Pictures of my son, please critique!

[RxForB3]

I really struggle with taking portraits, so I figured I would go out to the local arboretum today and practice on my son. I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out, but I really don't have an eye yet for what makes a good portrait. Please critique these photos. Feel free to be harsh, but specific!

1.


IMG_1923 by RxForB3, on Flickr

2.


IMG_1921 by RxForB3, on Flickr

3.


IMG_1912 by RxForB3, on Flickr

4.


IMG_1905 by RxForB3, on Flickr

 

[deeky]

I really like #2. Just barely got enough on the bottom (to include the shoes), now crop some off the top to balance it. Go for a standard 8x10 crop.

 

[RxForB3]

Thanks for the suggestion deeky. I think that's my favorite of these, as well. Here it is cropped to an 8x10. I think I'm so use to seeing a 2x3 ratio that the 8x10 feels off, but definitely feels more "portrait-appropriate."


IMG_1921-2 by RxForB3, on Flickr

 

[deeky]

Yep, much better!

 

[slow231]

i like 3 the best. the low angle works well for that pose. the expression is nice, the forward shoulders and eyecontact gives a sense of some attitude ("what you looking at?!"), and the extra room up top elongates that looking down on to you feeling. the gaze direction and the space on the left side works, as the background is full with trees and leaves. the shadow contrast on the face might be a bit harsh though. a little highlight recovery to bring back his left eyebrow might help to bring out the expression better. i'm not as much a fan of #2, the expression is flatter, the gaze goes off frame, and the space on the right not quite as full (nitpicking here since it's still nice).