Still learning on newborn shoots

This was my 3rd newborn shoot and from past critiques and help from the fine folks at POTN, I feel I've learned a lot. I'm happier with this shoot than my previous attempts, so wondering if anyone here can help with more pointers to help me keep learning.

Here's my setup I was working with - Large 50x50 softbox on left, inside is a 430 EX2 triggered by YN-622. Behind the softbox on the left is a large bay window, but it was an overcast day, so not the best natural light coming in. On the right is a 43in reflector. The bedding is a $30 dog bed from Costco, plus a bunch of towels and pee pad. Supporting the blanket is a couple of chairs weighted down with a bunch of heavy textbooks.

You have done well here...nice framing and set up for lighting.
I would check your histogram however as I think some are underexposed.....for baby shots, you REALLY don't want them underexposed.

Thanks Spike, I think you're right that these are a tad on the underexposed side, I'll keep an eye out for that next time.

Really like the composition of number two and I think the B and W works well in this shot. I think number four would look better with that same tighter crop. It is a great shot of the infant, peaceful and relaxed. No need to see the whole basket and the floor. Nice work.

Nicely done!

Mostly awesome! Very impressed

What to watch for IMHO...

the first one feels a tad green (no my monitor isn't color balanced right now so I could be way off)

the second and fourth... especially the fourth... the image is great, but the drape in the background needs to be gone - it is making a horizontal line that is a distraction... the last image would be great if it was just the wood floor! In #2, it is even cutting thru the poor kid's head... try to avoid that if at all possible

Dave3222 wrote in post #16859508
Really like the composition of number two and I think the B and W works well in this shot. I think number four would look better with that same tighter crop. It is a great shot of the infant, peaceful and relaxed. No need to see the whole basket and the floor. Nice work.

Thanks for the comments. I have other images in the set where the basket scene is a tighter composition. I think with the basket, I should have put more blankets underneath him, he seems to be a little too low in the basket.

swjim wrote in post #16859777
Nicely done!

Thank you!

planet5D wrote in post #16860198
Mostly awesome! Very impressed

What to watch for IMHO...

the first one feels a tad green (no my monitor isn't color balanced right now so I could be way off)

the second and fourth... especially the fourth... the image is great, but the drape in the background needs to be gone - it is making a horizontal line that is a distraction... the last image would be great if it was just the wood floor! In #2, it is even cutting thru the poor kid's head... try to avoid that if at all possible

Really appreciate the comments. I think I need to slow down a bit to really look at the scene. I was probably thinking more about getting the kid comfy in the basket and didn't pay attention to the surroundings. Great points, thank you!

Wow the difference between your first shoot and this one is amazing,keep practicing and you will nail it. These are a tad green to me, the under exposure doesn't bother me.
A little practice in PS on editing babies will help too.
Well done !

My thoughts:
Photo 1: too little baby in it
Photo 2: the seam line (floor and whatever edge) is a distraction in the background. The background is as important as the subject!
Photo 3: Best of the photos, but needs to crop off some from the top and left edge for a stronger composition.
Photo 4: again the edge of the blanket at the floor makes this photo less appealing. And I just realized that the box/basket you are using is more of a box than a basket. Why? It's square and generally straight lines are not appearing. Find a basket with curves and it'll make a big difference.

As other have said, photos are under exposed and look a bit dull/low contrast.

mercersmoments wrote in post #16862242
Wow the difference between your first shoot and this one is amazing,keep practicing and you will nail it. These are a tad green to me, the under exposure doesn't bother me.
A little practice in PS on editing babies will help too.
Well done !

Thanks so much Seona! As new as I am to photography, I'm even newer to working with PS. I've been watching tutorials on youtube whenever I can, but are there any books or resources you can recommend?

HappySnapper90 wrote in post #16862534
My thoughts:
Photo 1: too little baby in it
Photo 2: the seam line (floor and whatever edge) is a distraction in the background. The background is as important as the subject!
Photo 3: Best of the photos, but needs to crop off some from the top and left edge for a stronger composition.
Photo 4: again the edge of the blanket at the floor makes this photo less appealing. And I just realized that the box/basket you are using is more of a box than a basket. Why? It's square and generally straight lines are not appearing. Find a basket with curves and it'll make a big difference.

As other have said, photos are under exposed and look a bit dull/low contrast.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions, it's greatly appreciated. I totally agree about your basket suggestion. My props are pretty limited right now, but I've got my eye out for better stuff.

You can fix the green easy in photo shop adding some magenta and yellow. Shoot a grey card before each session and set the camera to custom WB. It will help warm things up.

You will nail the exposure by watching your light meter, I always shoot at 1/160th or above but keep my light meter to the right, when shooting natural light, even if I bump the ISO to keep my shutter speed fast, eliminates shake and OOF images.

I actually like the exposure in these shots you have, warm them up and they will be great !

There is lots of tutorials on line, you tube have some, and so does creative live.

Best way to learn is practice, once you nail a shot and you like it, write down the settings, lighting situation and processing you did. Then try something new, if you like it, stick to it. Find your style, don't worry about what others are doing. I like fresh edited images, some of my photographer friends like dark heavily edited images, I like images that look like they did as I saw them in real life - or black and white, and I like true black and white,no colour tones

I love the last shot, IMHO I would probably have cropped it more like this.

mercersmoments wrote in post #17078283
You can fix the green easy in photo shop adding some magenta and yellow. Shoot a grey card before each session and set the camera to custom WB. It will help warm things up.

You will nail the exposure by watching your light meter, I always shoot at 1/160th or above but keep my light meter to the right, when shooting natural light, even if I bump the ISO to keep my shutter speed fast, eliminates shake and OOF images.

I actually like the exposure in these shots you have, warm them up and they will be great !

There is lots of tutorials on line, you tube have some, and so does creative live.

Best way to learn is practice, once you nail a shot and you like it, write down the settings, lighting situation and processing you did. Then try something new, if you like it, stick to it. Find your style, don't worry about what others are doing. I like fresh edited images, some of my photographer friends like dark heavily edited images, I like images that look like they did as I saw them in real life - or black and white, and I like true black and white,no colour tones

Thanks again for taking the time to post your advice, I really appreciate it! Looking back at these images, it seems like this shoot was so long ago and I can see all the things I'd do differently now. I haven't done a newborn shoot since this one, but I'll be coming back to this thread and your 'Ask me what you want' thread whenever I prepare for the next one.

Meercat007 wrote in post #17087999
I love the last shot, IMHO I would probably have cropped it more like this.

Thank you, and I agree! Looks better without all the empty space behind the baby.

Thanks again for the suggestions folks! I revisted this shot to warm it up with some WB fixes and brightened up his eyes a touch, I think it looks a lot better.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/oJqg​GB

The last picture (#4)in the OP kills me. Like a kick in the stomach. On first glance it looks as if the child is deceased.