Born To Ride!

See how we photographed Toby on a toy Vespa!

My face must have been a picture when Hannah and Chris arrived at the studio this week. They had their newborn baby boy Tobias in a pushchair and and ride-on toy Vespa motor scooter under Chris’s arm.

There’s nothing more I like than a photographic challenge. Posing a baby on a motor scooter is a challenge.

Safety First

Our priority with every newborn photoshoot is safety first. If a shot is to risky…we don’t do it. We’ve trained with some of the best newborn photographers in the world and we have a newborn safety certificate so we know good practice.

We have a saying in the studio. The camera never lies, only photoshop. This Adobe software classic is so powerful these days that if you can imagine it, you can make a picture of it.

The magic of Photoshoop

We use Photoshop extensively in newborn photography to edit out the hands or fingers safely supporting a baby. It’s also great at dealing with scratches, blotches and blemishes. I use a technique called frequency separation to edit skin. It enables me to isolate the skin texture and tone layers and fix skin without make the baby look phoney. Skin looks authentic and natural.

In this sort video you’ll see Hannah and Chris supporting Toby on the Vespa. I took photographs of them doing this and then another of just the Vespa in the set. Using photoshop I carefally edited out Mum and Dad and use different photos of Toby to build a composite of him in the best position.

I then blended this composited image with the shot of the Vespa and hey presto! Toby looks like he’s on the motor scooter. OK, he’s asleep on the scooter. Give him a break, he’s only 3 weeks old and this stuff is tiring!

A Fun Experience

All this was done professionally and safely with the help of the parents. It’s a bit of fun and not to be taken too seriously. A fabulous memory that Chris and Hannah will look at and smile with Toby in years to come.

Steve Reid AMPA ASWPP ABIPP

Blitz Photography