Who needs boring studio shots...

[brandyshoots]

...when you can get shots like this at home?
These are my two boys, the youngest has never been to the photo studio at the mall. My MIL made the comment to me that my baby has never had a "professional" portrait made...ouch! Are my shots not at least as good as the mall studio? I think they are better, certainly more personal. What do you think?

#1
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/228/502227961_d4e572291e.jpg?v=0


#2
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/198/502191046_7ee67e3ed6.jpg?v=0

#3
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/200/502190766_391926fb60.jpg?v=0
(I hate that I didn't get his feet in this one :evil:)

#4
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/208/502227171_2cf454a0ef.jpg?v=0

#5
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/232/502226825_49a7f29bbf.jpg?v=0

#6
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/190/502226333_8cd70b5a95.jpg?v=0

I have to say that although my oldest gets his photo taken at school every year, and I have yet to have one turn out good. He pastes on the most fake horrible smile for those. No fake smiles here though ;)!

Comments or opinions??
Thanks for looking.
I'll be adding more to my flickr album (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcjag76/) later today if you care to take a look at that.

[WilliamL]

these are great shots...

[Mick Emmett]

Love the eyes in number 1, they're huge.

[brandyshoots]

Love the eyes in number 1, they're huge.

Thanks, I'm quite partial to those big brown beauties myself. The crazy thing is I didn't touch the eyes in pp! They are gorgeous all on their own.

[LoriKelso]

Ahhh, MIL's... You should tell her to take the baby to the mall. Have one of those cookie cutter pictures made. Then do a comparison. I think it might just shut her up! Gorgeous photos!

[imanyabob]

OMG... these are adorable pictures!! I love #1 and #5 a lot :)

[Barbie1986]

Great pics!! you don't need to take your kids to the mall to have good photos taken. I like it more when they are more personal, it has a different meaning!

[Beegeeboss]

Great shots! I love #3 and #5.

The space at the top of #3 really works for me...yes bummer about his feet.

[brandyshoots]

Great shots! I love #3 and #5.

The space at the top of #3 really works for me...yes bummer about his feet.

I know...I didn't even really notice that until PP and by then, it was too late. I might have to try for that shot again, but I don't think there's much chance of repeat with a 1 year old that doesn't take direction well ;).

Thanks so much everyone for your kind comments. I should show this thread to good ol' MIL!

[JC2]

Awesome shots!
I've only taken my daughter to "Picture People"...and that was only because I had coupons for free pictures ;) LOL.

The time/energy/$$ isn't worth it to get such typical "portrait" pics (with dumb props too LOL).

[embdaw]

Mall pics are most of the time going to be crap....these are great! IMO, Nothing beats a good candid!!

[liza]

MIL's are so quick to criticize, aren't they? In this case, she doesn't know what she's talking about. You should compile your faves into a nice coffee table book from Shared Ink. That should shut her up. :)

[lookingforaname]

your mother in law is trapped by a generational sensibility that is totally crazy. your shots are amazing. can i ask what camera and lenses you use? these are the kind of shots i'm trying to get of my kids.

[canerino]

your shots are definately more personal, after all you took them! as for 'better', well that is purely a matter of opinion.

as for the shots you posted:

1. did you use a wide angle here and get too close? his face looks a bit distorted. also, its sort of a non engaged expression.

2. I think the composition needs work here. perhaps a wider angle could have captured what the child was looking at. also, the slanted perspective throws the framing off even a tad more.

3. if the child were only facing the light rather than into the shadows. also, watch your highlights here.

4, 5, 6: a cute series, maybe a tad too warm? also, with 6, you might want to lighten his teeth a bit.

these of course are just my opinion...

[RacEcaR]

My MIL made the comment to me that my baby has never had a "professional" portrait made...ouch
i know the feeling. when ever i show friends of mine photos ive taken they always say "your camera is so awsum" or somthing like that. i dont understand people sometimes. do they think they could just pick up a "good" camer a nd take the same photos? I think not.:evil:

anyway, yes yours are better than the mall. to say the least:)

[skeeterbug]

great expressions, beautiful children! this is what you do: upload some of your favorites to mpix.com that the MIL has NOT seen and have some prints made. The prints you get back are on pro quality paper, I haven't had a bad one come back from them yet! Order her a couple of 5x7s, when you give them to her, tell her, here, I recently got some photos of the baby, when she is done oohing & aahing, she will most likely ask where you had them done, THEN you can tell her that you took them! Or do what someone else suggested, have her take the baby to the mall for some "pro" shots, compare to yours. If that doesn't bring her around, I wouldn't waste my time worrying about it! As someone else said, she's from a generation of that's what you did for kid portraits...so much advancement now that we can do it ourselves much easier!!

[brandyshoots]

your mother in law is trapped by a generational sensibility that is totally crazy. your shots are amazing. can i ask what camera and lenses you use? these are the kind of shots i'm trying to get of my kids.

First of all, thank you! My equipment is certainly nothing special. I have a rebel xti and used the kit lens for these shots.

your shots are definately more personal, after all you took them! as for 'better', well that is purely a matter of opinion.

You're right, that is a matter of opinion and I thank you for your critiques. I know that my photos are far from "professional" and I still have a lot to learn, but I would rather have these shots hanging in my home than a generic studio pic any day.;)