nice place for non-professional indoor pics

avimom ↓

Tue, Dec 14 2010, 9:08 pm

I'd like to take upsherin pics of DS on my own, but it's too cold to be outside (I took last ds's in botanical gardens and they were gorgeous!). Any place I can go to that's pretty where I can take my own pics indoors?

sys

Tue, Dec 14 2010, 9:13 pm

your local wedding hall? it will usually have some nice backdrops, stairs, mirrors.....

Young Lady

Tue, Dec 14 2010, 9:14 pm

I don't know of a nice place, but I think that you will have to make sure that the lighting is good, wherever you go. Pictures taken outdoors are always better than indoors...
Maybe ask a professional Very Happy

↑ avimom ↓

Tue, Dec 14 2010, 9:18 pm

Why would a wedding hall let me in to take pics?? (no offense, just trying to understand...) OK- professionals- any ideas???

Simple1 ↓

Tue, Dec 14 2010, 9:44 pm

Lighting will be a bigger challenge and in my opinion more important than background. If you are really creative and think out of the box, it's possible to make any area into a usable background, just keep it simple. Regarding lighting, the basic advice is to shoot facing a big window. Using no-flash is best (with the window-light), but your camera will have to use settings compatible with the low lighting.

↑ Simple1 ↓

Tue, Dec 14 2010, 9:49 pm

The mall can give you an interesting background, if done creatively. (don't know if the management would have an issue with it.) But lighting will be an issue.

micki ↓

Tue, Dec 14 2010, 9:50 pm

get a dark sheet, table cloth.
buy fake snow-makes a big mess but fun!
pick some branches with berries or greens.
I also had a small section of a picketfence
I set it all up and snapped away.

I can show you a sample if you wish.

↑ avimom ↓

Tue, Dec 14 2010, 10:26 pm

thanks! What kind of adjustments would I need to make if I didn't use flash? (I just have a regular good-quality point and shoot...)
My inlaws have a sky-light- would that work instead of a big window?
Micki- did you do something special about the lighting?

Maya

Tue, Dec 14 2010, 10:27 pm

I don't know where you are, but the Winter Garden in downtown Manhattan is gorgeous, and has glass windows all around that lets in a lot of light on a sunny day. It's got palm trees, marble staircases, and other beautiful props for pictures.

↑ avimom ↓

Tue, Dec 14 2010, 10:28 pm

I'll look into the winter garden- sounds just like what I'm looking for, thanks!

↑ micki

Tue, Dec 14 2010, 10:52 pm

I set it all up facing a huge window we have. so I didn't have to use flash.
but I did take some with, and some without.

↑ Simple1

Tue, Dec 14 2010, 10:56 pm

avimom wrote:

Now that I think of it, it depends on your camera and experience level. I don't know if you have the option to set shutter speed but it has to be reasonably high. (like at least 1/100 sec.) and hold a it steady. Otherwise you need a tripod.

If you can't do the above, you're better off using flash otherwise you will get blurry pictures.

seeker

Tue, Dec 14 2010, 11:29 pm

I was also thinking Winter Garden; also wouldn't the botanical garden have some indoor greenhouses or something with lots of natural light but indoors?

↑ avimom ↓

Wed, Dec 15 2010, 12:34 pm

I will look at my camera to check if I can set shutter speed, otherwise I will use flash.
Botanical gardens has an indoor part but you're not allowed to touch the flowers there so it's difficult to take pics. Also, it's mostly a desert or rain forest area...

centurion

Wed, Dec 15 2010, 9:14 pm

My first thought was winter gardens as well. Other places could include areas where your kid can have fun and the background will tell that story. such as fao schwartz. you can take pictures surrounded by dozens of shleich teddy bears, other stuffed animals, toy trains, etc. or try the brookly children's museum- some bright and fun scenery.

↑ avimom

Wed, Dec 15 2010, 9:41 pm

I was thinking about the childrens museum. I was wondering if it would be hard though to pose him with so many other children running around...