So, this was a last minute shoot from Sunday. She is 2 weeks old and we just kind of played for a few minutes. The one thing I'm frustrated with is the mother's hair over her face, but she kind of wanted to cover her profile, so I just went with it. I wanted them to be comfortable. Would love your impressions.
I noticed your post has had 100 views and not a single person took the time to offer any comments.
So I will jump in. You have shown a desire to learn and to improve and that is a very important thing to have for any photographer.
My Comments below are intended to help you....in a friendly tone of voice etc.
My Simple Suggestion: If the mother does not like her "profile" then simply find another POV.
The image lost something because so much of the mother's face is hidden and the hair is so brightly lit and prominent in the image.
So we are then left with the father's facial expressions and only the "eye expression" of the mother. Neither looks "loving" "tender" or "happy" or "blissful" or such. We can barely see the mother's eye (one).
The "Impression" I get from their expressions is: "Yep...it is a baby...now what?"
The framing of the image is pretty tight. Too tight, in my opinion. (see cut hands at bottom and cut head on woman). In general, I don't think this is a good composition (even though it may "appear" common with two parents looking down at a baby in arm). It also appears "man dominated" because his head is so much more clearly shown. Yet, the man appears "expressionless" because of the POV and...his expression. A minor thing is the "down look" of the man has caused him to look "jowly" (like a double chin). In the mother's case, the light and the POV and the "hair frame" has caused her nose to be the most significant part of her body/face in the picture. So her "nose" becomes a focal point...not a good thing in this image. (And I like noses. ...see my comments in the High Key Wife thread currently posted here: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/710938).
Because this image does not show "loving expression" and seems "cold" to me, I would not put this on my website or in my portfolio. Because the mother's face is so hidden, I would not present this to the parents either. I would find another image to give them, or another way to shoot it to more clearly show the "love" the parents may have for the baby.
You wrote: "so I just went with it." I think that can work in some cases...but not all.
Thanks for the thorough breakdown Steady. It does help. While I don't agree with everything you said, the main points are taken and I will try them out. I definitely don't get the, "Yep...it is a baby...now what?" impression, but I appreciate yours.
I have found one other shot from the sequence that I had over looked.
Do you find this to be better? I shot tighter because of the room I was in. Too many distractions.
Everything written below is in a friendly tone of voice and is intended to help you and others. Remember, I write this as a "friend."
Like I always say....I never expect anyone to fully agree on ANYTHING...
But...I would like to help you if I can.
Of the two images, I prefer the second.
Why?
Look carefully at the mouth of the man. Of course the mouth of the woman is NOT shown in the first image, so in the first image the "key" expression comes solely from the man. Concentrate solely on the MAN for a moment.
Notice the "turn of his lips."
Now look at the second image.
Notice that in the second image his lips are forming a very subtle "smile" that is NOT seen in the first image. The first has more of a "lower lip protrudes" expression that is seen with the "furrow" of his brow (look between eyebrows) as "concerned" type of thinking expression. At least...that is how "I see it."
In addition, of course, there is the obvious smile on the face of the mother (that is seen in #2 but NOT in #1).
All other things considered "equal" I find the #2 image MUCH nicer to view than the #1 image.
I hope that helps you.
Now here is another "Steady Tip" intended to help you and others
Take the #2 image and try to crop it to a "standard size" print that is not a 4x6. Try an 8 x10 ratio print format.
OK...that won't work.
Now try a 16x20 format.
Oops that won't work either.
OK...how about a 5 x 7 for the grandparents?
Nope. That won't work either (unless you cut off the baby).
How about a square format?
Nope. Unless the baby goes again. Or maybe you could try the increasingly popular "headless torso crop" often seen here on FM. The one where the parent's heads are cut off.
Perhaps you will make it a 13 x19 print using your inkjet printer?
OK, if that is your print method. Go for it.
Now try to frame it with a typical window mat. Look at his ear. A mat will very likely "cut the ear."
So...
My Simple Suggestion: Think ahead and leave more space around the heads in the original shot. Crop later to show a finished format or composition that fits the print size and presentation you will make. Also leave room for a window mat (for larger prints) and for an "overlap" if you intend to put the image in a table top frame.
I hope these comments/tips/suggestions (and yes...the questions too) help you and others.
Gee...this image post has had 244 views by forum visitors and I was the only person to leave a comment?
I truly wish more people that visited this forum would take a moment to help those that post a photo with a comment of some kind.
Or try an "Impression" instead. They are different in concept and don't require any technical expertise at all. Just two eyes and some emotion or thoughts.
I would have to agree with Steady that the first image came across as the two almost as if they were trying to deal with a problem... Def. think the second shot the better of the two. Did like the lighting on one just not for the subject matter.
...see my comments in the High Key Wife thread currently posted here: 
