Sunpak Photo
Delivery room photography. Should I use a flash?
Quick question in case I don’t have a new camera by the time our baby gets here in three weeks. Or in case I can’t talk my wife into getting one at all! But I’ve got this here Canon S5 with a SunPak flash (cost about $150, but it’s not that nice). I am wanting some nice photos in the delivery room, AFTER she gives birth.
Should I use the flash? If so, what priority (shutter speed or aperture) should I have the camera on? The flash tilts of course, but it cannot turn side-to-side. So should I point the flash straight up, 45 degrees, or 90 degrees?
If I don’t use a flash, should I shoot everything in auto mode on a tripod/timer?
I might not even be asking the right questions. I’m obviously an amateur. Any pointers are appreciated.
Why is using a tripod out of the question? Again…beginner questions!
I shot both of my daughters first moments using different SLRs but same kind of Sunpak flash (mine is 383 – a very nice unit for a price).
Do try to bounce the flash. How many degrees? Depends how you shoot. Try to tilt it so that light hits the ceiling, don’t look at degrees – look where the light is going to hit. Try not point flash at things of strange colors and/or mirrors. That tends to produce funny light that you’ll have lot’s of “fun” correcting later.
If you must point it directly, use the lowest setting. I’m not sure which Sunpak flash you have and how it’s controlled. Mine has aside from manual mode, three automatic modes. Green, yellow and red. Green is the lowest power and requires the highest aperture, or higher ISO. Use that if you must point directly. Set the calculator on your flash (if it has one) to the ISO you’re using, and it will show you what aperture to set in automatic flash mode mode. Otherwise look up the values in the table on the back of your flash or in manual. The shutter speed does not matter, for as long as it’s below the fastest shutter sync speed. You should be safe at 1/100th of a second or so.
The camera should obviously be on manual control. You set the aperture which your flash mode requires and the shutter speed fast enough to eliminate most of available light but not too fast for shutter sync. Your flash will use its onboard sensor to determine the amount of light to put out. It will not matter if you point the flash directly or bounce it – the sensor will adjust the power automatically based on how much light comes back from the subject.
Before getting to delivery room experiment with the flash at home. Be comfortable with it. Know your ISO + aperture + shutter speed for each flash mode in advance. Try shooting in conditions close to delivery room. That’s pretty tight quarters and dim available light, but also possible a spotlight.
When you get to delivery room, try making a few test shots both bouncing and directly to see how they come out and make final adjustments. You should have your camera standing by when the moment comes, no time for adjustments then!
As to not using the flash – I’m afraid with S5 you’ll have to bump up the ISO to values at which it will produce more digital noise than usefulness in a picture. So unless you get an SLR, you probably better off not even trying. Again – try at home. See how they come out… Don’t experiment in the delivery room. There’s too much at stake to start trying there.
Come ready and knowing exactly how you’re going to be shooting. Because, trust me, when time comes to grab the camera, your head will be full of other things. You should know how to work it almost instinctively at that time. All decisions must have been made in advance. Practice, practice, practice first!
Good luck, and congrats on upcoming big moment!
LEM.
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