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Nikon D80
Shutter 1/125
F7.1
WB set manually from some white paper, in similar lighting conditions.

Popup flash at 1/128th power
SB800 flash off camera pointed backwards into gold reflector @ 1/4 or 1/8 power.
Gold reflector held by my son (so angle was different on each shot)

“Studio” mocked up in their home with black/ dark tableclothes, sheets etc

Contrast and curves have been adjusted slightly

This is my first real try at portrait photography, and would like to improve. Where / how can I improve it?

i'm not the one to answer about studio shots or anything, but the shadows cast onto you from your wifes head are a problem to start with. maybe use a second light source. otherwise its a great effort. i like the darkness surrounding everyone

A great first attempt. Certainly better than I can manage.
Issues I see are (ANd remember I don't do portraits, so take it witha grain or two of salt)
1. The Shadows. A second light as suggested or a softbox (e.g. the flash about a metre behind a white sheet) or both to cure this
2. Eye contact. Parents and one of the kids are good, but the other two kids are looking out of frame. Professionals I have seen at work often use a fluffy toy to attract the attention of the younger ones
3. Expressions. Dad has a goofy look on his face. Now maybe this is his character & therefore a good thing, but I find it distracting. Take lots of photos and choose the best where all are cooperating (would help with #2 as well)
4. Framing. maybe crop just below the kid's feet. The rest seems to be just dead space and adds nothing to the picture for me. Also I would prefer a little more air above dad's head. There is alos a distracting mark on the LHS This could easily b cropped out.
5. Eye sparkle. Missing. Perhaps dial up the Popup a little to provide some life to the eyes.
6. A top light (dialed down) to give some life to the hair. Maybe bounce a light off the ceiling.

HTH.

Not a bad start Russell

I too had some problems with shadows, which I have solved to an extent by bring the keylight around so that it is not on as much of an angle. You're also not getting much fill from that on-board flash.. perhaps bumping up a couple of stops might help to fill in some of the shadows?

Also, if you get a bit of distance between the subjects and the background, you won't light up the backdrop either, which would help to eliminate that distracting spot on the left.

There's a chair leg kind of hanging in the middle of nowhere on the right.

If you're going with a dark background, having dark clothing can make people blend into the background.

How close is that keylight? I have gotten some really pleasing results by getting the keylight REALLY close - bigger apparent light source means softer light.

Hope some of those suggestions are of use..... and keep them coming!

Hi Russell,

Des has pretty much nailed it with his suggestions.

For the shadows, your light is definitely placed too far to the side. Pull it around closer to the camera - more front-on to the subjects. As has also been suggested, a second light or a reflector, to camera right, would also be useful.

I am a little bit concerned at the light fall-off that I'm seeing here. Compare the apparent brightness of the light as it falls on the baby's face (camera left) with that of the light on the father's face.I do feel that you have good density on the father, and on the kids camera right, which leads me to believe that the light is a bit too close to the baby, and thus she is being blown.

The light source also seems to be unmodified. Something like a softbox would help to provide some diffusion here.

Someone commented on the visibility of the chair leg. While I echo that observation, I also wonder at the bare feet of kids, and the mother. And on the very lh edge, there's a little white splodge.

Where possible, the distance between the subjects and the background should be increased. You want to direct your light onto your subjects, but in this instance, not on the background. There appears to be some sort of a stain on the background near the mother, and the background is loosely crumpled. Nothing too wrong with either of those issues, provided that they cannot be seen in the image. As they can, there is.

Now, to better illustrate this, compare the lh side of the background in this image, with the background on the rh side. The light falloff is significant, and on the rh side it's exactly what is called for.

Sharpness, baseline exposure and wb are all nailed, and I'm comfortable with your angle of view and the basic pose as well.

You've done very well. A few minor adjustments, and you'll be there.

Must be time for another workshop