Need advice SOON!!

[pixel_this7]

Hey ya'll!! I am doing a shoot of my neice tomarrow night, and just wondering how I could improve/ideas/settings all that stuff. I just want to keep growing a get better shots! There are pics I did of her once before on flickr already, it was challenging to photograph a 10 month ALL alone!!! Any advice welcome, be warned though I think my neice is the cutest ever!!

Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 47 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: -2/3 EV
Flash: Flash fired, red-eye reduction


This is my favorite I did a couple weeks ago:

[Nicole]

Really, I think that is a great shot. I couldn't make any suggestions at all. You got the lighting really well, she's in good focus, the background is great because it's just plain black and not distracting, all in all, well done. Not helpful though if you're looking for ways to improve

[JJthethird]

Looking at your shot I dont think that you have too much to worry about. Good luck and hope to see some of the results soon.

John.

[jiminyClickit]

pixel_this7, Welcome

There's wisdom in those eyes, she is a fine model. An aspect of color that you might try to avoid is with contrast about to be too high, as on forehead where the pink begins to go to orange. In composition, too, subjects too close (top of head) or touching the side of frame, not as good as more space or crop into subject. Minor things, but you'll notice them as you critique others' photos.

[Saralonde]

Did you check the portrait section of the DPS blog (at the top of this page)?

[Tiberius]

A couple of general tips...

Keep the camera in aperture priority mode and use a wide aperture. This will give a nicely out of focus background.

Never use direct flash. Always bounce the flash off the ceiling or wall. But make sure the wall is a neutral colour, or you can get a coloured light over the subject. You can also get someone to hold a reflector and bounce the flash off that.

Keep down at her eye level.