9 month old Ella. C&C loved & appreciated!

[rachelrach11]

I took these in two separate areas. I'm noticing her skin looks a bit lighter in #2. #1 was in complete shade.

 

[jwbryson1]

I like both of them. Will you hear "rule of thirds" on this? I dunno, but I don't think it matters. The second is a bit bright for my taste.

 

[JAC526]

I am not a stickler for RoT or for shooting portraits in landscape orientation. However, in this case I don't really see the value of shooting these in landscape format.

 

[rachelrach11]

I like both of them. Will you hear "rule of thirds" on this? I dunno, but I don't think it matters. The second is a bit bright for my taste.

Thanks so much! I wanted to change up the lighting a bit with #2. I agree with you about the brightness.

 

[The_Traveler]

these might be good but the reality is that the baby is so small in the picture that one can't really see color, detail, etc.

Please post larger images, there is no additional cost

 

[rachelrach11]

I am not a stickler for RoT or for shooting portraits in landscape orientation. However, in this case I don't really see the value of shooting these in landscape format.

Up until this point I have shot using only natural light but I am excited to say that I am in the process of purchasing my first speedlight/stobe.

I see myself being more comfortable with studio type portraits when I have adequate lighting without having to rearrange my entire living room

 

[frommrstomommy]

I really like #2! I like bright pictures though.. my baby always looks like casper.. BUT HE IS! lol #1 is really cute, but she's so serious.. and her one leg looks awkward? I am pretty sure I know what the leg is doing.. but it looks strange.

 

[The_Traveler]

And not only is the baby small, she is also a little blue and cold.

 

[rachelrach11]

Better?

 

[Hickeydog]

#2 still looks way too cold.

 

[kathyt]

Your posing and focus looks great. Are you using LR or PS for editing?

 

[rachelrach11]

Your posing and focus looks great. Are you using LR or PS for editing?

Thanks ! I'm using PS elements 9. I didn't actually "prefer" this software, it was including in a program set that my husband purchased.

I can't complain though. Elements is the only editing software that I've used up until this point and I've learned a lot from it

 

[kathyt]

Your posing and focus looks great. Are you using LR or PS for editing?

Thanks ! I'm using PS elements 9. I didn't actually "prefer" this software, it was including in a program set that my husband purchased.

I can't complain though. Elements is the only editing software that I've used up until this point and I've learned a lot from it

Does it have the eye dropper tool so you can check your CMYK values? I can't remember how I worked on skin tones in Elements when I first started editing. Anyways, I will say this until I am blue in the face, if you learn how to check your skin tones now your life will soon get much easier, and you will start to get consistent results each time you edit.
The Info Palette: Editing skintones in Photoshop Elements

 

[The_Traveler]

The advantage of looking at the full size images is that you get to pick out little problems with technique that will be magnified and obvious in any big print.
Images like these can be a little soft, but the softness has to be coherent throughout, that's the charm.
If the image goes from sharp to soft, and the sharpness is in the wrong place - it will look 'off.'

In the full res clips below, you can see that focus is back near the ears, the hair and parts of the headdress are needle sharp while the eyes are out of focus in comparison and the arm is practically gauzy

If anything is sharp, it should be the eyes.
Note the loss of texture in some of the highlights