Is it always bad if the subject isn't facing forwards?

I think I get it that when shooting people, eye contact is best. But is it sometimes acceptable if the person isn't? For example this shot, her eyes are closed and she is facing sideways.. I think she looks peaceful and content, and it's pleasing to my eye (I'm a little biased though, this is my daughter). But from a photographer point of view, is this a "no-no"?

Thoughts?

There's no such thing as "always" in photography.

It depends on the nature and intent of the photo. For most portraiture, I like seeing the face and eyes - however, I have more than a few artistic portraits (nudes, etc) and even a handful of documentary-style portraits where the subject isn't facing the camera or the eyes are not visible.

If this had a title that went with this then there is no reason why the subject should be facing the camera and/or have eye contact.

If you're like me, most of your pictures of your daughter probably show her face. Now you have one featuring her curly red hair. If you like it, its a keeper. Rules be damned.

It would be a killer image if her face would be directed upward like she was sniffing the wind..

I don't think the subject needs to be facing the camera if they are engaged in something that give a reason for shooting the image. This isn't one of those. She's not engaged in anything, her eyes are closed and she is out of focus. I'm sure you have or will have plenty of great images of this cutie pie, but keep at it.

I think there are exceptions to all rules and this might be one of them. IMO it could have worked if her eyes were open. It looks to me like you caught a blink.

Unless you have a paying client, the only rule is that you like the photo.

True dat

bumpintheroad wrote in post #17652728
Unless you have a paying client, the only rule is that you like the photo.

Ha hah, yes, and that is why we are always asking others for approval...

chauncey wrote in post #17652315
It would be a killer image if her face would be directed upward like she was sniffing the wind..

dude, you're cracking me up.

windpig wrote in post #17652392
I don't think the subject needs to be facing the camera if they are engaged in something that give a reason for shooting the image. This isn't one of those. She's not engaged in anything, her eyes are closed and she is out of focus. I'm sure you have or will have plenty of great images of this cutie pie, but keep at it.

i will echo this. OOF and maybe a bit cool.

at, this is definitely a "pose" you should work on. When you feel a shot is decent but are not sure if it's working, it often means you just need to go back and try it again.

Some of my favorite pics are of my sons holding their sons hands walking away from me hiking down a mountain trail . May not be professional , may not be to other's liking , but they mean the world to me .

I agree that as long as you like the shot, especially when it's your child, that's what matters most.

I also agree with Windpig that it helps make the shot more interesting when the child is engaged with some other activity.

Here are a couple of examples that I took where the child's face is turned away from the camera:

This is the grandson of one of my friends that includes my friend's 3 favorite things - his grandchild, one of his horses and football (he's a football coach).
http://images.zizics.c​om/5/1/10/33710_935345​155_4.jpg

This is one of my granddaughters giving a big kiss to one of her best friends
http://images.zizics.c​om/6/11/4/33710_354941​156_4.jpg

To answer your thread topic question, no.

You can take an image from any angle, any direction and as long as it looks interesting to you personally that is fine. But for this image in particular it makes me want to ask something like, is she hold a teddy bear or what is she doing with her hands. The way the image is composed makes me want to see more or what's going on as to why she has her eyes closed and looking away.

It's a tricky question to answer since their is no right or wrong. But that is what I think she I see this image.

I agree with most of what is said here... as a rule, no not required.

But in this case, doesn't work for me. No interest, no idea what she's doing, looks like a snapshot gone bad.

p.s. it feels very static as well because her eyes are dead center (I'm a rule of thirds man in 95% of cases and this just feels stuck).

She'll be a great model, and you can keep this for yourself, but won't appeal to very many other observers.