Critique Requested - first post!

[blissful74]

I did my first photoshoot this past weekend for a friend who did not get any good photos of her two-year old daughter at the big box photo studio. I set up a little studio in her living room with a off-white shower curtain about 3 feet in the background, large window on camera-left and sliding glass door on camera right on the other side of the room. I had had someone holding a reflector, but I think they took off before this particular set...(note to self: need reflector stand ) Camera was facing west at about 9:30am. I don't have the EXIF on me at the moment, but I can post back later. A 50mm F1.7 lens was used probably at F5.6. Things I do know: subject should be further away from backdrop, reflector would have been helpful as well as a smiling subject, but this was as good as this two-year old was going to give me before she took off! Also, the posted photo is 'finished'... I currently use Picnik. A big swath of hair was cloned off of her left eye, skin smoothed and eyes brightened and I gave the shadowed side of her face a good dodging to even things out. My friend also requested a heavy vignette in the final, but I won't post that here because I know most photogs are not big fans of it. Anyway, what I'm after is honest thoughts on final image as well as any tips for improvement of technicals and tips on working with kids. My goal is to sustain a living doing maternity, infant, baby and childrens natural light portraits.
Thanks ever so much!!
Sharee

Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/1.7 (guess I lied on that one!)
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE
Metering Mode: Spot
Light Source: Shade
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: High
Sharpness: Normal
AFArea: Local
Local AFArea Point: Center
Dynamic Range Optimizer: Off
Image Stabilization: On
Lens Type: Minolta AF 50mm F1.7
Color Mode: Portrait

[SusanH1970]

The post processing is a bit overdone for my taste. The colors are over saturated, her skin looks a little plastic, and her eyes look fake. If you use a lighter hand, this could be a really cute portrait.

By the way, you can get your EXIF from the photo's Flickr page - over on the right, click on where it says "More properties", then you can copy and paste it from there.

[blissful74]

Yep, I suspected my rookie mistake was overworking the face! lol anyway, thanks for the quick reply and the Flickr tip for EXIF. Perhaps I should not have brightened the hair, huh? Saturated in general, the hair, or just the clothes?
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/1.7 (guess I lied on that one!)
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE
Metering Mode: Spot
Light Source: Shade
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: High
Sharpness: Normal
AFArea: Local
Local AFArea Point: Center
Dynamic Range Optimizer: Off
Image Stabilization: On
Lens Type: Minolta AF 50mm F1.7
Color Mode: Portrait

[SusanH1970]

You're welcome.

I meant oversaturated in general. Her clothes are very bright, but if you take a close look at her skin, her nose is bright orange and her cheeks are very red. The whole image is just a little too vibrant. Like I said, if you tone it down, I think it could be really sweet!

ETA: Looking at it again, it also seems a little underexposed. I hope you don't mind, I had a super quick play. Let me know if you want me to take it down.

[autofocus]

It's definitely warmly saturated...could it have been less..? Sure, but I kind of like the warmth of it, but it may not be for everybody's taste. What is most important, does your client like it...I'll bet she will. Cute shot, BTW.

[blissful74]

Susan, I totally get what you're saying now that I went in and toned down the saturation and temp.

[SusanH1970]

The color looks better in your second edit. I think I was editing my last post the same time you were posting...did you see my play? Like I said, I'll take it right down if you'd prefer I didn't take the liberty.

[blissful74]

too funny! I do like your rework better, though.. it is a bit more exposed and I guess I have a hard time letting go of the over-warmth and overblowing the lighter side. No need to take it down.. I'm not done looking at the differences Thanks for taking the time to help me improve!

[SusanH1970]

Thanks for being so gracious and not taking my critique the wrong way! Happy to help, and you're off to a great start!

[cherrygirl]

Great advice Susan...love your edit...what a difference a good edit can make!