At the park

[EllaElla]

First time shooting my daughter. Took many nice shots, but these two seem to keep my attention. Please c&c! I'm new and want all the help I can get.

 

[DiskoJoe]

Watch your framing more. #1 one is a bit off center and you clipped her hand in #2

 

[EllaElla]

Thank you! I was wondering about the first shot. I knew it wasn't centered. I was think of that "rule of the thirds"...or whatever it's called. But I suppose this is more of a portrait? So maybe centered would be best?

The second shot...I kept trying to get a better shot. This was he best I came out with. Might try this same shot again, but try to capture her whole body from head to toe. Thanks again!

 

[irfan.in.tx]

Especially on the first and to some degree on the second, the face is in shadow. The use of a flash (maybe even the built-in) as a fill-in light for the face would have been good.

 

[tirediron]

Definitely agree that fill light would have really helped, especially in #1 where you have the sun providing a really great rimlight on her hair. I see nothing wrong with her positioning in the frame in #1, EXCEPT that there is empty space over her head which adds little, and you barely missed having a tree growing out of her head (and I'm guessing that was just pure luck?). In #2, you definitely needed more at the bottom, but they're both a good start.

 

[EllaElla]

I haven't ventured into lighting yet. Can anyone suggest a decent entry level light? I'm only shooting with a D3100.

 

[IByte]

I haven't ventured into lighting yet. Can anyone suggest a decent entry level light? I'm only shooting with a D3100.

Your pop up flash will do if you don't have anything else. I would look into a used sb-700.