Portrait for birth announcement C&C requested

[RRitch]

This is a portrait that I shot of my daughter for her birth announcement. I just bought studio strobes (Interfit EX 150 MK II) and meter on Wednesday and this is the first time using them. My wife and I are happy with them, which I guess is what matters, but I would really appreciate some C&C before I send these out to be printed. The lighting setup for these is as follows

Main:
24" softbox
behind and pointing down at her
F:/8

Fill:

32" white shoot through umbrella
in front and camera right at eye level
F:/5.6

EXIF
ISO 100
1/250
F:/11

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/3071365375_39cde9aacf_b.jpg

[Maureen Souza]

Congrats on your new little sweetheart. This is a great photo for a birth announcement but I think it is a tad dark around the face and too many shadows.
I played around with it mostly using a subtle dodging and added a filter called Magic Skin to her face.

[RRitch]

On my laptop it does look a tad dark, but on my main machine with calibrated screen, and the prints it does not. Not sure if you are working on a calibrated display or not. The edit that you did looks good on the face, but the white dress looks blown out. I will have to take a look at it on my main machine when I get a chance. Thanks for the feedback.

[Maureen Souza]

I just calibrated my monitor 2 weeks ago. Here is a second attempt where I left the dress out altogether. I also cloned the little boogie out of her nose :)

[RRitch]

Maureen,

I am on my main machine now, and the edit looks great. I missed the little boogie :oops:. Looking at it on my calibrated display, the difference between your edit and my original is not a big amout (looked like a huge difference on my LT). If I were to guess I would say about 1/3 stop. Maybe time to re-calibrate my displays as well. Thanks for the edits. I have already sent the file for a proof print, I will see how it looks when I get it back, and if it looks too dark, I will re-calibrate and process again. Other than the exposure, does anyone have any other C&C to offer?

[Maureen Souza]

There isn't much not to like. She is precious.

[GQsmithy]

I think the pic looks great. That said, I would have liked to see a version with the fill placed on camera left. While they are subtle, the shadows around the eyes and nose look a little unnatural to me. Great job on a beautiful baby!

[RRitch]

Thanks Maureen, I really appreciate the feedback. I am just learming to do studio work and there is a huge learning curve, I have three families that want me to do there holiday portraits so I need to get up to speed quick.

[StroupePhotography]

She is a doll. Congrats.

[RRitch]

She is a doll. Congrats.

Thank you. My wife and I certainly think so.