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Critique Me-Lauren at Create Something Out of Nothing
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Remember:
Read How to Critique a Photo
Make a critique sandwich – something positive, something you would have done differently, something positive
My rule: no improvement tip = deleted comment
This will benefit the person leaving the photo critique just as much if not more than the person receiving the critique.

Thanks to Lauren of Create Something Out of Nothing for submitting the following image.
Settings: ISO 400, f/3.2, 1/1000

21 Comments
  • Heather Frye
    October 15, 2012 at 9:00 AM

    I love it. Im new to photography so Im not sure what Id change. Again I do love it :)

  • October 15, 2012 at 9:03 AM

    Wow, what a sweet familiy picture! Everyone is smiling :) The skin tones look a bit green to me and it looks like dad might be pushing his hips out towards the camera? Is dad blinking? Over all very sweet! That lil’ guys expression is priceless!! :)

  • October 15, 2012 at 9:05 AM

    I love the natural, happy expressions on their faces and the relaxed look. The light is great too, nice and even on their faces. The only thing I would have changed is their placement — it seems like if they were moved into the empty space on the other side of the frame, they would balance that tree nicely (and then it wouldn’t be right behind their heads). Great family shot!

  • Amy
    October 15, 2012 at 9:41 AM

    What a lovely family! I would have probably either zoomed in, or cropped it so that there is just a bit less headroom. Otherwise I love it just the way it is!

  • October 15, 2012 at 9:41 AM

    I love the bluedenim in this photo and the great smiles, I like the closeness of the family, Dad holding baby -mom’s hand on baby <3 I agree I would have moved the family down some maybe to the shady part of the wall. I think lowering your ISO would have helped it looks a little less "noisy".
    I Love the wall so much GREAT location!

  • Diana
    October 15, 2012 at 9:43 AM

    Love the way you capture the natural expressions of this family. They look very comfortable with the camera. The only one thing that I would change is the position of the camera. Using the tree as a diffuser is great, but in the picture it seems like branches come off their heads. If you move around them you can probably get the tree to frame them instead. You did a great job getting them relaxed and posing very naturally. Loving those smiles ;)

  • October 15, 2012 at 10:32 AM

    I really love how you placed them in the right third of the frame. The negative space really draws the eye in towards them. That said, the tree is a little bit distracting to me as it sort of looks like it is growing out of their heads. I would maybe suggest placing them in the left third to balance out the tree, or shifting slightly to eliminate the tree all together and keeping the negative space to the left. Overall, it is a really great shot! All of their expressions are great and that is hard to do with little ones! Nice work!

  • Amy
    October 15, 2012 at 10:43 AM

    The connection between the mom/dad/boy and between the family and camera is absolutely magical – that alone makes this image a treasure. I would love to see this same image taken from slightly above them – it looks like this one is slightly below. See how dad’s chin is tipped way down? I think, in general, it’s more flattering to the subjects to be just above them … plus, that gets more light in their eyes. This location is amazing – the texture in the rocks and on the tree is just spectacular! I know the family will love this shot. Great job!!

  • October 15, 2012 at 11:17 AM

    I really like this shot. How relaxed and genuine the family looks in front of the camera. I really like how you positioned everything to the right as well. My only issue is the white space to the left is very bright and tends to overwhelm the left. Maybe with some editing you can dim this some by adjusting the contrast and shadows. Overall a great shot!

  • October 15, 2012 at 11:19 AM

    I love the connection of the family to each other. I might have moved them slightly to one side of the tree or the other, rather than in front. You did an awesome job with focus and exposure. Looks spot on. I know the family will love this shot for years to come.

  • October 15, 2012 at 4:48 PM

    I love the location, the natural expressions and closeness of the family. the only thing that stands out to me is the tree also. Love the wall though and the family looks very happy!

  • Anna
    October 15, 2012 at 5:14 PM

    Love the setting that is in the picture…the rocks behind them really add to the photo. Their pose is great! I did notice though that the sky in the background is almost too bright and overexposed. I also would have taken out the little section of blue sky in the upper right corner–it would be nice if there were more blue, but since there isn’t, I think it seems a bit out of place. Other than that, the photo is gorgeous!

  • klgsnapshots
    October 15, 2012 at 7:03 PM

    I love how close together they are you really see the family bond :) i also wish the tree was featured on the other side to mask all of the empty white space from the sky. Great shot, crisp and clear. Great job!

  • Kat
    October 16, 2012 at 2:35 AM

    I love that everyone looks happy! I’d probably shift the family into the negative space on the left, to use the tree as a frame for them. It’s a lovely choice of location for family photos.

  • October 16, 2012 at 10:22 AM

    Definitely a pretty picture. The white space is a little bright for me, but every since having laser eye surgery, a cloudy day is bright! I think sometimes when I look at pictures I am focusing too much on the background and not as much on the subject. With that being said, I did think it looked like the man was leaning back, making his pelvis push forward a little. I think the colors are good though. Great picture! A lot better than what I could probably do!

  • Tracey Aiston
    October 19, 2012 at 1:35 AM

    I would have liked to see the family on the left of the picture so the tree isn’t growing out behind their heads, but I love the venue and the little guys smile caught perfectly.

  • November 12, 2012 at 12:46 AM

    I love the setting, especially the old rock wall in the back. You maybe would have wanted to move them around the tree somehow. Can look like it is growing out of their heads. I’ve had to learn this. Would have looked a little more natural with the man standing in a similar position as the woman rather than titled and facing the camera strait on. I like that you caught all 3 smiling easily and that the picture is in focus.

  • November 12, 2012 at 8:25 AM

    I am very new to photography and critiquing, so right away I look at this photo and I think it is great. I would be interested to see how this photo would look if the family moved to the left of the tree a few feet and then you cropped it in closer to them, creating less “open” space on the left side of the frame, and framing the right side of the frame with the tree and the leaves above them. It also could just be my eyes playing tricks on me, but it seems like the branch above them is a little more in focus than their faces. That being said, I think your lighting is great, I love the setting, and you captured great expressions on their faces.

  • November 12, 2012 at 9:58 AM

    Beautiful photograph and adorable family!! Love the location too. There are only two things I would do differently: slide the family over to the left so they balance out the tree and it doesn’t look like it is growing out of them, and check the focus on the dad (his eyes might be shut too). Great colors…especially love the stone wall that creates a boarder at the bottom….looks fantastic!!

  • Shannon
    March 20, 2013 at 9:29 AM

    Cute family photo.

    I would like to see the family moved to the left of the tree so it is not behind them, then include the negative space of the sky to our right (as we view). I would also work on posing with the dad–have him “gooseneck” so he didn’t have the double chin, as well as not pushing out his hips.

  • Julie
    January 20, 2014 at 10:18 AM

    I love the grouping of the family. How both parents have contact with the baby but in a different way. I also think it looks like the tree is growing out of their heads. But i still like them on that side maybe if you had moved them over just a bit. I think the sky is a bit too washed out. This photo would benefit from two exposures. one for them and one for the sky then put them together in photoshop. I love the stone wall behind them it ties the whole composition together.

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