Craig Rothgery Loc: Bradenton, Fla

To All who have offer me advice on this issue I want to say Thank You Very Much!!!

It was truly a learning experience for me.

Thanks again!

Craig

scallihan Loc: Tigard, OR

First I would adjust the "horizon" to level. The off-kilter is very distracting. Agree that taking multiple photos to make the child a specific subject, and the parents another subject, and a group photo would give you better results. But yes, get closer to your subjects for more "coziness".

Artcameraman Loc: Springfield NH

I believe that Bigger is Better! I shoot in RAW, 64 bit files, gigantic files, I can have lunch while waiting, not really. However if you are shooting the grandkids playing soccer and your photos will never be looked at next week what difference does it make. If you are a "snap shooter" I suggest jpeg and use auto everything.

Craig Meyer Loc: Sparks, NV

I think this hits the heart of the matter. With the entire photo with 20 MP, you're selecting 10-20% of the image area, and enlarging that to the full-sized frame. This gives you the resolution of a toy camera. The purpose of a crop is to place the subjects in a smaller frame. Be sure to do this in camera, by zooming or walking closer. Even if your shot was a tight one of the family, pulling the boy out would leave you with a too small number of pixels. Yielding a soft image.

agillot

You dont say what iso setting you are using , the lower the better , like 200 .

Dan' de Bourgogne

Time to finish this item You're welcome Craig! Frame tight=get closer...or/and zoom in (or out if very close!).
At the end, if needed, crop Your shot!
How much crop???
Depends on only how big You want to get the print!
Simple: for printing on paper, the machine needs nowaday ca 300 pixel per inch to produc a nice sharp image.
1) If You want a print 10" x 15" (which is quite a nice "wall hanger": 254 mm x 381 mm), You have to produce an image 4500 pix X 3000 pix.
The original image having 5456 x 3682, You are allowed to reduce both dimensions: multiply each dimension by ca. 0,8248...so You get the final size 4500 pix X 3000 pix!

2) If You want a print "A4" (=210 mm x 297 mm- which is neither big nor small), You have to produce an image 2480 pix X 3508 pix.
The original image having 5456 x 3682, You are allowed to reduce both dimensions: multiply each dimension by ca. 0,643...so You get the final size 3508 pix X 2367 pix!

Have fun and take great portraits!

delder Loc: Maryland

You always have the ability to take multiple shots. Wide for the family, then ZOOM IN on the Child Subject.
Fill frame but allow about 10% for straightening & aspect ratio changes.