What am I missing here??

[mechawombat]

So I am the proud father of a newborn baby girl.

I have wanted to dip my toes into the big pool of newborn photographers and here is my opportunity to hone my skills etc etc.
So I have taken only one session with my little princess and I think I got some good shots.
I am shooting with three different cameras to nail a specific look and looking to see which will give me that with lens combo etc.


However......

I have had allegations raised that I am abusing my child through sexualisation for the sake of "ART" from a member of my family.

These are the pictures I posted.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8111/8508385487_29175d98dd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mecha-wombat/8508385487/)
Snuggle pot (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mecha-wombat/8508385487/) by Mecha-Wombat (http://www.flickr.com/people/mecha-wombat/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8509495698_6805353e12_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mecha-wombat/8509495698/)
Zara as Snugglepot (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mecha-wombat/8509495698/) by Mecha-Wombat (http://www.flickr.com/people/mecha-wombat/), on Flickr


So what part am I missing??

Their grievance is that the baby is naked, and she has been forced to pose in this manner.

I am really torn as I am really thinking of taking newborn photos as a second business and have a studio set up but I now feel like I am doing something dirty.
I am a man, these are newborn photos, not boudoir photos and quite frankly and honestly these thought have never even crossed my mind. This is MY BABY GIRL! and now I am second guessing myself.
So if I have missed a point please can someone point it out in the great way AP does cause I am at a loss.

[rookie]

Its your family member who has a problem if they see anything sexual in this shot,I think they need help personally.

[ricktas]

It is them that sees this as sexual. It is their problem, not yours. The human body is a beautiful thing and you are not showing anything that any one of us has not seen before, if someone sees these as sexual then they are the ones with the problem and I would be careful letting that person near my child.

Beautiful photos, congratulations.

[I @ M]

Firstly, congratulations. :th3:

Then, the first image has better colours and contrast as well as ( to me ) a more pleasing angle of view rather than just side on. I would try to lower the levels in the photos though as they appear just a little overly bright, I think that softer lighting with less highlights will portray babies better.

The issues that you are being confronted with re the images totally baffle me. I see nothing here to indicate that the child is being "forced" and in fact, quite the opposite, she looks totally relaxed.
Images of this kind are done on a daily basis to provide parents and family members fond memories of new arrivals. I would not have a clue as to how many babies are born on a daily basis around the world but I would hazard a guess that an extremely large amount of them would be photographed extensively right from the point of delivery through to the first few months of their lives.
Somehow I think that the number of babies being photographed harmlessly in the above manner would far outweigh the people that see that as wrong.
A bit of a moral minority thing ----- :rolleyes:
Besides, your daughter is not nude, she is wearing a hat.
You have to live with the friends or relatives who are causing you some grief at the moment and react accordingly but if it were me in your shoes I am afraid that I would be telling them politely that they need to examine the whole issue in a little more balanced way.

[Analog6]

If anyone sees anything 'sexual' in those beautiful shots of the baby then they are seriously sick. Newborns come naked, it is their natural state. Babies often get into these types of poses quite naturally. It is all a crock, tell them to go boil their head and never leave them alone with your children.

BTW - I like the first one best, with the face in more prominence. Good luck with your new venture.

[Glenda]

Beautiful shots and she certainly doesn't look to be 'forced' in any way, she looks totally relaxed. And, there is certainly nothing sexual about these shots.

[bobt]

Good grief! As others have already said, anyone who sees anything sexual in this is a very disturbed person! It reminds me of the guy in the Psychiatrist's office who was shown a series of ink blots. When asked what they were, the guy said "They are all naked people!". The psychiatrist said "You have some significant problems", to which the guy replied "Me? You're the one showing me all these dirty pictures!" :lol:

Babies in particular are just made to be photographed naked, and they're great shots. Your daughter will cherish them when she's older.

[extraball]

children are certainly sexualised as models these days, however this band-wagon jumping relo needs to re-evaluate their thinking in this case. Great photos as well.

[fotog]

Ignore this person and don't be discouraged from photographing your beautiful daughter. I like the shots but yes slightly less highlights.

[alsocass]

+1 what everyone else said.

Newborn photography is done naked.... everyone loves a cute little baby bum!

Best part of my day is when my 1yo runs around naked outside in the afternoon... love watching that cute butt jiggle as she runs! What a shame that this person turns the innocent stuff into sexual stuff.

[Kym]

Time to disavow 'a member' of your family. Seriously - they have problems.

[geoffsta]

I have seen newborn shots in worse positions than these. Your little princes was in this position most of the time that it was in the womb. So what can be wrong with it.
If they are concerned. Go to Google/images, and type "Newborn photography" Then they might see that it is the norm for this type of thing.

My wife is like your friends. A female friend and I took some images of a co-worker when she was pregnant. And althought she had on a bra and pants, leaving the belly exposed. My wife took it as nudity.
Like you, now I second guess any images I take. As I do not want to offend my wife.

You often wonder how photographers like Brian500au is taken by his friends. Do they class him as a pervert??????

Most of us have a line we do not wish to cross. And most of the time you'll see a thread with (NSFW) were the images are no were near offensive. But to the creater of the image, it's that close to their line, that they second guess themselves.

[mechawombat]

Thanks AP members

You guys and girls ROCK!:D:D:th3::th3::th3:
I am glad I am part of such a supportive community.




Totally agree #1 is better than #2. It is part of finding that combo of lens and camera as I have shot with :nlogo: :clogo: :slogo: only because I have readily available access to these cameras.
But this was not a CC thread :p

[extraball]

It's easy to judge the relative harshly in this thread, but there must be a good reason for developing such a warped viewpoint. It is probably the fear shoved down our throats by, the politically correct, the guardians of sensitivity, and the media. I doubt that this relative finds the photo sexually provocative, so don't go thinking that they can't be trusted around children. Tough one when it's so close to home.

[ScottM]

Another +1 to everything said already.
I admire the shots, and this type of pose in this style is a common thing, not to take anything away from you or the profession. I don't know how people can consider this sexualising a minor. Would it be the same having to change her in a family environment or undress a baby to change a nappy in a mother-baby change room, where possibly another mother might come in too to change her own? (I don't know though if these are single person-lockable, or shared) Or would one have to erect a shield? Things have gone too far, but thankfully it's only a minority who are swayed by such thought and concerns to that sort of level. Men especially will come up against this more often, whoever we are!

She looks very relaxed here and not forced or uncomfortable.

The first one is the best. It'd be nice to see her face just a little lighter in relation to the brightness of her back.
The second one suffers from some conversion problems - the colour looks washed out and much cooler in temp. Her right eye's showing a bit of 'awakeness'. Corrected though, a parent would still love it :)

Good luck on your endeavours! :)

[ricktas]

I would be much more concerned about some of the stuff teenage girls wear when walking around our streets..and although they are not naked, it is highly sexualised. Being naked does not mean sexual, and vise versa!

[AVALANCHE]

Great choice of the maroon background. It reminds me almost of the inside of the womb still and like as if you have recorded a moment she has already experienced.

As for your family member, it's already been said above. Art is subjective, and if they see it as porn, to me that shows a poisoned mind and you really have to wonder if they're the type to cry "sexualisation" at everything chance they can...probably to cover their own perverted agendas. I'd isolate myself from them if that behaviour continued. Don't let one person spoil the chance for many others to see your work. Cheers.

[stevo01]

Totally agree with everything that has been said earlier, nothing wrong with these shots at all, they are fantastic and show the ethereal quality of a newborn baby. Number 1 is the shot for me, number 2 appears a little washed out and could do with some warming up.

[jim]

I can see a hint of "exploitation" here, as the images are vaguely reminiscent of those of Anne Geddes; who uses children almost as props to make the most nauseatingly cute images, and makes a lot of money doing it...

Not that there is necessarily anything wrong with what she does (other than perhaps an offense against good taste) and in your case as you're the father even the charge of exploitation doesn't really stick.

No hint of sexualisation whatever.

Both effective poses, the skin colour in the second is the more natural looking.

[Mathy]

They're gorgeous images and you should be proud of them, love the snappy beanie by the way :D

It's a bit if a sad world we live in when you receive comments such as you did.

People get wound up over images of children, mothers breast feeding in public - the list goes on. The world has far more important issues that need addressing IMHO.

Enjoy taking pictures of your little girl and keep up the good work :th3:, cheers Deb

[Mark L]

I can see a hint of "exploitation" here, as the images are vaguely reminiscent of those of Anne Geddes; who uses children almost as props to make the most nauseatingly cute images, and makes a lot of money doing it...

Not that there is necessarily anything wrong with what she does (other than perhaps an offense against good taste) and in your case as you're the father even the charge of exploitation doesn't really stick.

No hint of sexualisation whatever.



To some degree jim beat me to it.
Does she still do calenders? That's the next Christmas present for your concerned relo.

Enjoy your newborn. Enjoy your photography. Ignore someone's concerns. Personally I wouldn't even discuss it with them. "fair enough" would be be my reply to anything they said on the topic. Then I'd go ahead and do whatever you want to do.
Jeez, why can't we choose our relatives? I wish.

[jim]

Does she still do calenders? That's the next Christmas present for your concerned relo.



Nasty. But funny.

[crazymorton]

Beautiful pictures of a new life. Nothing else matters.

Congrats on your new child.

[bricat]

Nothing wrong at all. People are allowed an opinion but I would not associate with that person. I think that person is called "a PRICK relative" Keep up the good work. I once threatened to apply for the position of brownie leader. Did that cause a bit of a stir!!! There are plenty of female cub leaders. cheers Brian

[WhoDo]

I have had allegations raised that I am abusing my child through sexualisation for the sake of "ART" from a member of my family.
What a crock! People who know me also know that I am passionate about protecting kids from exploitation and sexualisation. Don't even get me started on child "beauty" contests!!! But what you have here is NOTHING like that ... not even the tiniest little bit. There are no "pink bits", no provocative poses and nothing to suggest the child is being "abused" in any way. All I see in these photos is LOVE! Your relo has some serious issues that need addressing, BIG TIME!

I am the father of a girl, now almost 29 years, and I still love photographing her but would NEVER approach that in a sensual or sexualised way. I still see the baby whose nappies I changed and whose hurts I hugged and kissed away, even though she has grown to be quite a beautiful young woman. A good dad will always remember the child, no matter how old they get.

I won't presume to tell you what to do about the relative. Only you can truly know the intent and the issues behind their message. That said, don't let their skewed point of view stop you from showing your pride in your beautiful little girl, or pursuing your venture in photography!

I just love #1, and wish I had a few like that of my little one from 28 or more years ago. I have to settle for the images I can still coax from my memory for that, unfortunately. Copying someone else is a great place to start, until you find a style of your own that resonates with your audience. Good luck with it all and enjoy the coming years with your lovely daughter. Fathers and daughters always seem to have a special bond, and its something that will grow and strengthen throughout your lives. Cherish it. Nurture it. And love every second you get because all too soon she'll be off with her own life and family. Make sure you have plenty of photographic memories for when that happens!

[geoffsta]

mechawombat.
I seriously wonder about some members on here.. :angry0: Saying that your relative is virtually a nut job... I certainly wouldn't say that about my wife, or any member of my family, or close friend.
They simply are uneducated, or have grown up with a certain belief on how things should be. Brought up on a moral standard by either their parents, or by the media during their lifetime.
Look at religion... Many wars are started by such narrow minded people. Each believing they are right.

Just have to show your relative that this is how newborn photography is done. Either through the 100's of newborn photography websites, or as I said earlier, a simply search Google images for "Newborn Photography"
There is no right or wrong here. If you exhaust all avenues, and they still have that frame of thought. So be it. You can't turn an apple into a banana. But still respect them for who they are.

[mechawombat]

Thank you all again.

Sadly reasoning with the accuser is a lost cause. Her loss as she wont be seeing beautiful images or her granddaughter any time soon. Considering she only has 2 grandkids and they are both my children. she misses out totally. Yes thats is right it is the grandmother! My Mother in law. :lol:

Geoffsta showing her others work does not work. Yet my wife's cousin has pictures of her kids in all manners of undress and not a peep.
However the AP members have it right .....SADLY.


I have not shot my little girl for a week, but only because has being to unsettled to shoot.

Again, I am glad I have not missed something! Thanks AP

[geoffsta]

I'll change a line in my text...


From..........
Look at religion... Many wars are started by such narrow minded people. Each believing they are right.

To.......
Look at Mother Inlaws... Many wars are started by such narrow minded people. Each believing they are right.

:lol::lol::lol:

[mechawombat]

I'll change a line in my text...


From..........
Look at religion... Many wars are started by such narrow minded people. Each believing they are right.

To.......
Look at Mother Inlaws... Many wars are started by such narrow minded people. Each believing they are right.

:lol::lol::lol:


So AWESOME!!

[Congo]

Nice photo's of your baby girl Mech as most have already said, just a shame that this sort of photography even needs to be discussed in such a way. stick to your guns, you already know the answer to your own question. next "SOME" people will call ultrasounds 'porno flicks' :eek:

[rellik666]

As someone who is expecting my first in a little less than 2 months. I am so looking forward to being able to put my skills to use in this way. Assuming that I have any time available when I am not asleep or looking after said newborn.

Your images are lovely and something to be cherished in the future. And I can tell you that if anyone said that to me I would be telling them where to go in no uncertain terms. MIL or not!

I am sick of this society where the minority rules and punishes the rest of us for their behaviour.

Is your child safe and loved and cared for? Yes that what else matters.

Keep taking photos you will regret it if you miss out on these precious times.

[Allie]

I have not shot my little girl for a week, but only because has being to unsettled to shoot.




Children grow too quickly, so please do not let someone's uninformed (and being a MIL probably biased) opinion make you miss any more opportunities to record your daughter's life. Congratulations on your daughter's birth and on your photos.

[sunny6teen]

the real abuse will come when you drag those photos out on her 18th birthday.

[scarlet artemis]

I'm a mum of a young daughter and my only regret is that I hadn't learned enough about my camera to get shots like these - they are absolutely beautiful and she looks as if she is sleeping. Please don't let people put you off doing something you like - especially family. There is NOTHING dirty or awful in photos like these - if there was DoCS would onto every newborn photographer out there. Onya for the home studio! That's awesome! You can get newborn hats/blankies/backdrops/baskets etc pretty cheap off Ebay if you type 'photographic props' into the search engine....Rule Of Thirds photography in brisbane is a favorite of mine, and I'd love to take photos like her, she is a cosummate professional and does stuff very similar to this- good job!

[Tikira]

Hi Mechawombat.

I agree with the consensus of opinion here and would like to give an example from my photography. Just over 2 years ago I took remarkably similar photos of a work colleagues new born girl. They were thrilled with the results and 6 months ago asked whether I could take photos of their second child. These 1 metre canvases now hang proudly in their home. I am a middle aged male and there was no hint of any exploitation and I am sure I would not have been asked back for the 2nd photo shoot.

With regards not taking photos please do not let other people's uneducated opinion stop you taking photos of your child. This period in their life is so special and fleeting that you will regret not taking photos. Enjoy it for the special time that it is. You do not have to give your mother-in-law the photos you take, but make sure you have them for your own record.

We have not come across anyone that feels the way she does and have had praise and numerous requests for baby shoots from mothers to be over the past 3 years.


Wayne & Di

[mechawombat]

Thank you all again.

I still hardly shoot her but it is because so many other things just get in the way ATM. Hopefully I can snap her tomorrow as she now has the most cutest little smile.

[kleinpark]

Again, I agree totally with whats already been said. Nothing offensive or sexual in nature in these photos - there's nothing even showing that distinguishes just what sex the baby is . If you wish to make a career out of this type of photography, then I say go for it, as you seem to have a gift in this genre. If your relative thinks that your crossing a line, ask them to write down exactly what they think is so "wrong". Maybe they need some education in just what is acceptable and what ISN'T !!Personally, if it were a member of my family that held those views I wouldn't send them any photos, ever, again. BTW, No 1 for me too

[EB Alex]

Yeah. No offence but said family member is off their rocker if they think this is in any way sexual. I am thinking of a far more confronting set of images which are very famous for containing full frontal nudity of the photographers children to compare it to, unfortunately I can't recall the name right now...

oh, and beautiful work by the way :)

Alex

[Lance B]

Midssed this thread when first posted.

Fantastic shots, really well done and very tasteful! :th3: Nothing sexual about them one bit.

Your relo is way off the planet on this one and is possibly trying to big note him/herself in some way. If your relo's see something sexual in these photos, then it seems that they have an issue that they need to get attended to by medical staff. Also, what's this crap about the baby being "forced to pose in this manner"? Every baby is forced to pose in some way as they have no way of being able to do their own thing.

[mechawombat]

Well she had her first Cosplay shoot with Mummy and Daddy today.

It was a hurried one but more a test shoot.