Impromptu Baby Shoot. please critique both picture and PP.

hello there,
i am an amateur photographer looking to maybe move into paid gigs here and there. this is a shot of a very 'why not' shoot i did for some friends on vacation a week ago. what do you all think of this picture and its PP. i tend to very critical of myself and though i think the composition is good. i really do think i severaly lack PP abilities. any tips and or CC? thank you all.

BEFORE

The sloping floor struck me - level it!

I like this image - I am sure it breaks lots of "rules" but it does have strong subject separation, yet maintains a link to the (presumed) parents.

Astheros wrote in post #17901905
hello there,
i am an amateur photographer looking to maybe move into paid gigs here and there. this is a shot of a very 'why not' shoot i did for some friends on vacation a week ago. what do you all think of this picture and its PP. i tend to very critical of myself and though i think the composition is good. i really do think i severaly lack PP abilities. any tips and or CC? thank you all.

BEFORE

Hosted photo: posted by Astheros in
./showthread.php?p=179​01905&i=i223083178
forum: Critique Corner

Hosted photo: posted by Astheros in
./showthread.php?p=179​01905&i=i16604784
forum: Critique Corner

I like the odd framing/composition etc.
Only issue is level the horizon as mentioned in above comment.

Either have the parents in, or out. The kid is adorable but having half bodies sticking out of the frame just doesnt work. The kid seems old enough to sit up without being propped.

Martin Dixon wrote in post #17902057
The sloping floor struck me - level it!
I like this image - I am sure it breaks lots of "rules" but it does have strong subject separation, yet maintains a link to the (presumed) parents.

wow i didnt even notice the floor. thanks

Van Gogh wrote in post #17902618
I like the odd framing/composition etc.
Only issue is level the horizon as mentioned in above comment.

will do

gonzogolf wrote in post #17902632
Either have the parents in, or out. The kid is adorable but having half bodies sticking out of the frame just doesnt work. The kid seems old enough to sit up without being propped.

parents were super worried about the kid on the pier. we were out about 100 ft into the ocean. i kinda like the parents in the shot because it shows unity to the kid. especially with the tree of life on the dads arm. seems to go with the baby as new life.

Astheros wrote in post #17902643
will do

parents were super worried about the kid on the pier. we were out about 100 ft into the ocean. i kinda like the parents in the shot because it shows unity to the kid. especially with the tree of life on the dads arm. seems to go with the baby as new life.

You have the disadvantage of knowing too much. Try to judge the image without the back story. .

If you want to turn Pro...learn Photoshop and delete Mom and Dad...straighten.

the parents either in or out.

i have to say as an outsider i totally agree with the others,half an arm of the parents just doesn't work,it looks very odd and yes u know the symbolism of the tattoo but to me and most it was kinda a weird looking bush tattoo, cute kid nice expesrrion but half arms just don't work,as others mentioned maybe photoshop the arms out and have a nice child protait

thanks everyone for your input. i will attempt to crop the baby and clone out the arms. appreciate the feedback.

I would have to agree that the parents need to be in or out. Dad's hand is not as bad, but it looks like mom is ready to catch him if he falls. If you can crop the parents out I think it would be a great pic!

The PP is defiantly what is needed but the pose isnt super. I think I get what you were going for ie the parent's arms and all the the kid. You have to be carefull of where you crop off people. The guys chin shouldn't be visible and the girls leg looks weird.

I hope there were other useable shots in this series but if this somehow was the only one I would clone out the arms and crop it portrait style as just the baby.

The parents arms look like they were trying to prop the kid up and then get out of the photo quickly. It doesn't work. Even if you sat the baby on the floor criss crossing his legs , it would be better. (it takes him longer to to get up, should he be so inclined, when you do that). If I have a baby that needs wrangling by the parents, I have one of them on their knees and I draw an imaginary wall on the floor telling them "you can lean in if you need to touch the baby, fix hair, wipe the drool, take outs out of mouth etc. but as long as you don't cross THIS IMAGINARY WALL, you won't be in the picture... Ask them to NOT talk to the baby, only to wrangle him. The baby will feel comforted having a parent nearby also. The other parent can be behind you, but avoid having them trying to get the baby to smile if possible. That can be your Plan B. YOU need to try first, so the baby is looking at the camera.

Give the wranger parent a visual by drawing the imaginary wall with your hands so they know exactly where the baby wrangling parent can and can't be. They can't sit on their butts and still lean in comfortably, but on their knees they can be close enough and far enough to wrangle/protect the baby. You need to give enough space to crop them out if they mess up afterwards. Remember, being on their knees gives them a lot more "reach", it really does work well.