Beginner, a few photos for C&C,

[mc1979]

Ok, so here's some of my practicing, don't worry these are my kids..LOL, tell me where I could improve,composition? I'm a beginner, learning my camera and playing around with Gimp.
thanks for looking. Oh and btw, I know the first pic has the yellow tones, I tried fixing this, just never could get it right. my kids teeth look yellow! lol

1.

leahandjay by mchatham79, on Flickr

2.

leahandjay2 by mchatham79, on Flickr

3.

0091 by mchatham79, on Flickr

 

[480sparky67 66]

1 & 2 are cropped too tight... you're lopping off ears & noggins. The girl is forcing her smile and it shows. In #3, he needs to tilt his head up more.

Yellow tint is an easy fix.

 

[mc1979]

that's my problem, these weren't cropped in PP, just getting too close to them? and as far as the forced smile, no..that's her smile..LOL

 

[mc1979]

oh, and would you care to share how you removed the yellowish tent..forgive me, I'm a newbie

 

[480sparky67 66]

Too close for the lens, at least. Try just backing up or zooming out a bit. It would really help #2 because it would show more of his left arm and maybe her right arm.

 

[MissCee]

As 480sparky has said, I think you just need to 'step back' whether by zooming out or by literally stepping back.
Also, in photo 3. your son should have just tilted his head up a few fractions more.
I do agree with 480spark though, in that your daughters smile seems forced. Other than that they both seem really at ease and the poses are great.
You have gorgeous kids. HTH

 

[mc1979]

Thanks for the input, I will try and watch this from now on, I know that it is one of my biggest faults! I think I get so wrapped up in getting a good focus on the face I tend to think I have to get right up close. I wonder , is this a common mistake with beginners?
MissCee, thanks for the compliment! My son has really amazingly blue eyes, in some pics I capture them, in some I don't..such as #3..you can't really tell, and I guess that's where tilting his head up would have come in better!