What a sweet picture! I love that you’ve captured a unique expression.

There isn’t honestly much I would change about this picture. My only suggestion would be to move the red blanket out of the way, as it is slightly distracting. Seeing as it is already there though, maybe you could find a way to desaturate that part of the photo, or find a way to make the red less prominent?

Really though, I’m impressed by this shot. It’s one of the few newborn photos that I’ve seen with open eyes! :-)

Absolutely love the composition of this photo. Such a sweet little face.
I would have tried having the baby face the light a bit more so not to have so many shadows on his little body.
Processing – perhaps fill light to take away some of the shadowing.
I love how you’ve captured his silky shiny hair, it looks so soft & beautiful. Well done. It really is a beauty!

Oh what a sweet baby! I love that her (his?) eyes are open!!

I agree that the red is a bit distracting… maybe photoshop it out? :o) And brighten the picture a tad…

It is a beautiful shot! I just can’t get over those sweet little eyes!!

What a sweet little baby! I love the blanket s/he is laying on! I would consider cropping out whatever is red (a diaper?) on the right as it is a bit distracting. And see if you could balance the skin tones a little more. The face and hand are completely different. But I love the perfect mouth and nose and all those cute little fingers!

This is a sweet little expression that you’ve captured! I love the contrast between the hair and skin.
I might try switching to horizontal and getting more of the little one’s body in the frame too. Also maybe move baby ever so slightly towards the light so there are fewer shadows.
All in all, this is a very engaging photo, it really draws the eye in towards baby’s open eyes and expressive little face. nice job!

Such a sweetie pie! I love the expression and the way the arms are crossed. I would have liked to see more light on the face. Right now, I feel like the skin is duo toned, with the arms being much lighter than the face. Also, you have a good catchlight in one eye, but the other one is so dark. Again, turning the head more towards the light (repositioning) would help. I know! Easier said than done! lol! You did a great job with this photo! Such a sweet expression you captured, and one that will be remembered by the family!

I love baby photos! The lighting streaming in over baby’s head and face and the color and temperature of the photo are really nice. I think the position of the baby for a sleeping baby works nicely, with baby awake I would turn baby more toward the lighting to pick up some catchlights in the eyes. Also I think a horizontal view would give a little more white area around baby and make for a more dreamy photo with baby situated in the midst of the white. Overall it is a great photo and you really nailed your focus at that shallow dof, which is something I always struggle with.

What a lovely photo of a beautiful baby! I love the sharp focus on the eyes, and the depth of field. I also like the composition. I agree that positioning the baby a little more toward the light would bring out catch lights to give the eyes a little more sparkle, and I also acknowledge that it is much easier said than done! I also notice that the arms are lighter than the face, and the blanket in the background is red so the eyes get drawn away from her beautiful face a little. Maybe try a slightly desaturated processing and/or add a vignette to emphasize her face a little more. Thanks so much for sharing!

Thanks everyone! Since taking this picture I’ve learned my editing program more so I’ve learn to correct the dark spots and light spots! I also agree with turning her more toward the light. Thanks for the feedback!

Oh and the red diaper cover is distracting now that y’all point it out. Before I just saw it as extra but it does draw my eye away from her! Thanks again!!

There is nothing like potographing a newborn. Most people have no idea how difficult it is and the amount of time and patience that it takes to even get one shot. I love close crops like this. It get you closer to that newborn goodness. : D

Some suggestions that I would offer are the following:
~I would angle the baby a little differently to get more of the natural light on the face
~The skin has red overtones, maybe run an action to adjust that
~Also (and I know this is harder to do when they are awake) I would not postition the hand under the face like that as it affects the eye closest to that arm.
~Last thing, as way mentioned above, the red to the right is a tad distracting. Shifting your position next time will help you.
I commend you on the wisdom of choosing a white fur to lay the baby on. It helps eliminate that crazy color cast that comes with using non-white blankets or furs. This is quite adorable. I have done several newborn shoots and there is so much to think about while doing them. You have a great foundation laid. Just a few tweaks and this will be gorgeous.

Warmly,
Laureen

Courtney<
A heads up that the link to Juanita's site is incorrect.
(I love looking a new blogs and look forward to checking out Two Point Five Photography.

: )
Laureen

I love the composition and angle at which you took the picture! I would love to see more light in the the baby’s face, I think it’s a bit too dark, but I love the feeling you get when you look at it, like you can just reach in and touch his/her little fingers, cheeks, and lips! So cute :)

Laureen, I don’t have a blog yet but I do have a Facebook. It is http://www.facebook.com/twopointfivephotography I would love some suggestions and constructive critiques!!!

Thanks everyone for the great critiques!! Lighting is something I seem to have trouble perfecting!! I appreciate it all!! Thanks Courtney for sharing my photo on your blog for critiques!! It’s nice to get the feed back!!

Sweet precious baby! This baby looks very new:)! I wanted to write my critique without viewing everyone else’s first, so sorry if this is a repeat. I really like your composition here. I like seeing an infant awake sometimes too:) I might close up the ap a little to get more of the face into focus and you might be able to take some of the red out in pp. Just a little more light on the face and I think this is a very good picture. I like the fluffy blanket too:)!!

I love this photo. Baby’s expression, the setting; just precious!
I maybe would have angled the camera so baby was more in the light, less shadows hiding baby’s precious face. Overall; beautiful photo :)

This is a beautiful picture. So sweet, and his/her’s eyes are wide open. I agree with everyone else, I believe I would have moved the red blanket, because it is a bit distracting.

I love this pose! It captures what babies do a lot of the time and looks like real life.

One thing I would improve on would be the color. To me, this color in this photo is not very realistic for the baby. I’d probably tone down the reds and up a bit of yellow. Not much to fix the color, but I think it would make the photo a little better.

I love the clarity on the baby as well. Sometimes it’s really hard to get that clarity all over but you’ve done it! Excellent photo!

Great photo, the only thing I would try for is catchlight in the eyes. I can’t believe the difference it makes, especially with dark eyes. Again, good job!

I just love newborn photos! You did a fab job capturing this precious gift from God. I think the red blanket in the back is a little distracting. I would have either taken it out completely or incorporated it in a different way. It is a beautiful shot!

Great composition with this little one! It is not always easy to capture them with this sweet look. I am new to photographing little ones so not too comfortable with critiquing (?) but have read the above comments and agree with the red blanket and trying to capture the catch light would make this wonderful photo Pop! Also, I am a black and white gal…did you try B&W?
Great job…keep it up!
Tina

Hello, this is my first time critiquing on the site and I am excited to have found this community.
What a cute pose for this baby. To me, this image conveys that the baby is deep in serious thought. I love that.
My only distraction in this photo is a feeling of competition between the red diaper cover, the white blanket, and the differing skin tones in the baby’s face and hands. Adjusting that busy feeling would take the photo’s contemplative feel to the next level. I love the detail in the texture of the blanket in the foreground; it adds to that warm and fuzzy newborn feeling.

I love that you caught the baby with her eyes open- so many baby pictures are of a sleeping baby- so I love one where a baby has his/her eyes open to the world. The only thing I would have done differently (easy to say AFTER the shoot) is to turn the baby more toward the light- this would change the angle of your shoot and also possibly make the baby’s skin look not so red/yellow. If that didn’t help you could edit the skin a little creamier. But I love the contrast of the baby’s dark hair in all the white fluffy blankets.