Why I love to take macro photos
+ some tips on how I take them
Newborn Macro photo's are definitely a favourite type of image I try and get in every single newborn session.
They are a beautiful way to capture and bring focus to the tiniest of details.
Details such as lips, fingernails, toes, finger & toe prints, eyelashes, hair and even that newborn flaky skin!
These details are extremely precious to capture because as time goes on, you realise how much of a blur that newborn phase really is!
You promise yourself that you'll remember all the details, but the reality of newborn life is that you often can't even remember which boob you last fed your baby from!
Then before you know it, you're dealing with toddler tantrums and snack demands and the newborn days are long gone.
While toddlers are heaps of fun and you don't really want to go back in time (most of the time), having these images is a great way to time travel and relive all those precious little details again.
A FEW TIPS ON HOW I TAKE THEM:
Most of my macro images are taken using my Sigma 105mm Macro lens. Although there are some that are featured on this blog that were actually taken using a macro filter that just screws onto the front of my 50mm lens. For REALLY close up images/Macros of eyelashes etc, I'll always use my 105mm. It's not just about the lens though, it's also about how you use the lens:
- SHOOT FROM THE DARK SIDE: My favourite way to photograph these is to photograph from the shadow side into the light. It's important though to ensure that the detail you are wanting to focus on isn't itself, all in shadow and that you have a pop of light on the detail. (I will often focus on the detail and turn my beanbag a little watching the light until I see it hit juuuuuuust right).
- CLOSE APERTURE: For normal portraits I will often photograph around f/1.8 or f/2.8. However, for most of my macro photos I will actually have my aperture around f/5.6 so I am able to capture more detail.
- SHOOT IN MANUAL FOCUS + BE PATIENT: I find it easier to capture these beautiful macro photos in manual focus (I just flick a little switch on my lens and use the focus ring also located on the lens). Using manual focus will mean however that you will need to slow down and be patient. For this reason it is also best to wait for baby to be in a deep sleep.
Hopefully you find this helpful!