WHat am i missing??

[mommy2alivia]

my passion is photographing children, but i feel like im lacking in the skill area, what am i missing or getting wrong?

IMG]http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k144/mandeebrooke/DSC07402-2.jpg[/IMG]

 

[D-B-J]

WAYYY too many images for me to comment on each separately. Pare it down to 2 or 3, that you think show your best ability. But overall, the colors seem over-saturated, the compositions are off (not in all of them), and the photo's are far too softened. And the tacky vignette on every photo is.. tacky.

 

[tirediron]

Welcome! A nice set of images; far too many on which to provide individual critique (four max. for that pls), however in answer to your question about lacking skill, my thought is that your main area for improvment is in your lighting. Almost all of these images would have been greatly improved had you used some form of supplemental lighting, whether off-camera flash, strobes, or simple reflectors. There are some WB issues as well, but most of those would go away with improvements in your lighting. May I suggest some reading of the Srobist blog for help wtih lighting.

 

[Kerbouchard]

It seems like it's a lot of little things.

The lighting doesn't seem very controlled. It's kind of haphazard. The white balance is all over the place. The skin smoothing or noise reduction or whatever you are doing is a bit out of place on kid photography. They could all use sharpening. The posing needs some work. And I would probably tone down a bit on the heavy vignette.

 

[dxqcanada5]

Over post processing. They look too un-natural in colour.

Some image look too soft ... are you softening focus ?
What lenses are you using ?

 

[Robin Usagani]

you need to expose your subject better and you need to learn how to post process. All your subjects look like

 

[SabrinaO]

Not sure if its your PP... but these people look radioactive. They are glowing neon orange. Do you not see that? I'm just curious because you have some major white balance issues.
I like the DOF in the shots and the bokeh (is it natural?) but you need to work on focusing and your post processing. The shots could also use a flash or reflectors...

 

[BlackSheep]

All of the above comments are valid, but - you really did a great job on capturing the expressions on all of your subjects. Your timing on getting a shot is really, really good. I think that the overall message that you are being given here is that you don't need the extra effects (i.e. the vignetting, etc.). There's a few composition-related items that you will want to correct, but that will come with practice. Would you consider posting 1 or 2 of the above shots without the post processing?

 

[brandibell]

There is too many to go through and comment on each one but what stands out to me is the skin is overly smoothed, the colors are to vibrant and look unnatural (the skin in many look Orange). Some of them need to be straightened, watch the crop on the images I think I seen part of the girls tutu missing in the frame and a guys feet etc. I'm not a fan of the tilted angle shots (but that's just me) the vignetting is way too over done and they need to be sharpened. A lot this can be easily fixed in Photoshop. I think the over processing is what's the main issue in these pictures.

 

[mommy2alivia]

im red colorblind so thanks on the input about the colors being to saturated
And thanks on the comments on capturing my clients i believe in letting kids play and be kids and just capture them being them
and here are the pics you requested

so are these better?
and i've been practicing with lighting )

 

[brandibell]

All of the above comments are valid, but - you really did a great job on capturing the expressions on all of your subjects. Your timing on getting a shot is really, really good. I think that the overall message that you are being given here is that you don't need the extra effects (i.e. the vignetting, etc.). There's a few composition-related items that you will want to correct, but that will come with practice. Would you consider posting 1 or 2 of the above shots without the post processing?

I also agree

 

[brandibell]

im red colorblind so thanks on the input about the colors being to saturated
And thanks on the comments on capturing my clients i believe in letting kids play and be kids and just capture them being them
and here are the pics you requested

so are these better?
and i've been practicing with lighting )

These are a lot better. The white balance seems off and I think a reflector or fill flash would help, the first one I think would have been better if the Childs entire head was in the frame. The second the background is a little bright. The last one looks like it's not straight. These are easy to fix. The pictures are really cute

 

[g-fi]

My 2 cents, dial back on the skin softening and the vignetting. A little goes a loooong way. Really cute expressions though and great use of props to keep the babies attention.

I'm kind of in awe that you were able to do as much as you have being red color blind, how does that work?!

 

[SabrinaO]

im red colorblind so thanks on the input about the colors being to saturated
And thanks on the comments on capturing my clients i believe in letting kids play and be kids and just capture them being them
and here are the pics you requested

so are these better?
and i've been practicing with lighting )

Much much better! I think it was more of an over saturation than a white balance issue.

 

[mommy2alivia]

i try to focus on how saturated my blues are, and i guess thats throwing me off....lol