I seldom go crazy over shoes, but when I've found one I love they have to be quite awesome

For conceptual photos I prefer to comment more on the conceptual process and focus a little lesser on the technical aspect, although both should balance with each other to create a striking photo.

First off I'll talk about the technical aspect, the shadow (if it is emboss) around the border is a little too harsh, it even goes over the feet. I agree with =roseonthegrey about trying a vignette, but for this photo I think clean edges will be more effective since it's a minimal piece.

The background could be blown out some more to be completely white, leaving the shadows under the feet, which I think would be nice. Although you could experiment with different surfaces, such as a surface with lines or more textures to create some contrasts. You can always print small pieces of paper out with designs and layer them or join them together for a backdrop as well to add a nice dramatic flare and fun vibe to it. Although nothing is wrong with the minimalist approach.

I think it has an even balance, I like the colour tones but I'm wondering if you could have tried a different approach with the placement of the feet and the heart. I don't mind the diffuse lighting, I think it works well for the piece.

Emotionally, I think you could have pushed this one further and go crazy on it, the feet together to me seems mobile, love is crazy, express that, the heart in the center almost seems timid and conserved. Go crazy with how you place the shoes, with the way you position the feet, with the placement of the heart, balance the heart on one foot on your tip toes if it's gunna look a little more free, try a different perspective. They are 'ballerina looking shoes' right, what do ballerinas do?

I remember one of my tutors telling me that effective art are the ones that are extreme, so when you have an idea cast the first one out and think of something different, something you wouldn't usually do

but it's cute and safe, I want you to push yourself, do try this with a different approach, I'd like to see it

I forgot to sign off
Critique courtesy of *devCRIT

Cute concept and nice complementary colors.

I'm not a fan of the strange beveled-shadow framing. If you wanted to use beveled-shadow to create a border between the photo and the white matte border, I suggest using some simple vignetting. But personally, I would've prefered a clean background with no vignetting or beveled-shadow for this photo.

I'm not sure if the background is edited since there appear to be smudge marks in the lower right hand corner. If you really need a clean background, try putting your feet up against a clean, white wall instead of on the ground. It may take more patience and balance, but it does ensure a clean background with no creases.

I don't like the reflections in the heart. It appears you just used some ambient window lighting in this shot, which is essentially what caused the reflections. I suggest bouncing light off your ceiling or maybe a white piece of paper to minimize the reflection. Or use a polarizing filter to minimize the reflection. However, a polarizing filter will not get rid of the entire reflection unless in the rare occurance all the reflected light is polarized.

I like the general composition. However, the photo appears to have been straightened such that the stick portion of the heart wand forms a diagonal. This causes the heart to appear slightly lopsided and also not perfectly centered. I suggest making the heart (from the dip to the point) formed the diagonal instead. This will cause the stick portion to be a bit less straight but the heart will become perfectly centered.

Right now the only aspect of the photo conveying love is the heart wand and perhaps also composition since it places focus on the heart wand. Since this photo is about love, I would've expected a brighter photo with much warmer hues. I strongly suggest using tonal-curve editing to increase midtones to brighten the photo slightly. Increasing midtones will also help minimize reflections slightly. I also strongly suggest color balancing to introduce some warmer hues such as yellows, oranges, and evven reds. Right now the background is grey, the shoes are blue; the photo simply lacks the warm hues typically associated with love. In my opinion, this photo would've faired well with a yellow tint to the background achieved through some minor color balancing. With a yellow tint in the background, your photo would have all 3 primary colors, which may conceptually help convey the primary importance of dancing.

Hope this helps

Critique courtesy of *devCRIT