Why this picture can't be called "professional"

[OlyaGolyk]

Hi everybody,

I am new to photography and don't know yet what are the correct questions to ask about pictures. So let me please to ask sim ply - Why this picture can't be called "professional"?

[NgaiHill]

Seems an odd question to be asking in critique. Have you read the critique forum rules? That would give you some idea of what sort of question you might like to ask. If you are new to photography you could ask about composition, lighting, post-processing etc. Ask for suggestions on how to improve the photo in any way.

For me the simple answer to your question "Why this picture can't be called professional?" would be - did you make any money off of it? I don't think any one photo can be defined as professional. Generally a professional is someone who makes a significant proportion of their income from photography. However even a professional photographer can take snapshots, that they might not necessarily consider part of their professional portfolio. Likewise an "amateur" photographer can take a "professional-quality" photo. Maybe they sell it, maybe they don't.

I am curious as to why you have asked this question about this particular photo.

[jdepould]

The first thing that jumps out at me is the lighting. You need more fill, and a darker overall exposure.

[BigFuzzy]

First, I'd like to mirror what was said and ask that you include the requested info from the Critique Rules. It'll help us help you. I would particularly like to know the EXIF data..we could give you a ton more useful advice had you provided that.

If you sell it, it can be called professional. But what I think you're asking about is Quality and that's an entirely different issue. Here are the things I would say keep this from being a professional quality image as I see it.

First, and most importantly is the exposure. It's simply shot at the worst possible time of the day which created all those harsh highlights and shadows. Shooting at this time of day also washes out all the color from the image which also doesn't help. As noted, some fill-flash would really have helped. But I think the time of the day is most relevant. Look into the "golden hour" and open shade if you don't know about them already.

Because of the angle of the sun and her/his hat, the baby has very little light in his/her eyes/face.

The horizon isn't straight either. I don't care as much as many about this, but it is noticeable.

I think the composition doesn't help either. There is too much space around the adorable baby that is of no interest (to me). Maybe having shot it in portrait mode would have helped...unless you felt all those chairs and trees were really relevant?

The male's (father?) pose also feels a bit awkward and forced. It feels as if you caught him in the middle of doing something like scratching the back of his ear. Something more natural looking/feeling might have helped like him also looking at camera or looking at the baby.

Despite all that I've said, and yeah I realize it's very negative, (but you did ask) in the end, this feels like a snap-shot of a very nice moment that would work great for the family vacation album.. but, to me, it's not much more than that for the reasons I noted above.

Please take these admittedly negative comments and use them constructively seeing as most of what I said is easily worked on and you'd see an improvement almost immediately.

[OlyaGolyk]

I haven't try to sell my photos yet. I am just learning and want to make my family NICE album. This is a picture of my son and husband that's why I asked about this one.

Thanks for your feedback.

Originally Posted by NgaiHill

Seems an odd question to be asking in critique. Have you read the critique forum rules? That would give you some idea of what sort of question you might like to ask. If you are new to photography you could ask about composition, lighting, post-processing etc. Ask for suggestions on how to improve the photo in any way.

For me the simple answer to your question "Why this picture can't be called professional?" would be - did you make any money off of it? I don't think any one photo can be defined as professional. Generally a professional is someone who makes a significant proportion of their income from photography. However even a professional photographer can take snapshots, that they might not necessarily consider part of their professional portfolio. Likewise an "amateur" photographer can take a "professional-quality" photo. Maybe they sell it, maybe they don't.

I am curious as to why you have asked this question about this particular photo.

[gturner]

Why does it worry you so much about the tag "professional".

Fuzz laid it out pretty well. You have a good snap shot, not a well constructed pro quality image.
(yes, there are "pros" who deliver a lower quality)