My first portrait

[Veroo]

Hi I am new here and I got my new camera last week (Pentax K-x). I took this picture of my daugter and I would like you to help me to improve taking portraits. Please give me some tips for good lighting - I think that might be my bigest problem at the moment. Let me know what you think of this picture. Thank you muchly!!!

[Ant1]

May be good to set a light from behind your daughter, i'm not all good with lighting myself so that's something i would do haha.
I like this, only thing is that teddy, keeps taking my eye away, maybe blurring that could help? Change the aperture maybe.

[Veroo]

Thank you very much! I will do that .

[kristenh]

one newbie to another newbie- my best advice is to take her outside. take your photos on a cloudy day or in light, consistent, shade- so you have plenty of nice soft light, don't need to worry about weird shadows, and can use a pretty fast shutter speed so she doesn't move and blur. or place her right near a big window that's bright but w/o direct sunlight. open your aperture wide and possibly bump up your ISO (indoors by the window, that is) and she'll look so much softer and nicer.

looks like you used a flash here, judging by the shadow behind her shoulder, and it is really easy to wash a baby out and get ugly shadows when you use a flash. especially when you are close in like this.

also, a couple things that make portraits look really great- catching some light in her eyes-try to entice her to look up a bit or have some lighting coming from behind the camera. it makes a big difference. also, i know you didn't ask about this- but unless its a head and shoulders shot- try not to cut off her hands. looks odd, plus baby hands are so cute

its a nice first try, though- looks like you were good about moving in close and avoiding distractions in the background.

[Veroo]

Wow, thank you very much for your time and great advice! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[windrider86]

Please take a peek at the guidelines for information you're missing in your post. It helps a great deal to know certain information. Such as your exif information. Knowing your camera settings can play a HUGE part in offering you a good critique. Let me know if you need help finding it.