Be harsh, how else will I get better?

Pick a better background and/or a longer focal length in portrait orientation.
take the hat off or at least let us see her face.

How would you improve this image if you were to reshoot it?

RPCrowe wrote in post #15977684
How would you improve this image if you were to reshoot it?

This was just some random shooting at a picnic. Not planned.

I would want happier models! haha babies were cranky by this point. The focus is suppose to be on them not their grandma hence her looking down.

But subjects aside, I'm not sure, hence asking.

I find the light a bit boring, and I would have liked to blur out the BG a bit more. I don't like the tree right behind them.

I only have the 50 1.8 and kit 18-55 so longer focal length would be tough. How can I make the most of my available length?

I also have a YN-560III so if fill light would have added I can do that (also have a stand and umbrella and wireless triggers at my disposal)

I'm just playing around at this point, but I have a baby on the way. I'd like to hone some skill over the next several months.

also, don't know anything about metering yet, but am intrigued.

Here's another quick edit:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/90717616@N08/8​873707905/

Second one is way better. You got lower, removed the distracting tree. Subject fills more of the frame.

If you are going to photograph someone outside (regardless of how random) be aware of how busy and far away the background is (will it distract, is something growing out of their heads, can I use DOF to make it OOF)
Frame the subject so that I can crop it in post if needed (you can't add but you can crop out distractions and make a better composition)
Use early or late light and be aware of back lit subjects (do I want to compensate or use fill flash or reflectors)
What windpig said above - hats with brims and sunglasses (my pet peeve) s/b removed or be prepared to compensate for underexposed faces/dark eyes.

facedodge wrote in post #15977809
Second one is way better. You got lower, removed the distracting tree. Subject fills more of the frame.

Thanks! I see it now! It's hard to know what to avoid, when you don't know what to avoid haha.

Spike44 wrote in post #15977812
If you are going to photograph someone outside (regardless of how random) be aware of how busy and far away the background is (will it distract, is something growing out of their heads, can I use DOF to make it OOF)
Frame the subject so that I can crop it in post if needed (you can't add but you can crop out distractions and make a better composition)
Use early or late light and be aware of back lit subjects (do I want to compensate or use fill flash or reflectors)
What windpig said above - hats with brims and sunglasses (my pet peeve) s/b removed or be prepared to compensate for underexposed faces/dark eyes.

Thanks! I will revisit these girls for sure with those tips. My cousin makes gorgeous babies! I owe them.

For the first shot, the subjects are in shadow. While the trees are lit by the sun.

Our eyes cares about the light, so with the spotlights on the trees it is obvious that our eyes will wonder to the trees instead of the humans in front of the tree.

So avoid have something else in the picture better lit than your subjects.

^good point.

I would shoot on a cloudy day or use fill flash.
I would cleanup the background.
I would use a shallower depth of field.
I would shoot the same scene from different POV 20-30 times.

pwm2 wrote in post #15977904
For the first shot, the subjects are in shadow. While the trees are lit by the sun.

Our eyes cares about the light, so with the spotlights on the trees it is obvious that our eyes will wonder to the trees instead of the humans in front of the tree.

So avoid have something else in the picture better lit than your subjects.

Makes sense. Thank you!

HDr wrote in post #15980657
I would shoot on a cloudy day or use fill flash.
I would cleanup the background.
I would use a shallower depth of field.
I would shoot the same scene from different POV 20-30 times.

Awesome advice!

By cleanup the BG do you just mean be more aware of what's there and try and simplify it? Not random objects? Obviously the apartment complex and electrical boxes aren't ideal in this case.

Shallower depth of field should help with the above too right? Blurry is cleaner (sorta)?

What's the best way to achieve shallower DOF other than changing aperture?

I've learned a ton already, thanks so much to everyone!

Another edit form the same set.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/90717616@N08/8​918415840/

My thought's on the last one:

Background is too busy. Eyes a little OOF. Maybe a bit under exposed. I'm not good enough PP to brighten it more without losing other detail.