How bad are these? (I'm embarresed to post but I need help and suggestions)

[Alorien]

http://alorien.smugmug.com/photos/547000385_tHuvo-XL.jpg



http://alorien.smugmug.com/photos/546974119_GmQEj-XL.jpg
1/2000 f/1.8 ISO 100 for both of them


I think I over did the color pop on these, and I blew it with her foot being completely overexposed (it was was an uber hotspot) Not a fan of the composition on the second one but I included it so there would be more than one pic on the thread for reference...

It was nice and overcast when we were feeding the kids but about 5 minutes before we got outside it became bright and sunny so these were shot in full sun....

Any suggestions? I'm having a hard time because I wanted her face to be properly exposed which cause the hotspot on her foot to blow... I shot in RAW so I may be able to recover some but I don't know where to start.

Thanks in advance for anyone who chooses to reply :oops:

[reefergal]

She is adorable. Shooting in bright sun is super hard. I would try cropping the first one and keep posting! That is what this forum is for, to learn learn learn.

[christyjo2]

Your embarrassed because why? Like the above poster said, it is very hard to shoot in harsh sunlight, these are very well done considering that the sun is burning bright. Good job and keep shooting. I really like these and love the colors!

[blondine]

she is a cutie! nice colors, hard lighting to shoot in! I always wish I had a big fat cloud that I could put in front of the sun when its this bright.
anyways, keep shooting and posting you will learn from the CC you get.

[710 Studio]

Perhaps, if these were photos for a paying customer there would be some serious post-production in your future (balancing the lighting, taming the hotspots, cropping for composition, etc), but for a shoot with a little one, I would say that they are excellent. The color pop doesn't bother me, at all. In fact, the colors tell me that it is warm and sunny and a fun time is being had with all!

You will find that this forum is great for learning. Some critique may be extremely harsh and very poorly put. Some critique will be TOO nice. But one thing for sure, it's all for the greater good!

[Alorien]

Thanks :)

Any suggestions on cropping I would Love...

I took these for a friend's baby's first birthday pics and would like them as nice as I can get them. (she gave me gas money so I would drive my happy butt out to her house for them)

I think I was embarrassed because I have been working on my outdoor shooting for so long it doesnt feel like I'm making the progress I would like. I was also nervous I would receive a lot of negative criticism on these hehe... though critiquing is good I can't help but feel nervous when I post images.

[Michael Bottoms]

Thanks :)

Any suggestions on cropping I would Love...

I took these for a friend's baby's first birthday pics and would like them as nice as I can get them. (she gave me gas money so I would drive my happy butt out to her house for them)

I think I was embarrassed because I have been working on my outdoor shooting for so long it doesnt feel like I'm making the progress I would like. I was also nervous I would receive a lot of negative criticism on these hehe... though critiquing is good I can't help but feel nervous when I post images.

All the advice given is good, but you seem to have had a source of shade just a little behind your baby. Don't be afraid to use the shade if the sun doesn't cooperate with you. A tree, the house... they all can help to take from the powerful sun. I would also have tried to have a much narrower dof. The detail in the bricks isn't needed.
I've cropped the second shot. Not necessarily right or wrong, but something I would do in this case--more of a focus on the baby. Thanks for sharing--you've done a lot right with these shots.:)

[duane0524]

I think I over did the color pop on these

I disagree with your statement here, I like the way the color looks in these.

[snyderman]

Color is definitely NOT over the top. The photos are pretty good, acutally. The crop someone did for you lessened the focus on the BG and put it squarely on your stylish model.

The second shot could benefit from a better crop as well. Looks like the pics are bit soft. Did you use the center focus point? And for shooting a potentially squirmy child of that age, I would put camera in AI Servo mode and shoot a burst of 4 or 5 and take the sharpest of each pose you shot.

dave

[Alorien]

Thanks for the input!

I'm going to try editing them again see if I can do better with the hotspots. next time I'll place her in the shade.

Good tip on AI Servo mode I was spot metering on and the AF mode was set to One Shot so that could be why it was soft

I'll try cropping tighter and see what results I get :) It was a free shoot so I don't have to feel bad but I am such the perfectionist lol