Originally Posted by
Donald
And that is fine.
Now, THAT is the real crux of the issue. If you consciously go for that sort of image and work on the composition in the knowledge of what you are doing, then you are more likely to, as you say, get it right. However, if it's done by accident, then I think it will show. For example, on #3 and #4 above, look at the side of her face. There are ring marks - light flares. You need to manage the light and if you can do that, then you can get very creative.
I think you do. And what is important, I think, is that you have an emotional connection with your subject. In this case, you have a very strong love and that is going to show through in your images, which is a good thing. For me, photography is 90% feeling and passion and 10% technical skill. For other folks it's the other way around, which is fine too.
What you have to do when photographing her is feel that love, but at the same time be a bit dispassionate and become 'the photographer', not just 'mom'. The you'll combine your love and your skill to get the best possible images.