography studio for the filming.  We had an incredible response with applicants from The Netherlands, Argentina, the US – all wanting to fly in to Brisbane, Australia, to watch in-person as I teach this extensive, hands-on tutorial.  Given the number of applicants, we deemed a random draw the only way to go.  Tiffany Beer of the Northern Territory, Australia, was the lucky person, and we are so happy to have her in the studio today.

In yesterday’s session we looked at capturing images and getting it right in camera.  Just some of the advantages to this include:

• fewer post-production editing requirements;
• no additional cropping is needed in post-production when composition is perfected in camera;
• no need for exposure adjustments in camera raw or playing with levels in Photoshop to get it right;
• optimum histogram and image information is captured through proper attention to lighting and exposure;
• no harsh shadows because the angle the subject was photographed at was perfect;
• minimal background editing when images are captured at best angle for the scene;
• no white balance issues.

3 TIPS FOR GETTING IT RIGHT IN CAMERA

• Don’t rush the session – take the time to set yourself up in advance.  Understand your light direction before your subject is there, and prepare the space accordingly.  Make sure that when your client arrives, you are 100% ready to focus on that new baby;
• Set your picture style to neutral to ensure your histogram gives you a good representation of your raw data;
• Use your histogram – use your histogram throughout the session to ensure your exposure and settings are correct;
• Take a safe shot – when baby is settled and you think you have everything right, take a safe shot, reassess your image, and refine your settings and styling. (and yes that’s 4, but I do like to over-deliver)

Today is going to be just as amazing, I am so motivated and excited about this one, there is just so much to share.

This is the whole focus here at Newborn Posing this week.  What is yours?