I've been living in a vacuum. Need some CC (4 files)

[Creek]

For the last few years, I have been off the forums and just busy with work and writing. I think I need to get back to outside critique. I want to take my images to the next level and cannot figure out what the heck I am missing. Constructive critique or glowing compliments are welcome! LOL These are a maternity then newborn of the same family.
I will post a seperate thread with some environmental senior work on it.
Thanks In Advance, Barb

 

[Studio7Four]

C&C per request:

On the technical side, the lighting and exposure look pretty solid to me. Where I find these lacking is in the posing.
- On the color newborn shot (and I acknowledge that newborns are not the most cooperative subjects), the hand coming up to hide the right eye really detracts. Between that hand and the large pink headband I don't get much of a sense of the baby's face, so I don't feel any attachment to the subject.
- On the black and white newborn shot you've captured a nice shot of the baby. However, the mom appears engaged with someone off camera rather than looking at either the baby or the camera. And that white diaper is blindingly white; in the future I'd recommend letting the baby go au natural (or at least burn the diaper so it's not so white).
- For the maternity shots, this pose (almost head on to the belly) is not particularly flattering. In general this angle reduces the curves of the baby bump (compared with a profile or 3/4 angle) and comes across as fat as often as pregnant. In these particular shots that effect is compounded by the wrap she is wearing, which covers the top and bottom of the baby bump so you lose the definition where the bump meets the torso and pelvis.

 

[Creek]

C&C per request:

On the technical side, the lighting and exposure look pretty solid to me. Where I find these lacking is in the posing.
- On the color newborn shot (and I acknowledge that newborns are not the most cooperative subjects), the hand coming up to hide the right eye really detracts. Between that hand and the large pink headband I don't get much of a sense of the baby's face, so I don't feel any attachment to the subject.
- On the black and white newborn shot you've captured a nice shot of the baby. However, the mom appears engaged with someone off camera rather than looking at either the baby or the camera. And that white diaper is blindingly white; in the future I'd recommend letting the baby go au natural (or at least burn the diaper so it's not so white).
- For the maternity shots, this pose (almost head on to the belly) is not particularly flattering. In general this angle reduces the curves of the baby bump (compared with a profile or 3/4 angle) and comes across as fat as often as pregnant. In these particular shots that effect is compounded by the wrap she is wearing, which covers the top and bottom of the baby bump so you lose the definition where the bump meets the torso and pelvis.

Thank you for taking the time...
I'll watch the blinding white diaper next time... You are right, the mom seems disengaged. Thanks.
Thanks for the tweaks- I appreciate the input!