My first portrait shoot! (56k warning!) - The Photo Forum

Canon Fan · 10-31-2005, 03:52 PM

Had my first portrait shoot over the weekend. Went pretty well oveerall I think and there are a couple of shot I know the couple will be very happy with. I learned alot that will help next time and identified a few problems I still need to work on. Just thought I would post a couple of the better ones here and see how everyone thinks I did. I know I need some work in the posig department yet and the light was really harsh in a few (the sun kept breaking out from the clouds at the wrong times!

).

Sorry about the watermarks, they were there for the previews I sent them and I didn't re-save files without them

All 8x10" crops . . .

Please be gentle!

clemeys · 10-31-2005, 04:10 PM

I think you did a good job especially for your first attempt. You're right, i think some posing would've helped to have her not tip her head back so much. My fav shot of her is the last one where her head is tilted the most down. I love the color and comp of the b/w, but I hate that my eye is drawn to look up her nose. Also, the vignetting? is a lil' overboard imho.

Even though the sunlight is a lil harsh, I still like the coloring, and scenary very much.

Karalee · 10-31-2005, 04:11 PM

Stunning! Some of the best portraits Ive seen on the forum

mentos_007 · 10-31-2005, 04:15 PM

ahhh the last one is lovely!!!!

great series!!!!

Alison · 10-31-2005, 04:19 PM

The last two are my favorites, very relaxed and comfortable. Did you use a fill flash here? That would have helped the first two to lessen the shadows. Great job for your first try out, and I think the best thing is that you've already said you've learned things to try next time. Learning from things that didn't go quite right is invaluable! I look forward to seeing more of your work!

sunshine · 10-31-2005, 04:36 PM

I REALLY LOVE 3 and 4

michelejo · 11-02-2005, 01:20 AM

I like the last two but particularly the very last--very lovely. I love the colors, the pose, the expressions...I think it's just about perfect.

Sharkbait · 11-02-2005, 07:06 AM

That lady sure did like to lean her head back, didn't she?

I could just hear myself in that session... "Okay, bring your chin down a bit...little bit more...once more...chin down just a bit...go ahead and bring your chin all the way down..."

for your first time out. Love the one of them in the leaves especially.

Canon Fan · 11-02-2005, 08:26 AM

Wow, thanks for the replies everyone, looks like I got a bit of a list here. Hmmm from memory here goes . . .

I did use a my 550EX on the first two, although I had to be careful not to completely blow out the highlights so in the end the fill was not strong at all. In fact, not really strong enough. Plus the light was really WAY too harsh to be shooting in that spot (I should have waited longer for the clouds to come back but they were getting impatient on me

)

Tipping her chin may have been my fault. My camera angles, there location(s), and relative size were factors I don't think I properly evaluated before shooting. Also everyone was on a time crunch and quite honestly . . . we were all at a Haloween party LATE the night before . . . Um, it's amazing we were all even awake the day we shot these!

Oh ya, the vignetting . . .
It does look a little much on the monitor. However I have learned that the minilab I use to get these printed seems to try and "autocorrect" a little for vignette so I have learned that when it looks almost ridiculous on the monitor, it looks about right in the finished print

I'll try to post some others if I get a little time today.

Thanks again everyone!

Christie Photo · 11-02-2005, 10:40 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Sharkbait

That lady sure did like to lean her head back, didn't she?

I could just hear myself in that session... "Okay, bring your chin down a bit...little bit more...once more...chin down just a bit...go ahead and bring your chin all the way down..."

This is about the time I make the joke about her head being "spring loaded."

I think you did fine for the first time out... cetainly mcuh better than my first.

One bit of advice to offer... I wouldn't put a big gal like this in such a "pow" color. It draws attention to her size and exagerates it. The black and white helps quite a bit.

Congrats on yer first!

-Pete

Canon Fan · 11-02-2005, 01:00 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Christie Photo

This is about the time I make the joke about her head being "spring loaded."

I think you did fine for the first time out... cetainly mcuh better than my first.

One bit of advice to offer... I wouldn't put a big gal like this in such a "pow" color. It draws attention to her size and exagerates it. The black and white helps quite a bit.

Congrats on yer first!

-Pete

Uh huh! That's exactly what I thought when she stepped out of the car wearing it! I just couldn't bring myself to say anything. I had told her ahead of time no t-shirts with writing or designs and nothing too flashy

Needless to say I didn't expect bright pink! Oh well we will be shooting again as soon as I have more of my studio equip so we can fix it then

Thanks for the compliments and help again everyone

Alison · 11-02-2005, 01:30 PM

It's so hard sometimes with clothing! When people ask what to wear I usually suggest white or black shirts with khaki pants or jeans, I figure everyone looks at least decent in one of those

I look forward to seeing more from this series! I wish my first portraits had been even half as good as these

Christie Photo · 11-02-2005, 09:57 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by AlisonPower

It's so hard sometimes with clothing! When people ask what to wear I usually suggest...

Hi, Alison. Yeah. It comes in time. I decided one day that if I'm made responsible for the images I create, then I get to say what I'll work with. I have actually rescheduled when clients turn up dressed for disaster. I started doing this premptive approach after having do "additional photography" (re-shoots) when clients were not satified with their first session. If I'm gonna redo work, I insist I control what I do the first time. It's the first thing we talk about when the session is booked.

I hope this is helpful.

-Pete

Canon Fan · 11-03-2005, 09:28 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Christie Photo

Hi, Alison. Yeah. It comes in time. I decided one day that if I'm made responsible for the images I create, then I get to say what I'll work with. I have actually rescheduled when clients turn up dressed for disaster. I started doing this premptive approach after having do "additional photography" (re-shoots) when clients were not satified with their first session. If I'm gonna redo work, I insist I control what I do the first time. It's the first thing we talk about when the session is booked.

I hope this is helpful.

-Pete

Wow, food for thought definately.

10-31-2005, 03:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Canon Fan TPF Junkie! Join Date: May 2004 Location: Purgatory, Wisconsin Posts: 1,126 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	My first portrait shoot! (56k warning!) Had my first portrait shoot over the weekend. Went pretty well oveerall I think and there are a couple of shot I know the couple will be very happy with. I learned alot that will help next time and identified a few problems I still need to work on. Just thought I would post a couple of the better ones here and see how everyone thinks I did. I know I need some work in the posig department yet and the light was really harsh in a few (the sun kept breaking out from the clouds at the wrong times! ). Sorry about the watermarks, they were there for the previews I sent them and I didn't re-save files without them All 8x10" crops . . . Please be gentle! __________________ "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." Albert Einstein

10-31-2005, 04:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Karalee hOtLiPs! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Here....there....everywhere Posts: 3,853 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Stunning! Some of the best portraits Ive seen on the forum __________________ Kara Ramblings of a slightly insane, displaced chicky. SHUTTERvisions - a photoblog. Mark von Nagy says: Upload this, baby Kia mau te wehi!

10-31-2005, 04:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
mentos_007 The Freshmaker! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Poland, Sz-n Posts: 9,305	ahhh the last one is lovely!!!! great series!!!! __________________ my portfolio <- my new webpage!!!!

10-31-2005, 04:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
Alison Swiss Army Friend TPF Subscriber Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: TX Posts: 9,472 My Photos Are OK to Edit	The last two are my favorites, very relaxed and comfortable. Did you use a fill flash here? That would have helped the first two to lessen the shadows. Great job for your first try out, and I think the best thing is that you've already said you've learned things to try next time. Learning from things that didn't go quite right is invaluable! I look forward to seeing more of your work! __________________ The decision to have a child is to accept that your heart will forever walk about outside of your body. ~ *Katherine Hadley*

11-02-2005, 07:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
Sharkbait TPF Junkie! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 2,405	That lady sure did like to lean her head back, didn't she? I could just hear myself in that session... "Okay, bring your chin down a bit...little bit more...once more...chin down just a bit...go ahead and bring your chin all the way down..." for your first time out. Love the one of them in the leaves especially. __________________ john@whitesharkphoto.com The camera cannot express the human soul. The photographer can.

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10-31-2005, 04:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
clemeys Been spending a lot of time on here! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 176	I think you did a good job especially for your first attempt. You're right, i think some posing would've helped to have her not tip her head back so much. My fav shot of her is the last one where her head is tilted the most down. I love the color and comp of the b/w, but I hate that my eye is drawn to look up her nose. Also, the vignetting? is a lil' overboard imho. Even though the sunlight is a lil harsh, I still like the coloring, and scenary very much.

10-31-2005, 04:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
sunshine No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 28	I REALLY LOVE 3 and 4

11-02-2005, 01:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
michelejo No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 65	I like the last two but particularly the very last--very lovely. I love the colors, the pose, the expressions...I think it's just about perfect.

11-02-2005, 08:26 AM	#9 (permalink)
Canon Fan TPF Junkie! Join Date: May 2004 Location: Purgatory, Wisconsin Posts: 1,126 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Wow, thanks for the replies everyone, looks like I got a bit of a list here. Hmmm from memory here goes . . . I did use a my 550EX on the first two, although I had to be careful not to completely blow out the highlights so in the end the fill was not strong at all. In fact, not really strong enough. Plus the light was really WAY too harsh to be shooting in that spot (I should have waited longer for the clouds to come back but they were getting impatient on me ) Tipping her chin may have been my fault. My camera angles, there location(s), and relative size were factors I don't think I properly evaluated before shooting. Also everyone was on a time crunch and quite honestly . . . we were all at a Haloween party LATE the night before . . . Um, it's amazing we were all even awake the day we shot these! Oh ya, the vignetting . . . It does look a little much on the monitor. However I have learned that the minilab I use to get these printed seems to try and "autocorrect" a little for vignette so I have learned that when it looks almost ridiculous on the monitor, it looks about right in the finished print I'll try to post some others if I get a little time today. Thanks again everyone! __________________ "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." Albert Einstein

11-02-2005, 10:40 AM	#10 (permalink)
Christie Photo Oh well. TPF Subscriber Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kankakee, IL Posts: 4,795	Quote: Originally Posted by Sharkbait That lady sure did like to lean her head back, didn't she? I could just hear myself in that session... "Okay, bring your chin down a bit...little bit more...once more...chin down just a bit...go ahead and bring your chin all the way down..." This is about the time I make the joke about her head being "spring loaded." I think you did fine for the first time out... cetainly mcuh better than my first. One bit of advice to offer... I wouldn't put a big gal like this in such a "pow" color. It draws attention to her size and exagerates it. The black and white helps quite a bit. Congrats on yer first! -Pete __________________ Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns; It calls me on and on...

11-02-2005, 01:00 PM	#11 (permalink)
Canon Fan TPF Junkie! Join Date: May 2004 Location: Purgatory, Wisconsin Posts: 1,126 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Quote: Originally Posted by Christie Photo This is about the time I make the joke about her head being "spring loaded." I think you did fine for the first time out... cetainly mcuh better than my first. One bit of advice to offer... I wouldn't put a big gal like this in such a "pow" color. It draws attention to her size and exagerates it. The black and white helps quite a bit. Congrats on yer first! -Pete Uh huh! That's exactly what I thought when she stepped out of the car wearing it! I just couldn't bring myself to say anything. I had told her ahead of time no t-shirts with writing or designs and nothing too flashy Needless to say I didn't expect bright pink! Oh well we will be shooting again as soon as I have more of my studio equip so we can fix it then Thanks for the compliments and help again everyone __________________ "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." Albert Einstein

11-02-2005, 01:30 PM	#12 (permalink)
Alison Swiss Army Friend TPF Subscriber Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: TX Posts: 9,472 My Photos Are OK to Edit	It's so hard sometimes with clothing! When people ask what to wear I usually suggest white or black shirts with khaki pants or jeans, I figure everyone looks at least decent in one of those I look forward to seeing more from this series! I wish my first portraits had been even half as good as these __________________ The decision to have a child is to accept that your heart will forever walk about outside of your body. ~ *Katherine Hadley*

11-02-2005, 09:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
Christie Photo Oh well. TPF Subscriber Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kankakee, IL Posts: 4,795	Quote: Originally Posted by AlisonPower It's so hard sometimes with clothing! When people ask what to wear I usually suggest... Hi, Alison. Yeah. It comes in time. I decided one day that if I'm made responsible for the images I create, then I get to say what I'll work with. I have actually rescheduled when clients turn up dressed for disaster. I started doing this premptive approach after having do "additional photography" (re-shoots) when clients were not satified with their first session. If I'm gonna redo work, I insist I control what I do the first time. It's the first thing we talk about when the session is booked. I hope this is helpful. -Pete __________________ Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns; It calls me on and on...

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11-03-2005, 09:28 AM	#14 (permalink)
Canon Fan TPF Junkie! Join Date: May 2004 Location: Purgatory, Wisconsin Posts: 1,126 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Quote: Originally Posted by Christie Photo Hi, Alison. Yeah. It comes in time. I decided one day that if I'm made responsible for the images I create, then I get to say what I'll work with. I have actually rescheduled when clients turn up dressed for disaster. I started doing this premptive approach after having do "additional photography" (re-shoots) when clients were not satified with their first session. If I'm gonna redo work, I insist I control what I do the first time. It's the first thing we talk about when the session is booked. I hope this is helpful. -Pete Wow, food for thought definately. __________________ "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." Albert Einstein

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