I like that sentiment. I will keep it in mind.

I have learned some things about going to other people's homes when photographing a child.
1: Get the parents out of the room (they can interfere and make the child nervous and uncomfortable).
2: Don't be inhibited by the fact that you are in someone else's home; look around until you find good light.
3: No huge poofy sleeves.

And everything you said too.

I have a digital camera so my "shutter speed" option is limited to whatever the camera reads the light as. I can focus in a lighter area or darker area and then move to take the picture but then the distance may not be the same as that focal length. I am practicing finding good light and taking pictures of my boyfriend. Soon I will have many many photos of a man rolling his eyes and looking perturbed.

When I was getting ready to go to my friend's house to take pictures, I almost packed a clip light, but I decided not to, as I thought I would surely find decent light there. Next time I am taking my clip lights and a white board.

I have asked my friend to bring her granddaugher here for the next round of photos. I think I have a good spot in my living room in the afternoons. I will take what you said and apply it. Thank you.

What exceptional words of wisdom!

Brenda, stay away from direct sunlight on the face whenever possible. The afternoon setup you described may mean the sun will be pouring in, which you want to avoid. A north facing window means the sunlight never shines directly in and you get soft, constant cool light, which is what artists have loved for centuries. If you don't have a north facing light, shoot near a west-facing window in the mornings or an east-facing window in the afternoons, for example, to get indirect light.

Michele-
Would that I had sun pouring in any window in my house! It's like the black hole of calcutta here. But in the afternoons, this livingroom window which I think faces south, lets warm light into the room. It doesn't come directly in. I will keep your caution in mind.

That is perfect Mike!

And Brenda, that's obvious that you cannot work from life with this beautiful little girl. Here are my two Cents, take at least 300 photographs, sometimes 500 are necessary, different lighting, position, expression, etc. I learned that from Nelson Shanks and I never regreted doing that.

This is his opinion about photos:

"Photographs and reality are just night and day. In reality, the information is all there. A photograph is just kind of a hint."

"...I can do more from life and get further in a hour than I can in 20 hours from photographs."

Hope it helps.

Thank you Claudemir!
I will take as many photos as will fit on my memory stick!
--Brenda

Claudemir, did you study with Nelson Shanks?