Spare the moment infant portrait

lzfoto

I normally don't post on the people forum, however, decided to get your opinion on this shot. A little history about it....while visiting my inlaws yesterday my niece was there and the mother asked to photograph her. I didn't have anything special just my regular old nikon D50 without any lighting set up. The shadows under the her chin bug me, and the fact that I cropped the hand. What other issues do you see in it. The mother was very happy with it though. I just want to learn. All advice and critique well excepted.

Hackbone

Give a little more info on how you lit the photo.

lzfoto

Well mostly natural light, with a small firing of flash (the pop up flash on the camera). I do realize if I had a better flash I could have bounced it from the ceiling or the wall...but all I had was my camera. The baby was lying on top of a pillow on the floor with a dark fleece blanket on it. That all the set-up.

Hackbone

The sharp shadow under her left cheek gives away the flash. When using window light try to put the child even with the back edge of the window and more of the window in front of her. This will give a softer light. You can even move them alittle behind the window. It really is a nice photo of the child. Generally and take it for what it's worth light clothing should be on a light background and the inverse with dark clothing. I think the color version would make her face stand out more. Her top competes with the face too much. Turn the image upside down and you will see that grabs you eye before the child.