More Senior Pics (outdoors)

Universal Polymath · Oct 22, 2007

Okay, so yesterday, I took the outdoor pics for my recent senior portrait job. Things went okay, I guess. Honestly, I didn't really know what I was doing out there, I felt like we started a bit too early, it was terribly windy, and the girl's mom seemed to be calling all the shots.

Having gotten those complaints out of the way, I hope I came out of this with something. I've only gotten around to editing a few so far, but I need some opinions. Is there anything here?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

JimmyJaceyMom · Oct 22, 2007

These are beauitiful - good job.

Sw1tchFX · Oct 23, 2007

I really like the color of these, but her skin is plastic in 3 and 5. She needs a few wrinkles or blemishes in them to make them look real again.

SusieC · Oct 23, 2007

Very nice lighting and colors! I disagree about the blemishes and wrinkles. She's a teenager! Their goal in life is to be blemish free. You gave her what she wants. Real nice effects...

Universal Polymath · Oct 23, 2007

Thanks for the comments, guys! Switch, I think I agree with you, and I might bring it back a little. I wanted her to look as blemish free as possible, but not so much that she became plastic. Gotta find a happy medium.

NJMAN · Oct 23, 2007

I partly agree about the skin. You can clean up skin very effectively without making the skin look plastic, and still keep some realistic texture. I dont think her skin is that bad here in this series, but it does look rather smooth, especially in #2.

What I see mostly is the softness applied to her overall appearance, which I think is appropriate for girls, but not so much for guys in senior portraits (as discussed in a previous thread by sw1tch). I dont think it was overdone. But its all a matter of taste and preference. And if the client likes it, thats all that matters really.

Not to be nitpicky, but the only thing I might have done differently is adjust the angle of the shot in #4 just slightly. As it is right now, I think its making her hip look a little larger than it really is. Also, the beaded light from behind the bench looks like its sitting right on top of her toe, which is leading my eye to it. Its a very minor thing though.

Again, I think you did a great job with the lighting and overall effect of this series. Keep up the awesome work. :thumbup:

NJ

wildmaven · Oct 23, 2007

Great job with the posing!

What is that weird triangular thing in the upper right corner of #3?

I agree with NJman about the light above the toes.

Did you whiten her teeth in #1? They seem to be the only thing my eye goes to in that picture.

Otherwish, wonderful set of photos!

Marian

Universal Polymath · Oct 23, 2007

Thanks for the comments, guys!

NJ and Wildmaven - Funny you should mention the light above her toes on #4. I noticed that before posting here, and Photoshopped it out of the original, but not before already making the JPEG copies for the web. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you noticed such a small detail - You guys notice everything. Just since I've started to visit The Photo Forum, I've learned to scrutinize my work like never before!

wildmaven said:
What is that weird triangular thing in the upper right corner of #3?

Jeez, great eye! It's been corrected, thanks for pointing that out!

elsaspet · Oct 23, 2007

Wonderful tones. I love them all.

jemmy · Oct 23, 2007

gorgeous shots of a stunning model! how great are those lashes?????!!!!! my faves are 1 & 2... but as switch said, maybe just bring back some of the wrinkles just a tad! great work. x

AprilRamone · Oct 23, 2007

I think they are gorgeous! Especially #2!

Universal Polymath · Oct 25, 2007

Thanks! Yeah, the second one is definitely my favorite as well.

skieur · Oct 25, 2007

All in all, some very good shots. The skin colour is right. There is detail in the hair. The eyes are pretty good, although some brightening would be helpful in #3 and #4. The model: hair or clothes should not blend into the background on the dark side. Some selective postprocessing would be helpful to try and counteract this problem. The pose in number 4 does not quite work, but the only answer in postprocessing is to thin her "posterior" a little.

skieur

~Stella~ · Oct 25, 2007

I really like the first two - they are fantastic and she looks very genuine, smile-wise in them. It helps that your model is a very pretty girl, of course. Great job - I can't imagine they will not be thrilled.

bellacat · Oct 25, 2007

these are really good. I like them alot. the only thing that is really bugging me is the yellow balls of light above her toes in #4. Other then that, great job!