Very Studio-Like

Shot this of my 21 month old son, Cooper, today. Thought it turned out very 'studio-like'

For the black background, I used the black side of my reflector. Hey, make the most of what ya got, right?

Shot in Tv mode, bounced flash off the ceiling.

C&C welcomed and appreciated, please!

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Here's one more from the same 'session.'

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

I really like the second one. The first pose is a bit strange with only his head showing.

Stacie

My favorite is also the second one. Looks like he got a little tired of the photo shoot.

the second one is my favorite too. Really well done

Thank you both. I really like the second photo, too.

staciecd wrote in post #2146169
I really like the second one. The first pose is a bit strange with only his head showing.

Stacie

He was wearing a black shirt, so it blended into the background. Sorry bout that!

Thank you, Fstop! I'm really trying to get some decent photos of him before he turns 2 in a few months!

i think they are both adorable! what a cutie!

The second one is very nice. I would have liked the DOF to extend to the lower eye as well..

The second one is beautiful Trish.

Art

the second shot is def a "hanger" its really cute. 1st is slightly 2 shallow for my taste but an adorable pose

Love #2 also. More DOF on #1 would be nice.

If you're able to bounce flash then I assume you're using a speedlight. Get out of Tv and Av... set your shutter to 1/160 or 1/200 and set your aperture to whatever you'd like. No need for the camera to dictate the aperture here - especially since the light is very much under your control. Just a thought!

ETA: Looking at the EXIFon #1... your aperture was wide open... and probably flashing at you since, even in Tv, your camera didn't think you had enough light to get a correct exposure (since the flash is not accounted for here). Go M!

I think they are ok as snapshots. What I found that could have been better:

#1 Depth of field was very shallow #2 On the 2nd pose his bottom eye is too small because of laying his head down too hard and that eye is out of focus and also has no catch light. #3 Also on the 2nd one, his hands are cut off or amputated as portrait photographers call it. #4And on the 1st one there is no good lighting pattern. I would have liked seeing a short lighting pattern. #5 Finally, on image 2 there is no light in the bottom eye.

It looks like you have potential ... just keep working at it. Remember to watch everything and don't get wrapped up in the moment. Pretend you are creating images for a client instead of doing images of your child. Details like I listed are very important.

D. Craig Flory PPA Certified, Cr.Photog., ASP
loryphotog@mindspring.​com

Thank you all for your helpful comments and criticisms. You are all so honest and it helps me very much! Thank you!

Nice.