Can I get some CC, just not too harsh LOL?

Question

I have been playing around making pictures latley and then editing them,tell me what you think and also if you have any other ideas...

this is my daughter at 1 week old

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/melissalpayne/Annaindaddyshand.jpg

5 1/2 months old

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/melissalpayne/Headbandwithflowers.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/melissalpayne/bowcolored.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/melissalpayne/Ebaypicture.jpg

7 months

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/melissalpayne/Annasstoryboard.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/melissalpayne/Annasstoryboard2themanyfaces.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/melissalpayne/Annasstoryboard2themanyfaces2.jpg

and this last one is my cousins little girl

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/melissalpayne/Victoria.jpg

Jed- LOL thanks...

brutabrutobrutos...my husband used to teach karate and he's a black belt...so I guess she gets it from him

glitter , exo & writer-thanks for the comments

bellaj-thanks and I will look for that book...although I'm not much of a reader anymore LOL...also I use photo explosion 2.0...those story board pics I just made last night and was bored so i didnt really feel like "cleaning" them up so to speak...but if you look close at the one of her at 1 week old I cropped all of the background out because it had our ex landlord's hideous couch in the background LOL

waitalgamer85- yeah LOL i am by no means an expert or even novice at editing...I've always liked photography but now that I had my daughter my love has grown even more, in fact I also made my cousin's senior portraits a few weeks ago because the guy that did them a few months ago lost them...

Also here are some of my cousins senior pics...

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/melissalpayne/sephiaontraintracks.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/melissalpayne/standingbytree.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/melissalpayne/BWonbridge.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/melissalpayne/editedontracks.jpg

Answer 1

awww the black and white photos with the colored bow on her head are amazingly cute.

Answer 2

First the good: You have a really cute baby!

Now the cc: Lose the on-camera flash!!!!! The baby pictures are marred by the harsh, flat lighting and the horrid shadows being cast. If you don't have a hot shoe dedicated flash unit, now is the time to get one. Then get a flash modifier, like a Fong Sphere or a Demb diffuser or Omnibounce and practice using it. Bounce the flash off the ceiling or wall. Or learn to use available light (even better!) Put baby near a fairly bright window and turn the flash off. Maybe use a foam board or poster board on the opposite side to reflect some light into the shadow areas.

I find a little selective color goes a long way. Also, for babies, you might want to desaturate the color portion quite a bit, the bright ribbon is distracting and jars the eye. Your backgrounds leave something to be desired as well. The flowers are distracting and overpowering the baby, and the black is stark and harsh, especially when partnered with the lighting problems. You need a faster lens or larger aperture to throw the bg out of focus.

The train tracks were a good idea. Again, a bit much post-processing for my taste, particularly with that crazy border! But hey, if the subject likes that effect, that's what counts.

Keep on shooting and practicing. Especially work on lighting, and try to use some available light whenever possible. Your baby will be proud to have many photos of this stage when she's older. No body ever says they took too many photos!

Answer 3

Very nice. I like the b/w with color focus in the flowers. I would suggest spending more time choosing fonts that go well together. You don't want them to be too different that they clash, but not too similar that they blend. Guess and check is my preferred method. Look up the book "The Design Book for Non-Designers" by Robin Williams. It is an easy read, and can really help you understand the philosophy of visual display. It's only like $15

You have great ideas. The other thing that gets tricky, is pay attention to the background in your pics. (which I know you did in some.. beautiful) The "many faces of Anna Alexa" pics had some things in the background that were a bit distracting.

You can try to trim the background out, but I'm not sure what kind of program you're using.

Anyhow, keep up the good work! Your daughter and cousin will love to see these when they are older!!

Answer 4

I would suggest skipping the lettering. It was distracting to me. I also felt that the stark black backgrounds were a bit harsh for the subject matter...think of a way to soften that up.

Zoom in closer on that little one. Babies are fascinating! There really doesn't need to be any discernable background, props, or even clothing. Get in close on those big eyes and rolls of fat. Let part of the subject matter be "off" the sides. It will make a more interesting composition and the viewers eyes "fill in" the rest.

I think you have some good work here, keep it up!

Answer 5

Overall, I think you should work more on lighting than your work in photoshop. Color/desaturation is not really my thing, sometimes it can make it obvious that the photos have been manipulated. I really liked the one with your cousin sitting on the train tracks, unaltered, probably the best one out of the lot. It shows depth. For infants and babies you want to use very soft lighting, natural, from a window in the morning light, perhaps. And the text is a bit busy and can draw the eye away from your subject. Photos with text make good greeting cards, or keychain ornaments, but not for portraiture. And traditionally, black backgrounds are difficult, go with something more natural. Practice makes perfect, so keep shooting.

Answer 6

The pictures themselves are great. I'm not so impressed with the editing of them though. You never claimed to be an expert at editing though. So i'm going to say great photography, and good start at editing.

Answer 7

haha that is the cutest baby i've ever seen. usually i think babies are ugly but yours is an exception. must have a pretty mother :D

Answer 8

Bravo!!!!!
Empressive.

Answer 9

Good picture. Cute Kid.

Answer 10

at 1wk old she throwing a mean kick. you should put her on kick boxing classes soon.