1 year old with double ear infection

[Speedykiki]

I took some photos of a friend of a friend's one year old a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, she had double ear infection (although we didn't realize it at the time.) She cried 90% of the session because she just didn't feel good. Of course with the crying comes drooling and runny nose. SO - lots of editing.

I would like some feedback on the black and white as well as composition. I would also like to know what people's thoughts are on the edits - removing the drool, runny nose, etc.

Nikon D90
F/2.2
ISO 250
1/3200

[Karenas]

Not a photography expert by any means, but I AM a mom--and, as a mom, if you presented me with that photo I would love you until forever! LOL

[thecharmed01]

As a mummy and someone who does a lot of baby/toddler photography, I think it's up to the person, but I always remove drool, any stray food marks, snot, boogers and anything else that's generally untoward - like when infants scratch themselves.... I will always remove those too. Parents usually don't like to think of their kids hurting.. so injuries are often best left out - unless they want it in. Those I often ask about whether the parent would like me to look after any obvious bruises/black eyes (yes I do a lot of toddlers and kids learning to walk/run/climb haha)
Unless it's part of the particular photo in which case it stays - like a messy eating image, or an amusing drooling shot...
I never remove birthmarks, beauty spots, freckles or anything that's part of the childs personality unless asked very specifically.

My reasoning is that as a Mummy, we spend half our days wiping noses and chins and we do our best to keep our kids presentable in public - and we don't always manage it.
But we always like to think our kids are as gorgeous as we know they are.
So I've found that when Mums see their kids portrayed as perfect angels, they just melt over them!
We know very well they aren't always such angels, but we definitely like to preserve the angelic side of them!

I think the photo you have there is just gorgeous, she looks adorable with her little scrunched expression!!!!
I like the soft B&W look too. I personally like to keep a very soft feel to infant photo's as it goes with the way babies are. They just are soft, and smell wonderful... so making photo's of them harsh doesn't always fit them so well.
Well done!

[irishmuth]

I never would have guessed you edited out the drool and runny nose. nice job!

[Gary Norman]

adorable. good job.

[sulaiman]

Nice Job ,
Thanks

[acripps]

I agree with the above comments... I wouldn't have thought there ever was drool or snot in the photo to begin with, you did a great job editing. I also like the baby's expression and the soft feel to the photo.

[tycooder]

Beautiful work

[edbayani]

this is photoshop! a retouched photo without looking like it was photoshoped.

[MrJones]

maybe it's just me but I think it's underexposed and has too many shades of gray but no whites and blacks for a B&W photo.
I brightened it a bit and added a lot of contrast. hope you don't mind, here is the result: