First proper newborn (2 weeks) photoshoot for a friend. Please C&C

THIS POST IS ON THE FAMILY FORUM AND I WANTED TO DELETE IT, AS IT BELONGS HERE. COULDN'T DO IT. IF A MOD COULD DO THAT FOR ME, THAT'D BE GREAT

I am planning to start taking baby photoshoots, so when my best friend asked me to photograph his 18 day old baby, I jumped to the opportunity. Never thought it would be so tiring!

Please have a look at these samples and let me know what you think. I used my 70-200 f4L for most of the shots. The light in the room was not perfect at all, as they arrived for lunch, and before we realized we were having a laugh over dessert and drinks and it was already 5pm! I was bouncing my flash and had 2 very weak continuous lights on. I want to buy some proper lights in a few weeks time.

I have tried to do babies once and will never try again

Just commenting on the poses

#5 is my fav of the bunch, wish he was looking at the camera though. But again I know how hard babies are!

#1, 6 & 7 makes me feel that baby is not comfortable/ a little awkward.

#2 how can you go wrong with a sleeping baby in moms arms. I would crop more on the left and open the right side up a tad.

#3 I am not feeling at all

#4 I know it is just a fun pic so wont comment on that one

IMO black backgrounds do not belong on newborn photos. If you can use it as a mask and clone in some composite image that might work. Not sure what's up with Dad and the empty wine glass?

Will try what you suggested with the background. I had a white background, but he peed all over it after a couple of shots I thought that the black was going to bring out the contrast of the white bucket, but maybe is a bit too much.

The glass is a cognac glass, not fully empty. He was just finishing it and I wanted a funny photo for them

Thanks for your comments!

I agree on the baby looking a bit awkward on some photos. He does have a tendency of frowning! Probably he was getting tired of all the people around him. For the close up, the mum asked me for a close up of his face/eye. Maybe I got the angle wrong!

Thanks again

#2 is my favorite.

Thanks!

i like the black backgrounds,goes well with the white props,the glass pic doesn't work for me,not sure what it means,if it was a beer bottle maybe for fun but a glass seems??? i like the rest of them,the classic one in last pic is great,i like image 5 most,i think your close up focus on the eye is great,u can see just enough of the face thats blurred,great job.

Glass story: I was taking photos of mum, while dad was drinking some cognac. She gave out to him jokingly saying that he was not in many photos and he came into this one finishing his drink as a joke. I thought it was funny and took the shot while he finished the drink.