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Photographing newborn baby's, can flash be used?


12 years 4 months ago #181039 by Patty Ganahl
I'm going to be adding newborn photography to my area's of focus. I was doing some research online and found a number of people saying you can't use flash with newborn babies because it harms their eyes??

I've not known this, don't the hospitals use flash when taking photos? If this is true, at what age are the eye's developed enough that a flash can be used?
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12 years 4 months ago #181052 by icepics
This topic came up before so if you search the Forum you might find it - but I don't think our discussion was exactly conclusive. I worked as an Early Intervention Specialist working with infants and toddlers w/delays but I don't remember this particularly coming up in anything work related.

There are of course endless websites about babies; I've often used www.zerotothree.org . Or try websites that are done by a specific organization like www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/posi...renting/infants.html . I don't know if you'll find much information on using a flash, probably more on infant vision. Their vision is still developing at birth and they can only see a certain distance so I don't know how safe a flash would be.

I'd probably ask the parents/family when you schedule your photo shoot. That would give them time if need be to check with their pediatrician prior to your shoot. With anything related to young children I'd ask first and go by the parents' guidelines, they know their child best.
Sharon
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12 years 4 months ago #181072 by photobod
My grandaughter is 10 weeks old now, I was at the hospital and went into the room about 15 mins after Darcy Grace was born, I asked if it was ok to do some photography and they positively encouraged me, I used an SB900 flashgun witha homemade diffuser on it, the doctors and nurses were in there at the same time and at no time did they stop me using flash, I believe that if there had been a problem they would have said something to me, since then I regularily use flash when photographing my grandaughter and there are no signs of problems with her big blue eyes, in fact she reacts well to the flash and doesnt seem to mind it.
My advice, make sure you diffuse the flash. :cheers: :beerbang: :beerbang: :beerbang: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
www.dcimages.org.uk
"A good photograph is one that communicate a fact, touches the heart, leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it. It is, in a word, effective." - Irving Penn
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12 years 4 months ago #181118 by icepics
I don't know if it could be potentially harmful or not, I'd just go with the parents' comfort level. Babies are all different too and some have sensitivity to sounds, to being on their tummy, etc. That's why I'd ask, so you know what would work best for a particular infant/family.
Sharon
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12 years 4 months ago #181165 by Superman
I've seen this topic brought up before and recall there wasn't solid medical confirmation of yes or no. I would like to know more on this myself. I can see a good argument for both sides of this one.
Nikon D90 & D40 18-55mm, 55-200mm, 35mm, 50mm, 105mm, SB600
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12 years 4 months ago #181186 by Studio Queen
I think if you are diffusing the light pretty good, you should be OK. Now if you have the flash hitting the newborn head on, I would say this wouldn't be good. But then again, I don't have a medical degree on my wall, so I'm just guessing.
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12 years 4 months ago #181190 by yonders
I would recommend you use a diffuser on the flash; or use bounce when possible. Don't come in too close to the child. I tell this to my friends as well. Better to be safe than sorry.

As a parent, I wouldn't allow anyone to pop a flash close to my child's / infant's eyes.
D Man

'Goan [not Gone] in the desert' (",).
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12 years 4 months ago #181249 by Ednra
Most newborns I have ever photographed are sleeping. So using the flash would not be harmful to them. Even if their eyes are open, you can still use the flash. Newborns are just like us adults, if the light hurts their eyes, they'll close them. Overall you can use flash.
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12 years 4 months ago #181401 by Farestad

Ednra wrote: Most newborns I have ever photographed are sleeping. So using the flash would not be harmful to them. Even if their eyes are open, you can still use the flash. Newborns are just like us adults, if the light hurts their eyes, they'll close them. Overall you can use flash.


:agree:
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12 years 4 months ago #181433 by icepics
A newborn's eyes are not fully developed yet... (I know that from my professional job-related education/training); some babies are more easily overstimulated by sensory input than others. None of us know for sure, better to check with the parents or let them check with their child's pediatrician, each situation may be different - as someone said, as a parent they wouldn't want a flash going off in their baby's face.
Sharon
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12 years 4 months ago #181452 by Henry Peach
Among pediatricians and optometrists there is very little debate: photographic flash used normally will not harm newborns' eyes.
mattneedham.zenfolio.com
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12 years 4 months ago #181525 by Joves

Henry Peach wrote: Among pediatricians and optometrists there is very little debate: photographic flash used normally will not harm newborns' eyes.

:agree:
If that was the case I would have been blind. I was the first so I was photographed to death with flashes. Hmmm! Could be why I have never liked having my picture taken. As long as you arent putting it a couple of inches from them it wont hurt them.
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12 years 4 months ago #181528 by Baydream

Joves wrote:

Henry Peach wrote: Among pediatricians and optometrists there is very little debate: photographic flash used normally will not harm newborns' eyes.

:agree:
If that was the case I would have been blind. I was the first so I was photographed to death with flashes. Hmmm! Could be why I have never liked having my picture taken. As long as you arent putting it a couple of inches from them it wont hurt them.

And we can all tell you are completely normal, Joves. :toocrazy:
Shoot, learn and share. It will make you a better photographer.
fineartamerica.com/profiles/john-g-schickler.html?tab=artwork
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