Today, I was reminded why....

480sparky · Oct 15, 2016

.... I no longer do commission work. Especially portraits.

My next-door neighbor's 11-YO grand-daughter stopped by and begged me to take some photos of her since she was all dressed up to go to a wedding. So I grudgingly obliged her.

I'm sure I'd never make it as a portrait photographer these days. I missed focus on many otherwise decent images, and wasn't watching my ISO, which caused them to come out very noisy.

Plus, I really wasn't feeling up to the task as I was beat to death from crawling around in an attic all week at work. Maybe someday, I can talk her folks into setting up a real, proper session.

Anyway.... fire away with your comments.

Piccell · Oct 15, 2016

lol...yep.

FITBMX · Oct 15, 2016

What a great guy! I bet you made her day.

Considering the situation these look fine to me, and I bet they will be okay with setting up another shoot.

480sparky · Oct 15, 2016

Another shoot will probably happen, hopefully better planned with 'the right gear' and more energy on my part. Don't know if I can set it up yet this fall or will have to wait until next spring.

Would be a great use of my Tair 135/2.8.

jcdeboever · Oct 16, 2016

Shoot, those are pretty good for not being into it.

limr · Oct 16, 2016

She's 11???

My suggestion: fewer faddish grown-up poses (they look forced, and quite frankly are getting tired even for adults) and more like #2.

smoke665 · Oct 16, 2016

As JC said pretty good considering. Sometimes we are our worst critic.

jcdeboever · Oct 16, 2016

Oh, make sure someone is there with you. I am shocked at the amount of trust people have in others they don't really know. I am helping friends of wife's family out with senior pics of a 16 year old girl and they just want to send her on over... not happening, I am having another adult with me at all times. I don't trust any of these young girls today. Oh, by the way, I don't like taking senior pictures. Lets go over to the railroad tracks, can you shoot me with the sun behind my head?, lets take a pic in front of the downtown painted brick wall.... I am so over it.

SquarePeg · Oct 16, 2016

11 is the new 16. I really like the last shot. She's cute and has an interesting face. She'll make a good subject for a more planned shoot. I do agree with jc about having someone else around no matter how well you know the family. One of the coaching rules for my daughters softball league is that coaches are never allowed to be alone with the athletes and it's for the coaches protection as much as for the girls.

FITBMX · Oct 16, 2016

480sparky said:
Another shoot will probably happen, hopefully better planned with 'the right gear' and more energy on my part. Don't know if I can set it up yet this fall or will have to wait until next spring.

Would be a great use of my Tair 135/2.8.

That would be the perfect lens.
You could always do a winter shoot in the snow.

Granddad · Oct 16, 2016

I'd say that for what was pretty much an impromptu shoot, these are excellent. You underrate yourself worse than I do and with less cause!

That girl is only eleven? Good LORD!

tirediron · Oct 16, 2016

Agree with the above; I've seen people pay for much poorer work (No, NOT mine thankyouverymuch!

). The only point I will add is that I think a little less DoF might have been beneficial; allowing for greater subject/background separation.

Piccell · Oct 16, 2016

An 11 yo would be a lot cuter in her play clothes making a sand castle or some such activity, and not trying to be all grown up. Life is short, childhood is even shorter, don't miss it.

480sparky · Oct 16, 2016

Piccell said:
An 11 yo would be a lot cuter in her play clothes making a sand castle or some such activity, and not trying to be all grown up. Life is short, childhood is even shorter, don't miss it.

I can see that attitude towards a 5-yo. But this girl actually is a lot older than she looks.