Makeshift Studio Shots - 7 Month Old

I was bored last Monday, so I thought I'd try and create a makeshift studio in my living room. My son is the model. It goes without saying that I'm not a pro, but I was fairly happy with the outcome.

What are your thoughts?

1.

I really like the first. I think the light is too forward in the rest.

I acutally like them all. Great job!

The lighting on these is really harsh. I think you should try balancing out natural light with your studio lighting (whatever you have) that will give you a better outcome with softer lighting. He is such a cutie though!!

I love the first and the last shot. Very cute baby.

Very cute. The last one is my favorite. I agree that the lighting is a little too harsh, what is your setup?

Cute shots. Some sort of fill (flash, strobe or reflector) on the left side would have helped lighten the shadows. Great job on the focus with such shallow DOF.
+1 on the first and last being great shots.

Thanks. I agree with the lighting.

Thank you very much. Thanks for commenting.

Noted. It's really my first attempt at anything like this.
So, I gladly accept the advise. Thanks.

Thank you.

You're probably going to laugh.
One 500watt shop/work light from the garage on the right.
One of those car windshield silver sunshades on the left to bounce on face.
Open east facing window as my frontal fill.

Yea. It was cheesy, but I'm learning.

Yes, I agree. Need to actually buy a reflector.
Thanks for the comments and crits.

A friend of mine used to buy those paper lantern type shades at Ikea and use that to diffuse the harshness of the light. It seemed to work nicely for her, and they're really cheap. Maybe that would help, until you can buy the "professional" set up?

Example of the light shade she used - they carry 3 different sizes.

Yea, I've been pondering on what I can use to diffuse. Much appreciated for the idea.

Good for you for experimenting, that's how some people learn. I agree with the comments about the lighting. Also watch for finger cropping ie. photo #1. I love the expressions on his face. Nice focus on the eyes!!!

Thanks for the input Kimmy.

I persianllly like that. BUT... the lighting itself i am nore sure about. TO me it looks like someone pointed a flash light on him...the light sorce is very nerrow and doesnt lit the baby evanly...

Thanks Katia.

I chuckled at your comment, because it essentially is a flashlight. Just a bigger 500 watt version of a flashlight. I'm in dire need of diffusing the light and playing around more with bouncing and fill lighting.

This was more of an experiment than anything else.

I'll post more when I get a better setup. I have a few things in mind.
It's fun to see what you can come up with when your broke sometimes, lol.

Thanks for checking them out.

Quite like 2 and 6, lighting not quite right but I thnk they've come out well.