baby portrait in bnw

[wal]

I would like to ask about the lightings and shadows. I hope i didn't over do it. I mean the hi mid and low tones.

secondly about the pose. I tried taking the shot at his side, away from the normal front, does it work like this.?



Shutter Speed 1/200
Aperture Value 3.5
ISO Speed 100
flash on

[munsy07]

I think the photo is great. Ive tried getting photos on the side as i think it gives a totally different view and often very cute. The white light in the top left and the frill on his singlet are a little distracting and takes the focus off his face.

[MSidPhoto]

Good shot, the background is a little darker than neccessary. Try lightening it so it looks better.

[hollyxann]

Adorable shot!
Could use a little more lighting but overall good shot.

[ReflectingGrace]

I think the baby is looking a little too far over. the shot is very dark and the light rectangle in the background is very distracting. I would crop in to the face only and lighten the picture a bit with levels/curves.

[irishmuth]

I'm anxiously awaiting my first child and will definitely be looking for honest critiques on baby pics very soon, so that's what I'll give. (although I'm a newbie so take that into consideration)

I think she's an adorable girl and it's a great shot (wonderfully clear, well exposed, no harsh shadows on her face) - but I don't like the b&w conversion here. For some reason, the overall feeling I get from the picture is somehow sad - such a gritty feel to it that there seems to be an air of desperation. I feel like a baby picture should evoke either a more serene or a more joyful feeling. It's definitely not the darling girl that gives the photo this quality, just the style.

Does that make sense? Does anyone else feel the same way? I'm feeling horribly guilty typing this because I don't want it to seem like I'm critiquing a beautiful little girl.

[wal]

Originally Posted by munsy07

I think the photo is great. Ive tried getting photos on the side as i think it gives a totally different view and often very cute. The white light in the top left and the frill on his singlet are a little distracting and takes the focus off his face.

Originally Posted by ReflectingGrace

I think the baby is looking a little too far over. the shot is very dark and the light rectangle in the background is very distracting. I would crop in to the face only and lighten the picture a bit with levels/curves.

thanks and noted.. yes the rectangle is a distraction...I got caught with it. I did try to crop it out but that'll take out his hands too.. bummer.

Originally Posted by irishmuth

I'm anxiously awaiting my first child and will definitely be looking for honest critiques on baby pics very soon, so that's what I'll give. (although I'm a newbie so take that into consideration)

I think she's an adorable girl and it's a great shot (wonderfully clear, well exposed, no harsh shadows on her face) - but I don't like the b&w conversion here. For some reason, the overall feeling I get from the picture is somehow sad - such a gritty feel to it that there seems to be an air of desperation. I feel like a baby picture should evoke either a more serene or a more joyful feeling. It's definitely not the darling girl that gives the photo this quality, just the style.

Does that make sense? Does anyone else feel the same way? I'm feeling horribly guilty typing this because I don't want it to seem like I'm critiquing a beautiful little girl.

Please dont feel guilty... thanks for the comments, much appreciated. Actually i'm shooting in b&w so as to portray the baby more by eliminating the usually colorfull pictures that we normally see, trying something different. Anyway thank you everyone for the comments, bear in mind i'm still a newbie also, very happy for the feedback comments and oppinions because they are really helping.

[PS*]

Shooting in BW gives a different look than converting to BW. Do you have a similar shot in color you could try to convert to compare the tones and such?

This is just a side note, I am a black and white junkie. Most of the photos of my babies are BW but my mother-in-law wanted color. I would have had a happier mother in law if I had just converted instead of using the in camera conversion that I used to employ. But hey she preferred the walmart portrait studio to my photographs so take it for what its worth.