Bad Portrait Session

[fjrabon]

one more thing, DO NOT SHOW THESE PHOTOS TO THE PARENTS. I think you said something about 'reschedule if they don't like them'. No, just no. Reschedule, no matter what it takes, ...

Okay, while I think fjarbon was more than a bit over-zealous in his condemnation, he brings up an excellent point. Simply tell the people that there was an issue with some of the photographs and to ensure that everyone gets the best possible product, you would like to reshoot the entire job. I would also suggest perhaps a sweetener; an extra print, file, or future credit. I would also suggest consulting some of our more skilled sports photographers for assistance.

Yeah, perhaps it was worded a little harshly, I just got a bit worried when he said things like "see if the parents are okay with them." I just wanted to make it as clear as possible that if he wants to shoot professionally, he SHOULD NOT let anybody but the people here see these.

And if you think I'm overzealous, try being screamed at by a parent who was relying on sending these to some grandmother across the country, and her being in tears. because that CAN happen. Here, you just feel like you're getting beat up. Parents will make you feel like the worst person of all time and a criminal. Then again, some don't really care and will think they're fine, buy them, throw them in a drawer and never look at them. However, banking on the entire team being the latter type as opposed to the former isn't a safe bet.

 

[Robin_Usagani]

You have to have a supernova where your light can be too bright. Bring the ISO down and close down the aperture! The only time it is going to be too bright is when you try to shoot it with large aperture.. but im sure you can lower the power of the flash much lower than 1/4.

 

[runnah]

Brace yourselves...

I admit this is not my style of work so I was lost and also on a time crunch

Okay then don't do it. Simple as that. If you feel the urge, do it for free. You don't want other people to literally have to pay for your mistakes. You are being paid to take photos, not to learn how to take photos.

Looking at the posing is fine for me. Don't argue because Im happy with it, its what I wanted.

You cannot see the forest for the trees. The poses are **** and don't help the case at all. You have very severe basic composition issues.

You ask for help and people offer suggestion but you just ignore them. That is not how you improve.

View attachment 26996View attachment 26997

You can honestly say that the jersey in the background does anything to help the photo? You can't see the jersey and the hanger is coming out the top of their heads!You've lost the edges of the shoulders and the shape of their bodies.

I am not trying to be a dick but when you are in such denial about what is going on it's time for tough medicine.

 

[pixmedic]

Brace yourselves...

Okay then don't do it. Simple as that. If you feel the urge, do it for free. You don't want other people to literally have to pay for your mistakes. You are being paid to take photos, not to learn how to take photos.

THIS^^^
I wish more people would take this advice. (not aimed at the OP in any way, just in general)

 

[tirediron]

Okay, while I think fjarbon was more than a bit over-zealous in his condemnation

I don't, truth hurts. These photos should be in the beginner's forum, not the professional gallery. It makes my soul weep to think that the OP would even CONSIDER charging for these.

We are saving him for a throng of angry hockey moms.

While I've never shot team portraits and know very little about hockey (That's the one with the flat, black, ball, right?) Having had many friends who were into it, I've seen lots of this sort of work, and I know a LOT of people have paid for work that looks very similar in style (blur issues aside). The poses and composition strike me as bland and unimaginiative, but "horrible" seems a stretch to me.

 

[Mach0]

Brian, I am in Seymour.... If you need any help reach out to me. I have plenty speedlights and some modifiers as well. It's only a 35 minute ride to Danbury.

 

[fjrabon]

After reading your gear:

1) buy some reflective umbrellas. They're dirt cheap.
2) but the $30 Cowboy studios radio triggers from amazon.
3) stands? I'd guess you have stands? Do you have a mount that can hold your umbrella and flash?
4) gels. You'll need some gels for your speedlights if you have ambient in the background that is hitting the ice. What they call CTO, or orange looking.

Your two speedlights are perfectly sufficient with this setup.

You're working with a 50mm, so your choices are going to be a bit limited as far as getting a blurred background if you decide to shoot inside the arena. Do you not have an 80-200 f/2.8? That's a great lens from arena background shots.

You want your umbrellas at about a 45 degree angle from your subject, and as close as you can get them without them intruding into the actual shot. I usually find that 5.5 feet in front, and 5 feet apart, with your subject dead centered between them 'just works' It's not the most dramatic light, but you don't have to fiddle with it, and you can see the kids face, and you don't have to worry about shadows. Parents like it. It looks traditional.

CHECK YOUR SHARPNESS BY ZOOMING EVERY SINGLE SHOT, ALWAYS AND FOREVER. Do not let a kid get up until you zoom into the eyes and are happy.

Athletes look best either kneeling or standing. Sitting makes them look unathletic.

I'd probably have them stand, tell them to turn their shoulders and feet towards one of the umbrellas, and then turn their head straight at the camera. For Hockey you can have their hands on top of the stick. 3/4 shot on a 50mm looks good usually.

Settings wise, if you use the arena as a background, you need f/2.8 and at least 70mm, unless the arena is cavernous. Get as far away from your background as feasible, to give the longest throw. If you go with the 50mm, still use f.2.8, because while you want the background blurred, you need at least f/2.8 so that the subject will be fully in focus.

If you're shooting up against a close background and aren't blurring the background, or are using a backdrop, shoot at f/11.

Shoot in manual mode. ISO 200 is usually where I start, just so I have a stop down I can go quickly if I need to. We already discussed aperture.

Im guessing you don't have a light meter. You'll have to eyeball it with test shots.

Use your shutter speed to get your background like you want it (unless again you are shooting with a backdrop). Then use your flash power to get your subject exposed like you want. (make sure you have somebody or some thing to stand in for a subject. I usually start with 1/4 power and work from there, playing the brighter/darker game.

Remember, ISO and aperture control global exposure, ie subject and background. Shutter speed controls only background and flash power and distance controls only subject exposure.

edit: seems like this may be more trouble than you're willing to go through with? Find an actual pro to do the reshoot then? I'll leave the above up, for the reference of others.

 

[fjrabon]

Okay, while I think fjarbon was more than a bit over-zealous in his condemnation

I don't, truth hurts. These photos should be in the beginner's forum, not the professional gallery. It makes my soul weep to think that the OP would even CONSIDER charging for these.

We are saving him for a throng of angry hockey moms.

While I've never shot team portraits and know very little about hockey (That's the one with the flat, black, ball, right?) Having had many friends who were into it, I've seen lots of this sort of work, and I know a LOT of people have paid for work that looks very similar in style (blur issues aside). The poses and composition strike me as bland and unimaginiative, but "horrible" seems a stretch to me.

This is basically what the company I work for does, every single day. I can tell you that if he turned these shots in, he'd be taken off the schedule for at least two weeks, while he redid training at 15 hours per week for two weeks at minimum wage. I've seen that happen to three people since I've worked there, for shots better than those. All three quit. It's basically the way our company fires people without actually firing them.

Sure, I've seen amateurs do stuff this bad. But that's why they're amateurs. He put these in the professional gallery, so I think that means give them professional level C&C.

 

[gsgary]

I think I am just going to re-do them. What f stop would you use? I used f5.6 because it was a good setting. These are just two of the images, I would like to share a folder with someone and get some feedback.

With flash F8-11 iso100

 

[brian_f2.8]

Okay, while I think fjarbon was more than a bit over-zealous in his condemnation

I don't, truth hurts. These photos should be in the beginner's forum, not the professional gallery. It makes my soul weep to think that the OP would even CONSIDER charging for these.


We are saving him for a throng of angry hockey moms.

Im not forcing you to comment on anything, its optional.

 

[brian_f2.8]

Yes, Im seeking pro CC. I am not claiming to be a pro photographer. My area is auto racing and golf. Natural light none of this stuff. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING A SHOOT LIKE THIS. Way too many people criticize here and don't help.

 

[brian_f2.8]

Brian, I am in Seymour.... If you need any help reach out to me. I have plenty speedlights and some modifiers as well. It's only a 35 minute ride to Danbury.

Oh nice, I live in southbury. Check your PM.

 

[brian_f2.8]

Also one thing was using the off camera flashes, I had at an angle. The locker was recessed which caused a lot of shadows. Thats why I went from full power to 1/4. Again on a time crunch due to ice time. The images looked fine on the camera, I figured I could fix in aperture - OBVIOUSLY NOT!

 

[pixmedic]

Yes, Im seeking pro CC. I am not claiming to be a pro photographer. My area is auto racing and golf. Natural light none of this stuff. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING A SHOOT LIKE THIS. Way too many people criticize here and don't help.

Did you explain this to the paying clients?
(im assuming they are paying clients)
If so, there shouldn't be issues.
If not, there is the possibility they will feel you misrepresented yourself. If they are fine with a reshoot, then the problem is easily solved and everyone goes home happy.

 

[tirediron]

Also one thing was using the off camera flashes, I had at an angle. The locker was recessed which caused a lot of shadows. Thats why I went from full power to 1/4. Again on a time crunch due to ice time. The images looked fine on the camera, I figured I could fix in aperture - OBVIOUSLY NOT!

Two words: "Advance recce". NEVER, ever go into a situation like this without having explored it before hand. Grab your camera and the lens(es) you figure you're likely to use, and head down there a day or three before the event and scout the location. Note the ambient lighting, size, shape and colour of the rooms, and put together a mental location list. Talk to the rink staff and ask them if there's a space that other photographers have used. Fail to plan - plan to fail!