Someone in my parenting forum asked about this. I personally did not use the flash if at all possible. Moreover, the new breed of digital cameras can take very good photos even in dim lights. For example, a room with flourescent is good enough for taking photos if the camera is adjusted to it’s P mode. If the P mode doesn’t give satisfactory shots, then, I adjust them to the night mode.
This photo is a pic of my fifth baby who was brought out of the operating theatre to the nursery. He was barely minutes old then. We had been taking photos of him from birth until today. He must have thousands of shots by now. 
Back to the question, I was forbade by the doctor to use camera flash for my premature baby (my fourth son). Throughout his seven months (he passed away after that), we did not once use a single flash because the doctor said it is not good for his premature eyes.
But I found this little mention on the NHS (an official site by the National Health Service of UK) which is more comforting :
However small your baby is, he will be perfectly formed with eyelashes and fingernails and will be able to respond to light, sound and touch. He will know your voices, particularly his mother’s and you can help him by talking to him, stroking him and holding his hand, even if he cannot leave the incubator.
There is a camera on NICU and a photo is taken when he is admitted to the Unit for you to keep. You are welcome to bring a camera/camcorder to take photos of your baby. Normal flash lights are not harmful to newborn babies.
In conclusion :
- There is no immediate need to flash upon your baby because flash lights can be very frightening, isn’t it? You may cause a phobia of the camera on your little baby if you do it too often.
- Use natural lighting, daytime is when the child is most active.
- Do it when your child is sleeping or turned away. Never direct into the eyes.
- It probably will not cause any harm but why subject our child to the risk.
- Learn how to use the camera by reading the manual. They usually come in few easy steps.
One of the mistakes people did is the desire to use the flash simply because it is there and not because it is necessary. I was at the lantern festival the other day and so many people were using their flash lights to take the lighted lanterns photos, causing the whole thing to lost its magical beauty. Flash lights can cause stark, harsh, plain looking photos when not use correctly.
One can adjust the aperture, shutter speed, ISO for taking night photography but any amateur photographers can get good shots just using the pre-programmed modes that come with the camera. All the three photos above are taken 3 years ago with my very old, 1.3MP Canon Powershot A10. Good pics, eh?
Anyway, I will attempt to get a written explanation from my optometrist about this issue.
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Daniel
August 16, 2007 at 8:01 pm
I was very sorry to hear your story regarding the loss of your 4th son. May i ask why he passed away?.. the cause?.. was it due to the premature nature of his birth?
I’ve just become the proud father of my first son, so wondered about your loss.
Thanks, daniel.
Trevor Cluckey
December 24, 2009 at 1:03 am
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