More portraits please bash them

[timmyquest]

If needed....

A picture? Ok!
http://www.antiwall.com/pics/dakota.jpg
Is he done yet?
http://www.antiwall.com/pics/dakota2.jpg
http://www.antiwall.com/pics/mason4.jpg

[timmyquest]

?

[clos]

Well you got the hardest part...getting good expression from a willing model. I have taken so many pictures of my daughter (she's 1yr7mo) that she knows the name of all my photographic equipment :). Anyway...

Try paying close attention to the backround. In all these pics they are distracting (pic1 & pic2) or dark (pic3). I usually pick the backround/location first and then work on subject.

Pic 1 & Pic 2 are a bit dark try working curves in PS.

Cute kids, have fun.

-Clos

[dennykyser]

Clos said it but if you can pick a not so busy background that will help a lot.

[mwinog2777]

snapshots

[Bruce Hamilton]

Looks like junior got into mommy's makeup case again... :lol:

[manncer]

8)

How did you light them, direct flash, bounce?


manncer

[timmyquest]

8)

How did you light them, direct flash, bounce?


manncer

They were all bounced off the ceiling.

The last was taken with the kit 18-55mm lens, it never fails to give me ugly washed out pictures like that when using a flash.

[RbnDave]

The eyes aren't well enough lit for me. If you are using flash there is no reason not to have enough light to have brightly lit eyes.

Also, the background is too distracting. Next time either move the subject away from busy backgrounds or try a larger aperature to blur the background.

I hate sounding like an equipment nut, but you might want to look into buying a Canon 50 mm f1.8 lens ($60) and a stenfo omni bounce for your flash ($16). That's my favorite portrait set up for my 10D and it costs under $100. With this setup, you could blur the background nicely and get a bright but not too harsh flash.

Good luck. Looks like your subjects can be a handfull.