Feeling a little more positive about these

[AMOMENT]

Thanks for the CC on the last two photos. I was sure my focus was pretty bad. I know I still need tos of improvement but I am relly trying to apply all the advice everyone gives me. Here are a few more using some of your suggestions. (they are of my daughter, as I mentioned in the other post, but she was who was around at the time.)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

 

[MTVision]

What color was that sheet (or whatever is behind her)? It looks like your white balance is a little off. If the sheet was white - in camera raw there is a little eyedropper tool - if you use that tool and click on the sheet it will warm it up considerably. You can always tweak it afterwards. I'd show you what I mean but you have your profile set to not allow edits!

You are improving though!

 

[AMOMENT]

thanks!! I'm going to change my profile so you can do that!

 

[MTVision]

All I did was change the white balance and played with exposure/brightness. Its a little overexposed. The highlights on the bow and her outfit are blown. Did you need the flash? Was it dark outside? Even with the toilet paper you can still see the flash on her cheeks.

 

[Steve01]

Wow what a cute little girl, anyway, figure out a way to eliminate the shadow would be my suggestion.

 

[AMOMENT]

okay. I'm trying to work on one thing at a time because everyone on here said to battle one thing first though, inevitably they are intersecting.

 

[MTVision]

You can do a better job on white balance than I can since you have the RAW files. Try not to blow out too many highlights in camera or when you raise exposure in an editing program. In elements camera raw - if you hold down the alt while playing with the exposure slider will help you so you don't blow out the highlights. The image will turn black and once highlights start losing detail - red spots will show up. Also, in the top right corner where the histogram is there are two triangles in the top corners. Click on those and they will turn the blown highlights red and the loss of shadow detail blue.

 

[LightSpeed]

Number 3 is the clear winner. Why?

Color is off slightly but not beyond repair by any means.
Focus? Looks good to me.

But its the best one for another reason.
Someone tell me why.

 

[MTVision]

Number 3 is the clear winner. Why?

Color is off slightly but not beyond repair by any means.
Focus? Looks good to me.

But its the best one for another reason.
Someone tell me why.

Composition?

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

But its the best one for another reason.
Someone tell me why.

The subject isn't clipped from being too close.

 

[LightSpeed]

Composition?

Bingo.

EXACTLY.
I doubt she even knows she accomplished it.

Look at that image closely.
Rule of thirds is all over it.
And yes this can be applied to these types of images.........at times.
This was one of those times.

Look at the childs right eye and where it falls in the image.
Right on a 1/3 power point.

Now look at the teddy bear

 

[LightSpeed]

The subject isn't clipped from being too close.

And THAT TOO.
Good call.

 

[Derrel]

to AMOMENT, the OP: You know, on these types of photos, it doesn't make a lot of sense for the mom-photographer or the dad- or grandma-photographer to try and select the "best" shot...because these are family photos...photos of somebody's darling daughter, dear grandchild, or favorite little niece...whatever...each photo of a toddler at this age and stage of development is a wonderful thing to have, to keep, and to pass along for the future. I do not think that #3 is really "the best" shot...numbers 1,4,and also 5 are pretty good for what these are, which is "family shots" of a dear little daughter...

In general, I think you need to be aware of leaving more room for the child to "look into". That's the biggest flaw I see, along with poses that are shall we say "free form". But who cares, really....the important thing is expression, then focus, then lighting, then set design...in more or less that order. You're getting better. This is a lifetime activity. Not sure when you took up photography, but it cannot be mastered in anything less than years. If you keep shooting with this much effort and frequency, by the time she's ready for first grade, you'll be well on your way to a MWAC side bid-ness!!!! Keep shootin!

 

[LightSpeed]

No disrespect to Derrel, but 1, 2,, 4 and 5 are clipped.
As pointed out by another good photographer.
The composition in 3 is by far the best. In my opinion.
I don't do portraits or kids, however.

 

[camz]

Cute baby!

This might be too much for you but I felt like editing so I couldn't help it =).

I tried to correct WB as there's a cast however I couldn't quite get rid of it. I think it's from her clothes.

I performed some fill light, brightness and vibrance(better for the skin) in ACR.

Then I added a 25% soft light blend and cloned out some blemishes in photoshop. I also added my kind of amount of unsharp mask. Then I cropped a more intimate perspective. =)

eck..just realized how much the compression sucks.