6 for CC! I'd love to improve!

[LTP]

I take photos for my friends a lot (and especially my newly one-year daughter) for practice. Obviously I don't charge because I need more experience; I've been self-teaching for less than a year so far. I just wanted to know opinions and how to IMPROVE (also the PP, WB, etc.). I've been mostly focusing on sharpness as I've been mediocre at that. Thank you in advance!

 

[LTP]

Please?

 

[jwbryson1]

It's early. Give people time to wake up and look. Lots of folks looking for feedback in this forum. :mrgreen:

 

[jowensphoto]

The last is the best of the set. The composition isn't mindblowing, but it's alright.

Have you tried posing your subjects less? The older girl looks slightly uncomfortable and the poses seem a little forced.

 

[LTP]

The last is the best of the set. The composition isn't mindblowing, but it's alright.

Have you tried posing your subjects less? The older girl looks slightly uncomfortable and the poses seem a little forced.

They do, I agree with you. The mother of the girl in the blue dress wanted photos for her Quinceanera and was VERY specific about what she wanted. I didn't really have much wiggle room.. :/

 

[tirediron]

The last is the best of the set. The composition isn't mindblowing, but it's alright.

Have you tried posing your subjects less? The older girl looks slightly uncomfortable and the poses seem a little forced.

They do, I agree with you. The mother of the girl in the blue dress wanted photos for her Quinceanera and was VERY specific about what she wanted. I didn't really have much wiggle room.. :/

Did you discuss with the mother the pros and cons of different poses & styles? Suggest alternatives, or spend a few minutes talking and joking with the girl to try and help her relax? There's a LOT more to the art of posing than simply saying "Stand here".

 

[jowensphoto]

The last is the best of the set. The composition isn't mindblowing, but it's alright.

Have you tried posing your subjects less? The older girl looks slightly uncomfortable and the poses seem a little forced.

They do, I agree with you. The mother of the girl in the blue dress wanted photos for her Quinceanera and was VERY specific about what she wanted. I didn't really have much wiggle room.. :/

Did you discuss with the mother the pros and cons of different poses & styles? Suggest alternatives, or spend a few minutes talking and joking with the girl to try and help her relax? There's a LOT more to the art of posing than simply saying "Stand here".

So true. For little kids, I tell them, "Ok, now saaaaay.... BUNNY BOOGERS!" It's gross, but immediately it makes them laugh. For older teens, you can ask about a potential boyfriend/girlfriend or crush... it's embarrassing, but it will bring that little glimmer to their eye and a slight blush.

 

[LTP]

The last is the best of the set. The composition isn't mindblowing, but it's alright.

Have you tried posing your subjects less? The older girl looks slightly uncomfortable and the poses seem a little forced.

They do, I agree with you. The mother of the girl in the blue dress wanted photos for her Quinceanera and was VERY specific about what she wanted. I didn't really have much wiggle room.. :/

Did you discuss with the mother the pros and cons of different poses & styles? Suggest alternatives, or spend a few minutes talking and joking with the girl to try and help her relax? There's a LOT more to the art of posing than simply saying "Stand here".

Haha! She was a 15 year old girl who didn't want to be there and had a nasty attitude. She was pretty much forced to be there because her mom wanted photos and she was stiff. Very hard to talk to. The younger girls were much easier to get on my side but by that time we finished with photos. I was working with a group of 10 teenagers! So I didn't have much time to spend with specific subjects.
I definitely haven't learned up on posing techniques since I have really been working on getting the basics (WB, focus, etc) down. I definitely need to though, to make them more dynamic. Thank you for your help!

 

[LTP]

They do, I agree with you. The mother of the girl in the blue dress wanted photos for her Quinceanera and was VERY specific about what she wanted. I didn't really have much wiggle room.. :/

Did you discuss with the mother the pros and cons of different poses & styles? Suggest alternatives, or spend a few minutes talking and joking with the girl to try and help her relax? There's a LOT more to the art of posing than simply saying "Stand here".

So true. For little kids, I tell them, "Ok, now saaaaay.... BUNNY BOOGERS!" It's gross, but immediately it makes them laugh. For older teens, you can ask about a potential boyfriend/girlfriend or crush... it's embarrassing, but it will bring that little glimmer to their eye and a slight blush.

That would've worked with the little ones! I didn't think about that! I don't do this TOO often with people I meet that same day, so you're both right. I need to get them comfortable. Usually I take photos of people I've talked to before.

But like I said to tirediron, I didn't know what to do with the 15 year old girl (the one in the blue). She definitely had a nasty attitude and I had to keep my mouth pretty much shut around her in case I said something I would regret! Do you have any tips for those kind of situations?

 

[jowensphoto]

Ugh, dealing with tough clients is another issue unto itself! Sounds like you made the most of the situation.

Teen girls (I was one once!) can be especially exhausting.