My first post - Amateur with a new Nifty Fifty

well- mom's hands with no body is somewhat "disconnected, and you've chopped a few of your daughter's fingers on her right hand (kind of a no-no). the flash is a bit too bright, creating a hot-spot on most of her face. If you used a speedlight or similar flash, you can back off the flash output to just fill flash.

Cute kid. Why no mom?

I'd like to see mum in there too.

I'm assuming that's mum's hair behind? Makes your DD look like she's got really long hair lol.

Thanks guys. As for the flash, I used the onboard flash with a stofen diffuser ontop as I ran out of batteries on the 420ex.

Yeah, that's her grandmother (my mom) holding her.

How's this one? Not as sharp as I'd like it to be as it looks as if I've focused on the bar and apple behind her head.

I take a lot of the same shots with my 8mo old, and I'm finding the BG too busy. They are great for the album, but not very good portraits. Decide which you want as portraits, and frame the shot accordingly, and which are album shots. That may help you choose the composition mode.

Great tip. Thanks, I'll do that.

Hey bkw, small world huh

About the last shot you posted..

You probably already know this, but if not, you should look into setting 1 focus point as an option instead of using the all-points method. You should be able to focus correctly every time doing that.

I use the very center focus square. I just focus with it, then move the camera to frame the shot.

Good work though, keep it up!

I like these, but I think I'd prefer them to be less posed (the first one for example) and like others have said, the background in the second seems kind of distracting.

I don't have any experience photographing younger children, but they might work better if you sit her in an uncluttered area with one or two of her favorite toys and just observe her and wait for the perfect moment. They'd look a lot more natural that way in my opinion. I've seen some gorgeous photographs of young children taken in that way. Maybe go for an area next to a large window if possible. That way you won't have to use the flash and you'll get some nice natural lighting.

liebernoodle wrote in post #2756175
Hey bkw, small world huh

No it isn't

I think they are great as snapshots for memories. To make these more than snapshots read about rule of thirds. The backgrounds are also distracting. As snapshots I love them! Cute lil one!!!

Poindexter wrote in post #2756597
No it isn't

Ack! who let this guy in?!

hey guys! yeah, so it started with you guys now its moved onto this..

wouldnt be here without you fellas!