8 Days old

not sure if I like this concept. Is it weird?

Yup, it's wierd.

 

Mother & baby photos work best when there is a strong conection/interaction between the two. The dangling feet & hands, actually the entire direction of the image, just pulls my eye down.

 

I would prefer to see the baby face-up so that it can see the mother and get the arms & legs wiggling inthe air. Experimentation is good. Keep trying, but people like to see babys that are smiling or have huge eyes. I'd suggest that you try very soft window light for something less contrived.

 

Doug

Wow Doug is good....

Totally agree...

Thanks Doug and Sarah! That is exactly what I was thinking!! I got some other great shots of mom with the baby so I'm not upset that this didn't work out well, I just know better for next time. This little sweetie was wide awake and completely alert and wiggly the whole two hours I had him so I was way more limited than with a sleeping newborn which made me re-think alot of my normal shots. Thanks again.

I usually don't relate to mother/child photos but this one is very compelling.

Thanks Gungajim! I was really on the fence on this one and I had a feeling that I would get mixed reactions to it. I wasnt sure if I should leave it in the proofs for Mom to see and I think with the ratings I received that I will definately let them look at it to see if it "speaks" to them. It is pretty consistant with style the mother seemed to like in examples.

I would certainly throw this in the proofs. As you know, mother & child photos are very special, and this one is far different than most (if not all!). It can be discribed as odd, wierd, strange or many other ways but I think UNIQUE fits it best. I'm still not even sure if I "like" it but I can't stop looking at it and that says much to me right there. In a home, this would be an endless conversation piece! -Anthony

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S for this BEAUTY. Tender image who touch my heart. Thanks for sharing. Best Wishes both.

very very nice shut. i like it.good color ,contrast and composition.thank you for sharing.

Thanks guys!!! I feel a lot more confident about showing this now!

My first thought was 'LOOK AT THOSE LOOOOONG LEGS!' (smile) While this isn't a style we see very often and maybe doesn't show an interaction between mother/baby - there's something to this photograph.

Thanks Kristi. He sure is a long legged thing isn't he!

This is a really interesting photo, as a Pediatric Nurse & novice, I Think if Mom's other hand came around and we saw it resing on his leg and his legs just seemed to be hugged into her then they woulndn't seem so dangly and his arms would naturally kind of curl in...it would look more like she was hugging him to her and kissing his back. It seems like they would look more connected. I think that might show the warmth you were going for...just a thought. The use of the black really makes them stand out so that is a cool feature.

Amber, I hope that after you present this to the mother, you'll let us know how she reacted!

Amber, I looked at the comments above, for this absolutely wonderful photo, and noted that others wanted the baby facing mom, and eyes maybe shut, but sometimes moms hold babies just like this and a thousand other ways, and why shouldn't your capture be different.

 

It's just wonderful.

 

Don't submit to those 'expectations' -- just know there're there in your commercial photography business so you can cater to them when you must, but this is a stunning photograph (I found it in Steve Augle's highest-rated photos, so there's merit in going through other's ratings).

 

It has a certain softness both to the coloring, the lighting and the subject matter that carries through very effectively.

 

And, ultimately it conveys the subject of trust as well as caring. The baby is shown entirely dependant on momma's hand and arm, and at the same time she's kissing it, and it's totally just hanging there, completely without guile or energy, it looks like, with maybe just the mental energy to remain alert to keep those eyes going (and maybe feel the kiss on the back and know that there is a hand supporting it (him?)

 

It's marvelous and I wouldn't change a thing, expectations or not.

 

John (Crosley)

 

P.S. You've come a long ways. This is a work of art.