Critique + pick my graduation setting

I am doing preschool graduation photos next week.
Please pick your favorite setting, and offer me some critiques on the pic of your choice.
This was a practice and the mom liked both 2 and 3.

I kinda like the stained glass. #2 is my favorite b/c it looks very classic, but I do like the stained glass look only b/c this is a church preschool. I dont like the library so much....

1. Library

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#2 is good, but can you get a different angle to eliminate the light shining through the holes in the blinds?
I think a standing shot in the library would be nice.

#2 is my favorite of the 3.

Abby:

I have to agree with Bob and Rat. #2, but block the lights in the slats.

#1 has too many colorful straight lines that get mixed up with the hat. [However, if you could get to a legal library with matching books and dark wood, that could be the best.]

#3 has too much colored light spilling on the model and is severely backlighting his ear. Maybe if the sun wasn't directly on the window it would be darker and could be a better choice.

I like number one...I notice there is lots of open shelf space....can you relocate books that would be directly behind the head just until your shoot is over?? (Also watch those sleeves ) Also like #3 I would have loved something like this when my kids graduated in the early years

thanks for the replies everyone!

On the library I agree. We have to do it in the Church library if we do, and there werent any nice books, just these. I picked up on the empty shelf and sleeve, but I just dont like it enough to do it there.

But now I have a tough decision. I posted these on a FB group I'm in and it was overwhelming for #3, and here it's overwhelming for #2. It's a tough decision.

I agree about the ear on #3 and the window. The only thing I can say about that is that I did these practice ones at 3:00 or so, but when I do them "for real" it will be over 2 days 8:30 am to 11:30 am. That may help the sun. I also used a large umbrella 45 deg to my left a 45 in umbrella. I am thinking of backing it down to the smaller umbrellas I have which I think are 32.

or I may end up playing it safe and going with #2. Not sure about the holes. I guess I could put something behind it though, like a poster board or something.

Thanks again for the comments, keep them coming it helps me out so much!

Abby:

Who are your "clients"? Are they here or on Facebook?

I think your goal should be to delight the parents instead of us in the POTN crowd. The parents know what they like...even if they don't know what is "technically" as excellent. That stained glass window might have some special significance to them. Maybe Sister Mary-Joseph donated it with the procedes from all the aluminum flip-tops she collected with the parents when THEY were in thrid grade. Then again, maybe not.

Or, it might be possible to make everyone happy by darkening the glass and shooting the pictures in front of the glass as you have done here.

Good luck! We're waiting to see your decision and results.

I'd keep looking for backgrounds.

I think #1 has the potential to be SO much better with "cleaner" looking books/shelves. Think of a law school graduation photo. Maybe replace the small kid books with larger encyclopedia types. Fewer lines should calm it down some.

Edit: Crop the feet and the majority of the floor out

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Thanks again everyone! I should clarify the FB group was a photography group, like this site.
On the books, I do not have larger books that could fill that shelf, I looked. The library appears to be all thin kids books like that. I really would like the "legal" book idea, but I'm not sure how to make it happen. It was what i was going for, but I didnt realie the church library had these books. I figured it'd have a lot of old bibles and research books for adults, which would be similar to what I was going for.

I'll keep thinking over the next few days. Thanks for all the help.

I'd pick the second one photoshoping out the distracting white dots.
The others are just too distracting for a portrait.

Just a little clone work and they are gone.

Question: Something came to mind last night when I could not sleep and I think I have pinpointed the difference in opinions on 2 vs 3. Are the posters in this post male?
By screen names I am guessing most are. The other group was mostly female. I also asked a few people and most males preferred 2 and females 3, and I'm wondering if that's the difference that I'm seeing online.

#3 could easily be a great shot. Just too much color spil. This could be adjusted via PP though.

Could you give me some tips on that. Here is the original no edit. Maybe I did a bad job on my edit

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I went for the stained glass. When i got there all the teachers had heard the one mom liked it and they were all wanting it. Apparently one parent is even paying for a separate pic without gown in front of it.

Anyway, here's the final. The sun was on the opposite side of the building since it was morning, which was much better I think. I also used another umbrella. The only thing is the box I used for them to stand on put some at a height where that line cuts right across the hat. I am gonna fix that for tomorrow.

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