Newborn Photography

Newborn photography has exploded in popularity. Working with these little wonders is challenging, fun and a fantastic creative outlet. I've had the opportunity to learn posing techniques from some of the industry's most prominent newborn photographers. I've learned how to safely pose a child, allocate assistants to achieve specific poses, and use the digital tools at my disposal to create the look I want. 

In recent months I have heard multiple stories and have seen evidence of photographers taking too many liberties with the safety of their newborn clients. In the spirit of sharing knowledge as well as promoting baby safety, I would like to share a tutorial on one way to create a prop portrait, safely.

To begin, make sure your little one is secure in or on and container or surface you place them on. Never leave an infant un attended.  Set up your pose, being careful not to push the little one too far or cause them any pain. Make certain that your assistant or a parent is nearby to steady the child's head and neck while you make your exposure. 

This image is Out Of Camera and you can see mom's hand is holding baby's head steady. Mom is less than a foot from her daughter throughout the shoot. 

Photo is post initial retouching and color balance. 

To begin the process, choose your lasso tool. This will allow you to make a selection of the right side of the photo that will ultimately camouflage the hand on the left side. 

Make the selection, copy and paste onto a new layer. 

the lighter are is the section of the photograph that has been copied and pasted onto a new layer

Flip the copied layer by selecting the copied layer, using your keyboard to choose option/command T, to transform. Then press control and use your mouse to click on the screen, select flip horizontal from the menu.

position the flipped copy to line up with the baby's face and natural head curve

create a layer mask and use a fluffy brush to erase the portion of the photo you do not want to show in the final image

layer masks

Check your mask edges and make sure you do not have anything left unblended. you can check this quickly by pressing the shift button and clicking on the layer mask.

Final image. Mommy's will always choose their baby's safety over a complicated pose. If you are just starting out, please use caution and consider taking a class that focuses on posing baby's safely. 

Disclaimer: There are a million ways to do this sort of photo work in photoshop, this is a technique that works for me and seemed perfect for this situation. Happy shooting!

Birthday girl!

Cake..check

tutu..check

pearls.. check

cake? ...check

& don't forget the cute

This little lady graced my studio for her birthday session. She was all kinds of cute and seemed to enjoy the grand finale..the sweetest polka dot cake I've ever seen. 

Here are a few of my favorites.

time to enjoy the cake.. without the paparazzi

Mommy & Me

Mommy & Me sessions have a very special place in my heart. A chance to make a memory and document the relationship that exists between a mother and her child. The photograph I treasure the most is a small discolored image of my mom and I when I was a little girl.  

I recently had the opportunity to witness a memory being made between Beth and her daughter. Here are a few of my favorites. 

Little Ms. A's Birthday Session

Silly, energetic & fashionable are all great qualities for a portrait subject to posses. Luckily, I received all three from little Ms. A at her big 5yr. birthday session. A's mama and I decided a fun urban kids session was the perfect choice for this exuberant little lady. Mom didi a great job on the wardrobe ( I LOVE the fedora!!) and A took care of the supply of cute! 

Here are a few of my favorites from out down town Goldsboro session. 

 

Tyndall Family

December is always full of crazy schedules, family functions, and the overall chaos of the holiday season. Of course it is the perfect time to schedule an experimental photo session with a  family of four! All kidding aside, The Tyndall family graciously volunteered to work with me to create some fun night portraits at the town center in Farmville. It was a very chilly night, but they smiled and posed and seemed to have a great time. They Tyndall girls are pros at posing and grinning for the camera. I can't wait to work with this family again this summer.

Thank you Tyndall family for being so great and forgiving as I worked through the challenges of night photography.

Here are a few of my favorites from our winter night session.

Falcone Family

I love family portraits with all types of families. Each family brings their own unique flavor to the session and shares a little part of themselves with me. The Falcone family was no exception. The dynamic personalities of the girls kept me giggling the entire time and Mom & Dad look fabulous together.

Here are a few of my favorites from our Waynesborough Park session.

Thank you Falcone Family for a great session!

Sweet Heart Event

Sweet Heart Event

February 3rd & 4th, 2012

E.L. Photography is proud to announce the Sweet Heart Event to benefit the American Heart association and Go Red For Women. 

Book your 20 minute session 

for a tax deductible donation of $50.00

This is the perfect opportunity to create a beautiful Valentine’s gift for your special someone or treat yourself with a portrait of your little sweethearts. 

The event will be held Febraury 3rd and 4th, 2012 at the E.L. Photography Studio of Farmville. 

studio address: 3729 West Wilson Farmville, NC 27828

For more information or to schedule your session please call 252.714.7881

Donations to Go Red For Women help support efforts to educate women and to fund breakthrough research by the American Heart Association that helps ensure women are represented in clinical studies.