Baby Will..... 10 weeks old and totally adorable..... This is was a paid photo sitting, and so I'm concerned about the quality. Do they look too amateurish? *guess I'm getting nervous* I went in there with a lot of wonderful ideas, and then baby wouldn't cooperate, Mom wanted some specific things, so of course I worked with the mother to give her what she wanted. Over all it went well. Shot 85 images over a period of 90 minutes, ended up dumping 26 of those right into the trash.... guess that's not too bad. I wasn't going for the studio look..... I had wanted more of a BW fine art type thing. Mom wanted baseballs and blue jeans..... Any type of suggestions/critiques are welcome.....

# two........

# three.......

# four.....

Oh! #2 is totally gorgeous!!! Definitely my fav!!! Then, #4 does it for me! I'm definitely not keen on #3, too "white" for my taste and #1 leaves me perplexe!! O_o I dunno if I like it or not! There's something I like about it but there's also something that bothers me...I think it's the background...dunno! Can't put my finger on it...I like the idea and I think it would look great as a poster though! It has that quality...yep! Not sure I helped a lot here....huh?? Did I?? Mmmmh! Maybe not! :(

Ok, after second thought, I really like that #1!! yea, I do! It looks very professional, that's what I meant by "it has that quality"...to be printed as a poster that is! Yep!

Shooting a baby to mum's specifications hard and brave! I done a shoot with a very very cute 3 year old girl and her mother, got a quite a lot of good results 1 awesome result ant tonnes of, well we wont even go there! Well #1 is lovely, shame about the baseball bat (IMO) Really like #4, love the expression, exposure and DOF first class. #2 is lovely also, nice DOF and compo. #3 is my lease favourite, for no particular reason. Maybe (hard hat on) a little over exposed!?! Not sure. But amateurish, oh now come on, think you have got a touch of nerves, I find and I am sure you do to, that in general photographs that I dont like (mine I mean) most people think are wonderful. Suggestions: Yes 1 I would have got a shot of mum and baby together, even if she didnt want to I would have tried to talk her into it. You may be the hired photographer, but you are also the director of that photography, and some people dont know what they want or what is best, but you (the photographer) probably does. Bottom line though you cant always do what you want when dealing with people, trust me I know and have found that out with my recent ventures lol We wont go there either. Lovely work Michelle Sorry it was supposed to be a short comment, I will shut up now!

Yep see what you mean about #3, a wee bit heavy handed with my postwork on that one I'm afraid..... that was the effects from the Pastel filter from Nik eFex.... here's the original, unworked version. Better? I have unchanged files for her to see, and then I have a few postworked versions for her to see what can be done with them if she chooses. There are others of the baby in the same outfit without the baseball bat, but expressions, positions are not as nice.... I'll see if I can't clone the bat out.... I did grab a few of mom and baby together in between, but Mom's hair was a mess, she's still in her jammies.... I am however going to show them to her..... Will post one of mom & babe in a second.......

You should get paid well! And john should be happy that you are earning that buck! LOL Very well done!

Not so great shot.... but a tender moment between them.... And thanks so much for the advice Simon!

Yes that is better; you might get away with cloning the bat out, not easy (for me) Like you I always give straight shots and pw examples I kind of got lucky as mum is a model that I met. You have really hit the nail square on the head when you say "expressions, positions are not as nice" and IMO that is the price you pay for working with people, more so babys cause they dont know any better. The little girl that I photographed done everything she could to be awkward and she knew what she was doing, I virtually had to bribe her lol "Kids"

Ah yes! #3 is much better in its original version indeed! I'm still not keen on it cos I find it quite dull! Like...just another baby shot but hey, if this is what she wants...she's the client after all! ;) As for the baseball bat...I guess it's a matter of taste but it doesn't bother me!

I am interested how you lit the scene; I have no critique about just it interested personally. The mother and baby one is nice, it looks very motherly (not that I would know as I have no children) From what I have seen they are all perfectly acceptable. It may not surprise you to know, that I know you fairly well even thought we have never met, and you are always striving for perfection, so am I but rarely (if ever) get it, that ideology is even harder with living subjects, you dont get a second shot at that moment in time. And to some degree have to compromise. A hard thing to do, and in the end that will take me back to purely doing landscapes, my first love and passion.

2 and 4 are really really good.Some of the others seem quite stiff. You probably had the mom helping with the poses...but I believe photographers should be the in control. I guess I like more candid shots and less posed stills.I won't critique too much, because I do not do much of this, myself, but will be in the next while. Thanks for posting and I can learn from this.

Michelle, Number two is wonderful! Number four is my favorite! Number one would have to agree about the bat! Number three looks much better in it's original version! These are not amateurish at all, I think you did a wonderful job, and if these are any indication I am sure the mother will love them. Brenda :)

Thanks bunches for the critiques all.... it's really tough to get a 10 week old baby to pose, and there are basically only two positions you can put them in.... on their back or on their bellies.

He didn't care for being on his belly all that much.... it was definitely a learning experience, as I've done older children but never an infant before. A little more relaxing, as you're not running a marathon trying to keep up with them, but stressful anyway.

Simon I used a combination of natural window lighting and a Nikon SB-800 flash unit fit with the diffuser that came with it and bounced the flash, straight up at a 90degree angle.
Next month a maternity shoot.... another new experience, but one that I'm also looking forward to. :~)

Message edited on: 06/03/2005 07:29

Thats interesting. It is sometimes dificult to tell from an image how the lighting is achived. It is very well balenced, not that I am a lighting expert you understand. That is the kind of lighting I use for non studio stuff, doesnt look this good though. I will have to work on that lol I thought that you maybe had a portable lighting kit. Thanks for the info.

O my, number 2 is my favorite, such a wonderful soft touching shot.....and then number 3 the repost the unworked version.....all shots don't look as amateurish.....it looks really professional you have a lot patient and a good eye ......

I can't help grinning at #4! Its a corker of a shot an no mistake :D Good luck with the upcoming maternity shoot.

I like #2 and #4 best as well. The diagonal lines of #2 is interesting. The look on the baby's face in #4 (and the way it makes you wonder what the baby is looking at) is also real interesting. Numbers 1 and 3 seem too vertical, centered, and static to me.

All of them are top notch, but yes, 2 and 4 are my faves, 4 being the standout. All look professional, so no worries there, but 1 and 3 look too posed for my tastes.

2 & 4 are classic!!... personally i think 1 is great!! & would frame it :] they look professional to me too!

When its handle of baby...have to much pain...cannot answer...Luv...

It's also interesting observing the observations of the observers. Some of us focus on technical details like lighting, some of us look at the emotional content like the expression on the subject's face, and some of us focus on general things like composition. It's great to have the diversity of responses!

wonderful images,Michelle.the first one is my fav, looks very professional in this Studio light and atmosphere.Congrats. !!!!!!!! #:O) !!!!!!!

Thanx for the li'l look see into your studio session here. This is something I find REAL interesting. #1- The shot it cool...you definitely got his attn! The bat does seem a little overwhelming! Did MOM supply these props? One of the MINI type bats or even an inflatable toy ones might have worked in this case! #2 Love it...takin a NAP! Classy in B&W! Simply PRICELESS! #3 The post works gives it an over-exposed look! I think if he was wearing a darker colored shirt the effect would have come acrossed better. #4- Nothin' to say here! Great expression! #10 This one is special too! Capturing an intimate moment with MOM & baby! Thx again for sharin! Joe