How can you possibly whip this face?

[melissa6631]

This is my 5 year old son. He'll be 6 on Saturday. Time flies!
http://goooz.smugmug.com/photos/120814261-L.jpg

[eoren1]

Hi Melissa,
No way I could whip the model but maybe just a bit the cropping and sharpening?
You've cut his left ear a bit...moving out would help.
Also, there is a 'glow' for lack of a better word around his right arm. There is no exif attached so I am not sure if this is the 'glow' attributed to the Canon 50mm f/1.4 when wide open or from sharpening artifact or something else.
A little bit of catchlight would have also helped to bring out his eyes but too much would probably take away from the lovely dreamy effect that you were going for.
If you check the ps at the bottom of my first whip ("nervous before a first whipping"), you'll notice that I am struggling with posting photos of my son. You have shown me that it is possible to critique the photo and not the model (who looks great by the way...hope my son remains that cooperative in 5 years:wink).
Thanks and hope these comments help,
E

This is my 5 year old son. He'll be 6 on Saturday. Time flies!
http://goooz.smugmug.com/photos/120814261-L.jpg