new fam photos

**l1lm1k3** · 11-09-2008, 10:20 AM

Done these today nov 9. I think that i done a good job this time . . .

**marshall2** · 11-09-2008, 10:47 AM

Michael, you've done so much better on these than with past family photos. You picked a nice spot to shoot. The fall colours made for a nice backdrop, and the shade made for a nice soft, diffused light. Your exposure is much better too.

I would crop the first shot a little tighter on the right hand side. It's a bit centered, and the dead space doesn't really add to the shot. The arrangement of you guys in the picture doesn't work for me. Where your son is so low in the picture I find myself only looking at you and your daughter, not him too. It looks like it would have been difficult for him to get any higher with you guys all maintaining that pose (Which I like), but had you and your daughter squatted down some or kneeled, your heads could have all been near the same height.

I like your daughters pose in the second shot. I would have preferred to see her elbow though. My only suggestions would be to move her to the right a bit to avoid it looking like the tree branch in the background is growing from her head. That would also eliminate the tree trunk starting to protrude into the image.

The third is my favourite of the 3, and I think the best of the bunch. What a great shot of your little guy. Wonderful pose and composition. It reminds me of a jeans add on TV here, except he's a kid and not an adult

. My only suggestion would be to clone the tree bark into the gap running along the right side.

All in all, really good shots. You've really improved a lot with these. The kids look very natural and comfortable. Nicely done.

**l1lm1k3** · 11-09-2008, 10:54 AM

thanks marshall i appreciate the advice before i print i will do my best to edit . Im in love with all the photos i took today im really not sure what to print. There are so many great shots from today. thanks for all the help and suggestions

**Fee** · 11-09-2008, 12:26 PM

lovely family photos and i can't get over how alike you all look!! all great pictures but i fell in love with photo number 3!!!

**l1lm1k3** · 11-09-2008, 01:16 PM

thanks fee! i get that allot about him everyone loves him

**Jan** · 11-09-2008, 02:22 PM

I like all of these, taking in Brad's comments. I just love the expression on your son's face in #3.

**alanw** · 11-09-2008, 02:32 PM

Michael, I like these a lot! The pose in #1 works for me, but I have to agree about watching the crop in #2(either while taking the shot or in post processing) to make sure you don't cut out parts of the body. But these are definitely keepers!

**brucep** · 11-09-2008, 04:48 PM

I really like the soft light in these (no harsh sunlight/shadow and no overly bright, distracting backgrounds. As the others have said, the poses in #1 are super!

Generally my preference in portraits is to have more directional light... that beautiful soft light you have, but coming more from one direction than another. Usually you can find this in a natural setting; sometimes it's handy to pose your group next to a really dark rock that's out of the photo. Obviously light won't be coming from the rock, so your light is directional.

When scouting locations for portraits, I hold up my hand in front of me (as if its a hand puppet facing me) and I look at the quality of the light and shadows on my hand. Yes, people might think I'm doing something strange like having a conversation with my hand, but what the heck... it tells me where the good light is!

**l1lm1k3** · 11-09-2008, 05:08 PM

thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions. Bruce it was totaly cloudy outside No Sun at all so i did want i could with the white balance filter.

Thanks So Much again for the compliments i feel like ive come a long way.

**Skippy** · 11-10-2008, 05:54 AM

Michael these are very good. You should be happy with them. The pose in the first doesn't bother me either. The elbow in the second does. The colors and the light are all good. Great job.

Christmas present for Mom?

These would look good in a triple frame combo.

Skippy

**Titus** · 11-10-2008, 10:50 AM

If you ever plan on shooting at this tree again you might want to spray the Poison Ivy with some Roundup. ! "Leaves of three, leave it be!"

Benji

**shroti** · 11-10-2008, 02:05 PM

first shot compositionwise is lacking impact....since as a family head, ur head shd have been up than ur daughter...........in this manner, i wanted ur daughter to recline in place of ur son at right, and ur son in her place....that wud have been a conjuring composition.
second is a good portrait. and third i liked the expression and pose.