I need help! Taking photo for xmas card!

[SaraJane]

So I'm trying to take a photo of my daughter for a christmas card. I don't have any lighting equipment. I am using the light coming in from my front door. I'm having trouble getting the images sharp enough bc she doesn't keep still! LOL.

This is my best pic so far but I'm not happy with it. I don't really even know what's wrong with it but it's something about her face. Maybe I just want it sharper. I will try again tomorrow so some suggestions on how to improve would be GREAT!!



Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/3.8
Focal Length: 22 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

[SaraJane]

anyone????

[ahickman]

I am very new, but here is my opinion:

She is DARLING! She looks like a little Christmas fairy

At first, what distracts me is the shadow on her face. Is there a desk lamp of some sort that you can put on the other side of her? The light from the door is excellent.

Maybe try taking the shot from a different angle? Does she have a favorite sound that you can make while shooting that will get her to laugh? My daughter loves it when we act like total fools for her :P

Like I said, I am pretty new so I hope this helps....

[mandyatm]

It is an adorable picture! You could try setting up a reflector on the other side of her face to reduce the shadow, or have her turn her head toward the light by having someone distract her or moving yourself to a 45 degree angle to her. If you have Photoshop or another editing program, you could lighten the shadow on just that side. That is the only thing I notice that distracts me.
I think the sharpness is fine on my monitor, but the reason some of them might not be sharp is because your shutter speed is 1/15sec. That is too slow for capturing little ones that don't sit very still! It needs to be closer to 1/100 or 1/125. Your ISO is already a little high, so could you just move her close to the light source?

[irishmuth]

I think it's really good, but I did go ahead and take a stab a shadows adjustment in Photoshop:

[PhotoPhix]

Originally Posted by SaraJane

So I'm trying to take a photo of my daughter for a christmas card. I don't have any lighting equipment. I am using the light coming in from my front door. I'm having trouble getting the images sharp enough bc she doesn't keep still! LOL.

This is my best pic so far but I'm not happy with it. I don't really even know what's wrong with it but it's something about her face. Maybe I just want it sharper. I will try again tomorrow so some suggestions on how to improve would be GREAT!!



Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/3.8
Focal Length: 22 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Great shot and the baby is cute as a button.

The right side of the face and arm are overexposed. Here is a quick edit using PS CS$

Armando

[SaraJane]

Thanks guys. That's it, the shadow is bugging me. Will try to get rid of it next time!! Thanks for the suggestions!!

I did have other poses and some ones with her smiling but when she was laughing she was waving her arms, lol, so it was blurry!! Bugger. If I use a faster shutter speed it ends up too dark????

[fbroschart]

Maybe give her something to hold, some Xmas tinsel, a plastic ornament or candy cane. It could add to the shot and keep her hands busy with less waving. She is just adorable and I'm sure she'll make a great xmas card.

[SaraJane]

Took some more today:

[PhotogChic]

Looks like you had a bit of success today! The first and last are my favorites! Her left side still looks overexposed and her right side is still underexposed but just slightly. Is there a way you can decreased the harshness of the light falling on her left side and using your flash to illuminate her face and left side?