My first image post, CC please.

We were at the wild animal park and this just worked out to be a nice backdrop. Please let me know what you think and don't hold back. Too cheesy, too cliche? Lighting?

In hindsight, I should have checked my ISO. Obviously I didn't need it that high, but it looks like noise isn't too much of a problem. I also wish my son had been wearing a solid color shirt, as I think the graphic is a bit distracting.

First Pic:
Model - Canon EOS 30D
ExposureTime - 1/1000 seconds
FNumber - 2.80
ExposureProgram - Aperture priority
ISOSpeedRatings - 1000
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/1000 seconds
ApertureValue - F 2.80
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
FocalLength - 36 mm

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Not to bad for your 1st post.. I love the bonding with the mom and the child. I am not really liking the pp on these shots thought. I would love the see your sooc shots.. In the 2nd photo their skin is blurred a little to much and his shirt is way to bright.. His eyes are so dark that they look almost like holes in his head.. Try and get some catchlights to give the subject some life.

I think the 1st shot is the better of the two but something seems just a little off here. I am having a hard time learning this but remember less is more.. Less bg, less pp etc..

Keep practicing and posting. You are doing great.

Thanks for the feedback, Heather. I guess I got a little carried away with the softening. Good call with the catchlights. I should have slapped on the speedlite. I actually had it with me, but didn't think about it. Here are the pics straight out of the camera (with cropping):

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I really like your sooc shots. I hope you don't mind but I played around with them a little.. These are really cute shots but I think toning down the brightness of the shirt and not doing the blur makes it look a little better.. I dodged the catchlight in the eyes a little make them come alive.. I also left the bg but did a little cloning of the branch that some coming out of her head.

I tried to do a little dream glow on it but it didn't work out right. Probably because I don't have the full size photo..

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Nice edits Heather

Wow Heather, your processing really makes them pop! I appreciate it.