Sorry, another Christmas Baby

[naryab]

Hi,

First time really posting content here. I've been around a long time learning and soaking up all the wonderful contributions of knowledge.

Anyway... I figure it is time to share and overwhelm you all with more Christmas baby photos. Sorry

Any C&C are more than welcome, I still have a week!! ;)

Without further ado, please meet our six month old daughter Lauren.

**Besides sitting her up, I just let her play. These were not posed at all. I know #2 is hard to accept, but I swear, she did it on her own. I almost cried looking through the camera.

Thank you!

mike

1.

http://idisk.mac.com/mikereynolds-Public/christmas/Christmas012sm.jpg

2.

http://idisk.mac.com/mikereynolds-Public/christmas/Christmas018sm.jpg

3.

http://idisk.mac.com/mikereynolds-Public/christmas/Christmas010sm.jpg

4.

http://idisk.mac.com/mikereynolds-Public/christmas/Christmas013sm.jpg

5.

http://idisk.mac.com/mikereynolds-Public/christmas/Christmas015sm.jpg

6.

http://idisk.mac.com/mikereynolds-Public/christmas/Christmas016sm.jpg

7.

http://idisk.mac.com/mikereynolds-Public/christmas/Christmas017sm.jpg

[Barb42]

Never be sorry over another baby picture. Adorable. the last couple are a bit odd, but the rest are just great. No. 2 is just plain great luck!

[Lunajen]

Think they are great...
I might play a bit with you curves and levels but that is about it....
They look slightly underexposed by a half a stop if that....it is just a hair to me.
But I am at work and I do question the screen here in reliability. ;)

[Svetlana]

OMG the 2nd one is just too good!!! Love it!

[rmr21]

OMG #2 is perfect....love it! A couple of them seem a bit underexposed, especially #1.

[BKC52583]

Love number 2 you couldnt ask for a better christmas photo

[bobbyz]

Like all of them except the last one. The white bg doesn't look white on my work laptop (don't have PS to check). Besides I am not sure if the intent was to make it white or not.

[KayakPhotos]

Beautiful! Enough said...

[naryab]

Thank you all.

I did underexpose them, it is not your monitor. My wife thought they were too bright, so I guess I over compensated. I should stick with my instinct, or meet her half way. LOL

The baby was great, very animated that day.

Thanks again!

[dmmiller]

Lovely!
That 2nd one is definate "awwwww" material. :)
Looks as if she was praying that Santa brings her something good.

[naryab]

Looks as if she was praying that Santa brings her something good.

LOL, yes, definitely a "grampa will you please buy me a pony, pretty please?" look... he better look out!! ;)

[tripsis]

I see a future model! #2 is absolutely adorable!! But they're all very cute :)

[naryab]

Thanks tripis!

Okay, #2 is the winner... How about post-processing? I know some have mentioned curves, and I have applied a very small s curve, but I wanted to keep it somewhat soft and not too harsh.

Anyway, I know Photoshop very well, I just need to apply it better.

Feel free to edit it yourself.

thanks again!

mike

[rmr21]

Thanks tripis!

Okay, #2 is the winner... How about post-processing? I know some have mentioned curves, and I have applied a very small s curve, but I wanted to keep it somewhat soft and not too harsh.

Anyway, I know Photoshop very well, I just need to apply it better.

Feel free to edit it yourself.

thanks again!

mike

Thought I would take a try at it. I did a curves adjustment, ran a "soft focus" action (except eyes & lips), brightened eyes & background a bit, shapened eyes, and a tiny contrast boost. Hope you like....

before
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/rmr21/Christmas018sm.jpg

after
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/rmr21/zzzzUntitled-1.jpg

[jjmucker]

Image 2 is an amazing capture. Absolutely priceless

[naryab]

rmr21-

Yes that helped a lot. I never even thought to try to "soft focus" a baby. It really borders on the "dreamy" look, but not too surreal, just prefect. Thank you!

What did your curve adjustment look like? When I play with it, I can not get that smooth gradient on the face, it gets too contrasty or muddy/flat. Or, did the "soft focus" action help that? I tried a simple gaussian blur with different blend modes on the layer, but I couldn't get close.

Please don't feel you need to elaborate, but if you care to share... :)

thanks again!

mike

[rmr21]

Glad you like it Mike! The curves adjusment just lightened the whole photo a bit, so yes it was the soft focus that made it look smoother. I got that action here.... http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=278899 the only thing I did to change the action was to reduce the amount of gaussian blur.

[naryab]

Thanks, that really helped. I ran the action and see what you mean. I will keep at it, but your efforts really did inspire me to keep pushing. Thank you again.

[Kauaicrazed]

Love #2!

[TamEric]

man i love love number 2

[azpix]

as stated previously..........2 is killer.

[naryab]

Thank you!

[coopergirl]

rmr21.. how did you brighten the background?

[Kristy]

TOtally cute! Babies in Santa hats are just adorable. :)

[naryab]

Thank you Kristy. I still want to try to get another shoot done in the next couple of days... I'll make sure to get some with the Santa hat! ;)

[cdmonkey]

these are great, and as everyone said no 2 is fantastic

[Rhinotherunt]

WOW!!! #2 is jaw dropping!!!

[naryab]

Thanks cdmonkey and Ryan.

[KatiaShermanPhotography]

OMG those just great!! i love it :)

[naryab]

Thank you Katia

[sunnygirl]

Terrific Series, #2, "Please, please Santa, can I have ....... I really have been a good girl this year".

[naryab]

Thank you. Having a blast trying! Most important thing right? :)

[Grimlock]

WOW! 1 and 2 are simply amazing. I have a two month old right now, and there is noooooo way he'd cooperate with me long enough to get these shots. How old is your little one?

And thanks for posting.

[naryab]

She will be 7 months on the 23rd. She was born a month early at 5lbs, dropped to 4.5 before going back up. But thankfully she came right home in 3days, granted small but healthy! It was scary, especially being our first. :) But I think she turned out okay, granted I am biased!! LOL

[Tyger]

love the eyes and yes #2 is priceless!

[johnthebaptist]

AWESOME!!!

[Grimlock]

She will be 7 months on the 23rd. She was born a month early at 5lbs, dropped to 4.5 before going back up. But thankfully she came right home in 3days, granted small but healthy! It was scary, especially being our first. :) But I think she turned out okay, granted I am biased!! LOL

Yea, being a new dad myself, I definitely know where you are coming from. My baby was born late October. Fun stuff!

In any case, you have a beautiful baby! Congrats.

[markubig]

love all of them! Fantastic job

and I agree that the addition of the soft-focus filter on #2 makes the photo pop even more

[sevillafox]

Nice! #2 definitely takes the cake!

[Vegaslabs]

These are ALL great!! I love #4. :)

[Kiddo]

These are so cute!!! Love the 2nd one!! Great job and thanks for sharing!!

[naryab]

Thank you all!

Mark - I do like the soft focus effect, I am glad it was shared.

Vegaslabs - glad to see one besides #2 was enjoyed!! LOL :)

[jmovic]

#2 is the sweetest! So cute!

[naryab]

Thank you Jen.

Merry Christmas everyone!

[nuffi]

I am going to contradict everyone who's commented so far....

#2 is certainly an incredible shot, and would be exceptionally popular on a stock photo site, but I much prefer #3 as a portrait. It actually captures a lot of this kid's personality, which is one of the big keys to a great portrait imho.

[naryab]

Thanks nuffi.

Actually I think the goofy/crazy #4 is more her actual personality. LOL I think #3 has something but her right eye is different in that photo than the others. Thanks again for the different perspective.

[oldvultureface]

Number 5. No pose, no prompt. Just doin' my thing with this box. Also, the title of the thread caught my eye.:)

[naryab]

oldvultureface- thanks for the comments. I have begun to have some shoots of her just on the white paper, toys, and her. A free for all session. Let her be her. Although, even these pictures, except for sitting her up, she was not posed, including #2! LOL She was very happy and animated... the advantage of not having to schedule a shoot, just do it when she is happy and fun.

[Andrea Skywalker]

These are THE cutest baby pictures I've ever seen! I'm sure her parents will be SO pleased!

[naryab]

These are THE cutest baby pictures I've ever seen! I'm sure her parents will be SO pleased!

Thanks Andrea... and I am!! LOL She's my little peanut! She will hate seeing my camera/lights in a few months at this rate!! LOL

[Andrea Skywalker]

Thanks Andrea... and I am!! LOL She's my little peanut! She will hate seeing my camera/lights in a few months at this rate!! LOL
I should have read "our six month old daughter" before I posted, but I was too distracted with the cuteness and had to show my mom these photos. lol

Ohh, no! She's probably gonna be a natural and love being in front of that camera, I mean, she's already posing for you! haha

[naryab]

Yes she is a poser!! LOL Time will tell. Thanks again!

[Tanya Lynne]

These are really nice! Adorable baby!