Family Portrait... Too Dark?

[Peapod Photo]

Hi everyone! I took this pic of my cousins and their baby on the weekend. I generally like it, but do you think it's a bit... dark? It's not a very specific question I guess, but it feels like... something's missing?



Taken with Canon EOS 60D, on manual setting
Shutter speed: 200
Aperture: f/4
ISO: 500

Thanks for any tips! :-)

P.S. Oops! I just noticed someone else had a thread with the same title! LOL, sorry!

[zona5101]

i think the dark is ok in some areas but where it misses the mark is the eyes and the deep shadows on the face. the sockets are dark and there are no catchlights to give the sparkle...
A reflector or a flash would solve the issue

[MrJones]

overall it's not too dark, actually quite great. the problem is the eyes are coming off too dark.
I would use photoshop or other post processing software to brighten up the eyes in the general and the baby eyes specifically.
other than that, it's a shame you croped out the baby left side of the face, it doesn't feel right.

[courtney23cy]

I tend to have the same problem with the shadows quite often... I guess I need to learn how to use those reflectors I bought. Sweet picture though, I love the emotion you captured.