My first whipping...a portrait of my son

[anderiv]

http://andersonfam.smugmug.com/photos/89716258-L-1.jpg (http://andersonfam.smugmug.com/gallery/1799908/1/89716258)

Looking for critiques...I had a poor experience with a rather inexperienced "professional" photographer recently, and as such, have decided to try and learn the art (and science) of portrait photography, at least to a small extent. How could this picture be improved?

Thanks!

[anderiv]

He's my first (and only). He's 8.5 months in this pic. Any recommendations?

(http://andersonfam.smugmug.com/gallery/1799908/1/89716258)

[AntoineD]

Looking for critiques...I had a poor experience with a rather inexperienced "professional" photographer recently, and as such, have decided to try and learn the art (and science) of portrait photography, at least to a small extent. How could this picture be improved?

Thanks!

Improved? One could do better with the colors, etc., but the "mood" of the picture is quite a success :thumb
The boy even has a "pose" :):

[Barefoot and Natural]

What a CUTIE!!
I am a sucker for babies!!
I love his expression!!

[ChrisJ]

Wow, his face is clean! Maybe try and crop a little tigher on the right, since his right hand really looks cut off (I've been guilty of that too). Good DOF and focus, you may want a fill-flash for some catchlights in the eyes, or just add them manually in PS. :wink

The background is nicely blurred, but it would be better if it was all plants instead of the house; that's a very minor nit, though.

Very cute boy and good shot!

[ChrisJ]

My comments here: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=41482

[AntoineD]

My comments here: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=41482

Oh! There's two threads... not really practical.

[DoctorIt]

Oh! There's two threads... not really practical.I agree...

Anderiv - welcome to dgrin :wave

I've merged your 2 duplicate threads into this one. Since you were brave enough to put your first photo in the whipping post, I've consolidated it all here.


As for your photo... I like the composition very much, and the pose/subject are great. Definitely needs some color pop! though (look in our tutorials here (http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1075277) and here (http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1086744), or maybe even here (http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1108502)).

[anderiv]

I agree...

Anderiv - welcome to dgrin :wave

I've merged your 2 duplicate threads into this one. Since you were brave enough to put your first photo in the whipping post, I've consolidated it all here.


As for your photo... I like the composition very much, and the pose/subject are great. Definitely needs some color pop! though (look in our tutorials here (http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1075277) and here (http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1086744), or maybe even here (http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1108502)).

Yah - sorry about the two threads...I won't be doing that again...:noob

Thanks for the suggestions, though...I'll look through those tutorials to see what I can do about the color.

[Stustaff]

Expression is great! composition, maybe a little tight that missing left arm is a bit distracting.

Colour I dont like, its a little too cold for my tastes, If you post it in finishing school it might be nice to see if it could be "cheered" up a little.

As I just wrote "cheered" i realised that is it for me the blue cold too me makes me think of sad rather than a brighter orange that is cheery.

[Loricious]

I hope you don't mind. I spent a couple of minutes playing with the image.

[Mod Edit: You caught me while I was away for a few days. This is the Whipping Post, and we don't allow processing of other's images here. Check out the rules if you have any questions, or you can PM me, DavidTO]

[Phil U.]

First I'll just say that portraits are not my strong point (I'm not sure I have a strong point but I know portraits are not it).

You've got a good shot to start with. Nice expression. Definitely work it through the "POP" tutorials for color and contrast. Needs a small bit of sharpening.

I find myself preferring tighter crops on the kids unless they're doing something that you really want to get across.

Oh, and one other thing - you can lighten the eyes just a tad - don't over do it as it'll look freaky. Just enough to where they attract a little more attention without enough to where someone looking at the shot will see what you did. A fine line indeed. Here's an example: http://PhilU.smugmug.com/photos/58100393-L.jpg