Choosing the Ideal Light for Newborn Photography

Unveiling the Power of Flash Lighting

One of the most common questions I receive as a newborn photographer is, "I'm a beginner newborn photographer. What type of lighting should I use?" While natural light offers its unique charm, I highly recommend using flash lighting, even for beginners. Flash has the potential to elevate your photography to a whole new level, offering flexibility, control, and a lot of creative possibilities.

Natural Light: A Delicate Balance

Natural light, undoubtedly beautiful, can also be incredibly challenging. Here's a closer look at its advantages and potential drawbacks:

Pros:

Absolutely free
Readily available during the daytime
Creates soft, flattering results
No need for additional wires or equipment
No need to spend time on preparation. Ready to work right now.

Cons:
Difficult to control due to weather, time of day, and seasons
Shadows from nearby objects can sneak into the photo and mess with the baby's skin color
Limited by window size and potential obstructions by furniture or metal grills.
Your working hours are dictated by the sun, limiting your availability

I hope I've convinced you to give strobe lighting a try! If you think it's difficult, it's really not.

Pros:

Adjustable power output for little babies or the whole family
The flash only lasts for a second, ensuring it does not generate excessive heat (unlike constant lights that operate throughout the entire session).
Eliminates parasitic shadows, allowing you to focus on your subject without worrying about the color of the surroundings.
Provides creative flexibility, offering both harsh and soft lighting options.
Independence from natural light; you can organize a photoshoot in the middle of the night or on a rainy, gloomy day.

Cons:
You need to spend money
You need time to learn how flash light works
There is a time that you will spend for preparation
You always have to check the battery life of the strobe (or do you take wires and etc)
Need space to assemble the strobe with a modifier

So, you decided to buy your first light. Where to start?

I use Elinchrome HD500 + Elinchrom Rotalux Indirect Deep Octa 150cm Softbox and Elinchrom EL-Skyport (the trigger that synchronizes your camera and light).

It is a great combination for a studio, giving incredible soft light. But it's quite bulky; you can't bring it to a customer's house. No way!

I would recommend the brand Godox, made in China but recommended itself as trustworthy, affordable, and creative light, easy to use!

The strobe flash Godox AD200—I love it.

It's compact, highly portable, and boasts an impressive battery capability of at least 1500 flashes. This means you don't need to worry about wires, plug-ins, or electric sockets. Simultaneously, it's very powerful, and the flash operates swiftly, enabling you to capture not only newborns but also those lively moments with babies who are always on the move.

For the modifier, what you have to use to make your light soft, get a Godox umbrella 165cm (or 65") White with a diffuser

You'll also need a trigger for your camera, and Godox has you covered here too! Opt for the Godox Xpro (don't forget to choose the right camera brand for your trigger!).

The last essential item is a sturdy lighting tripod stand. Whether it's Godox or another brand, it's not critical. What matters is that it's Heavy Duty and can reach a maximum height of 2.8m.