Another Pic of my daughter, ready for the C&C

TreeofLifeStairs · Sep 23, 2014

Let me know your thoughts on this. I chose not to take the time to set up my flash, so this is natural light. I posed her as much as I could a 4 year old. I spent 30 mins or so in post trying to get rid of the fly aways. I also used a little dodge around her left eye where it looked a little dark, and enhanced her blue eyes a little.

Let me know what you think of the lighting, color tones, composition, and any other feedback you can think of.

TreeofLifeStairs · Sep 23, 2014

I think the color space was off on the first one.

Designer · Sep 23, 2014

Your little model is doing quite well. This might be a good time to ask her mother to attend to the fly-away hairs.

As for the composition in general, your choice of background is not the best.

Lighting seems fine for an informal portrait.

Your crop on the top is quite close. Meaning that if you print this for framing, there won't be enough room above her head.

TreeofLifeStairs · Sep 23, 2014

Her hair is so fine, it's always had that problem.

I've been looking for a spot that works as a better background. For now this seems to work the best. I'll pull her further away next time to increase the bokeh and maybe stop down.

The framing over the head is something I need to work on. I've run into the headroom issue in the past. Nothing is clipped in the shot so I think I'm fine but I forget about when it comes time to make prints.

snerd · Sep 23, 2014

I know you said you didn't set up the flash, but I think a little fill flash would have made this a really good pic!

Jacaranda_wifey · Sep 23, 2014

TreeofLifeStairs said:
Her hair is so fine, it's always had that problem.

I've been looking for a spot that works as a better background. For now this seems to work the best. I'll pull her further away next time to increase the bokeh and maybe stop down.

The framing over the head is something I need to work on. I've run into the headroom issue in the past. Nothing is clipped in the shot so I think I'm fine but I forget about when it comes time to make prints.

I like the picture, but I agree it may be cropped a little tight for framing - you may want to try one of these two options to tame her fly aways - 1) use an old toothbrush and some hairspray - spray the toothbrush with the hairspray and brush the hair the way you want it to lay,,,,,,,,,,2) use some clear mascara and brush the hairs into place.

by the way she's adorable

TreeofLifeStairs · Sep 23, 2014

That sounds ingenious. I'll give it a shot.

What part of Orange County are you in? We lived in Mission Viejo for 10 years before moving to the Bay Area.

D-B-J · Sep 24, 2014

snerd said:
I know you said you didn't set up the flash, but I think a little fill flash would have made this a really good pic!

I'm going to agree with snerd here--her face really needs a bit of fill light. And the edit looks spot on: the OP was rather green/yellow in color.

Jake

paigew · Sep 24, 2014

adorable

But yes I agree, you need more light. Since you are outside and it is obviously bright out I will not say to use flash, but rather position her differently to allow for better light on her face. Also if you could have pulled her farther away from the trees you would get better DOF and bokeh in the background.

As far as posing goes. Ask her to move a little. "Hands on your hips, okay now wiggle your skirt...awesome now look at me and smile! Okay now silly face, now pretty princess smile

"

Garasaki · Sep 24, 2014

I feel like the lighting was awkward, in so much as it's too bright for dramatic shadows but there is half of her face that is noticably dark. I guess what I'm saying is that it seems like you didn't use the light to dilibertly (wow I can't spell) create an effect, you just shot with what you got.

I found the framing to be uninspiring, meaning the picture left me no clues as to what the dramatic subject was. Part of the issue might be that I had to scroll down to see the whole image. However, my eye floats around on this composition and can't quite figure out what it's supposed to look at. The subject is darn cute, but there's really vibrant blue dress down at the opposite end of the picture that draws my eye, and then the shimmery #4 is there too. In fact, the 4 is where my eye ends up staying the longest.

When evaluating your framing, a neat pose for this outfit came to mind. Instead of having the blue dress compete with her face, try to get her posed so the dress compliments her face. Laying on her stomache maybe, with the blue portion of the dress visible behind her head, or somehow getting a top down picture of her twirling with the dress (so the blue flies out to surround her face).

Garasaki · Sep 24, 2014

I was browsing through another thread ("post your favorite horizontal portraits"). I came across a picture by MMaria (or similar name), page 10 I think.

Post your favorite horizontal orientation portraits | Photography Forum

When I saw this picture, I was reminded of your thread and my comments. This is an excellent illustration of how the picture composition and framing leaves no doubt as to where the viewer is supposed to look, or what the primary subject of the scene is. There is no ambiguity. Nothing competes with the eye's of the young lady.

http://soundsofshutter.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/doubt-Large.jpg