Feedback requested: first female model shoot (skimpy outfit warning)

[e.rose]

whyyyyyy!? I feel like the ultra feminist in this group but not a fan of a woman being photographed in this way I think there is a way to photograph a woman and be sexy while still keeping it classy. Needless to say I hate the posing. Was this something she wanted? The outfit choices are horrible she seems like a pretty girl but its hard to tell with the way shes being depicted.

Yeah, I agree with you. LOL

I'm not into the "Playboy Styling" type of shoot... but... I didn't mention it because that's a personal opinion based on my tastes.

...but yeah I agree. I have a hard time critiquing stuff like this because my overall reaction is just "I don't like it".

I have to force myself to be critical of only the technical aspects.

 

[e.rose]

I suggest employing the use of the Liquify Tool on the 2nd shot, just below the backstrap in the foreground image.

Pretty girl, thanks for sharing.

Agreed. I didn't even notice that at first. I wasn't paying attention to the OOF portion, but you're right.

 

[LouR]

I liked what she was giving me, so I didn't feel the need to try to direct her more. I happen to like the poses.

You said you think you have enough to get into Model Mayhem but did you even look at their top notch images? These poses and their technicals don't come close. You obviously have talent and equipment, but I gotta tell ya, your attitude sucks. First, take the C & C for the model, not just your lighting. As a photographer, you have to be in charge and the model needs to perform based on your direction. Look at the photos and blogs in Model Mayhem-there's one right on the home page about posing. And lighten up-you think people here are bashing? Wait til the real fun starts

I meant that I have enough to get my foot in the door. You need four pictures to even create an account at all, and I had nothing.

I'm going to agree to disagree on the model direction thing. I'm not going to interrupt someone's flow if they're giving me good results. I'm not saying I don't need to know how to direct/pose a model or subject because clearly that is something I need to work on.

And no one even brought up the "bashing" word until you did here.

Only because a couple of your responses were defensive, so I made the assumption you were feeling bashed.

 

[Ballistics]

whyyyyyy!? I feel like the ultra feminist in this group but not a fan of a woman being photographed in this way I think there is a way to photograph a woman and be sexy while still keeping it classy. Needless to say I hate the posing. Was this something she wanted? The outfit choices are horrible she seems like a pretty girl but its hard to tell with the way shes being depicted.

That poor woman! I am glad the OP photoshopped out the gun that was to her head forcing her to pose in such a way!

She directed herself and that is NOT what is supposed to happen. The photographer is the director but he had no idea how to do it because he forgot his book. Young girls think they can model. Then they end up with cliche poses like these. At least she didn't do a duck face.

Why don't you show him an example of your work, to give him a better idea of what a directed model with a less cliche' pose looks like.

 

[e.rose]

For the first I think shooting from a little bit higher of an angle would have been nice, It would have made her appear more feminine and would have taken attention away from her spread legs, which would have made this appear a bit classier and less 'look at my ****'-like.
That also would have cut some of the distracting background out, not all of it, but a bit.
It looks like the focus is on the couch, you should have moved her away from the couch or moved the couch away from her.
This shot gives me the impression she just jumped off the couch onto her knees for some reason, which again is a bit strange and I'm sure not the look you were going for.

The second;
I like this one better out of the two but I probably would have shot over her shoulder more and not into her back, that would prevented showing her unpleasing back wrinkles .
Could have cropped tighter too and filled the frame with her and gotten all the candles and paintings out of the background.
Her face is pretty dark, darker than the walls.
Flash should have been aimed more towards her head so it stands out the most. Probably could just dodge it a bit in post and it would work well.

This is just my advice, feel free to take it or not.

^^^That's some good advice.

 

[e.rose]

I'm going to agree to disagree on the model direction thing. I'm not going to interrupt someone's flow if they're giving me good results.

But the problem is they weren't very good results. You will, however, learn to distinguish that the more you shoot this style. Find amazing photographers in this genre and study how they pose their subjects. Immerse yourself in that, and then put together a posing guide of your own with your favorite shots, and start to employ them. :sillysmi:

 

[Ballistics]

I'm going to agree to disagree on the model direction thing. I'm not going to interrupt someone's flow if they're giving me good results.

But the problem is they weren't very good results. You will, however, learn to distinguish that the more you shoot this style. Find amazing photographers in this genre and study how they pose their subjects. Immerse yourself in that, and then put together a posing guide of your own with your favorite shots, and start to employ them. :sillysmi:

But he thought they were good results, so it's kind of a moot point (kind of). I do the same thing, if the model is running away with the shoot and I like where they are going, I follow them.
Having a posing guide is a good idea.

 

[e.rose]

I'm going to agree to disagree on the model direction thing. I'm not going to interrupt someone's flow if they're giving me good results.

But the problem is they weren't very good results. You will, however, learn to distinguish that the more you shoot this style. Find amazing photographers in this genre and study how they pose their subjects. Immerse yourself in that, and then put together a posing guide of your own with your favorite shots, and start to employ them. :sillysmi:

But he thought they were good results, so it's kind of a moot point (kind of). I do the same thing, if the model is running away with the shoot and I like where they are going, I follow them.
Having a posing guide is a good idea.

Well, I think my point was more that he thinks they're good *now*... but the more he improves, he'll look back on these later and realize they weren't.

We're all constantly improving.

I do this with images I've shot just a few months prior. I see things in them I didn't see before, or things that didn't bother me before, do now.

 

[Ballistics]

But the problem is they weren't very good results. You will, however, learn to distinguish that the more you shoot this style. Find amazing photographers in this genre and study how they pose their subjects. Immerse yourself in that, and then put together a posing guide of your own with your favorite shots, and start to employ them. :sillysmi:

But he thought they were good results, so it's kind of a moot point (kind of). I do the same thing, if the model is running away with the shoot and I like where they are going, I follow them.
Having a posing guide is a good idea.

Well, I think my point was more that he thinks they're good *now*... but the more he improves, he'll look back on these later and realize they weren't.

We're all constantly improving.

I do this with images I've shot just a few months prior. I see things in them I didn't see before, or things that didn't bother me before, do now.

Yeah, of course. Same here. But he's getting chastised by others about not directing the model, when that's not really a problem to begin with. The problem is, not knowing what is more appealing which having a
posing guide would greatly help him, as you said.

 

[LouR]

But he thought they were good results, so it's kind of a moot point (kind of). I do the same thing, if the model is running away with the shoot and I like where they are going, I follow them.
Having a posing guide is a good idea.

Well, I think my point was more that he thinks they're good *now*... but the more he improves, he'll look back on these later and realize they weren't.

We're all constantly improving.

I do this with images I've shot just a few months prior. I see things in them I didn't see before, or things that didn't bother me before, do now.

Yeah, of course. Same here. But he's getting chastised by others about not directing the model, when that's not really a problem to begin with. The problem is, not knowing what is more appealing which having a
posing guide would greatly help him, as you said.

Aren't they the same thing? If he has or compiles a posing guide, the model won't run away with the shoot. She's just doing what she thinks is sexy or good and, because there's nothing guiding either one of them, the shoot generally failed on the aesthetic level. Well, for those of us who weren't drawn in by the sexy outfits and pretty face anyway.

 

[Ballistics]

Well, I think my point was more that he thinks they're good *now*... but the more he improves, he'll look back on these later and realize they weren't.

We're all constantly improving.

I do this with images I've shot just a few months prior. I see things in them I didn't see before, or things that didn't bother me before, do now.

Yeah, of course. Same here. But he's getting chastised by others about not directing the model, when that's not really a problem to begin with. The problem is, not knowing what is more appealing which having a
posing guide would greatly help him, as you said.

Aren't they the same thing? If he has or compiles a posing guide, the model won't run away with the shoot. She's just doing what she thinks is sexy or good and, because there's nothing guiding either one of them, the shoot generally failed on the aesthetic level. Well, for those of us who weren't drawn in by the sexy outfits and pretty face anyway.

Yeah, but there are models that know what they are doing and need next to no direction, so letting them run away with the shoot isn't a bad thing.
If something seems out of place, I'll stop the model and begin directing.
And to put things into perspective, these poses aren't really as bad as people are making them out to be.

 

[Ballistics]

We did use the couch for some shots, including one that I really like...except one of my light stands ended up in the picture.

Edit: also, I'm going to shoot with her again in a few weeks and we plan on doing more "casual" fashion-style shots, outside shots, etc.

I'd like you to post the one with the light stand in the picture.

 

[Lmphotos]

It is very, very, very hard to learn how to pose in my experience and even harder for a woman again check out sue bryce she is a master at posing the female body

 

[Ballistics]

What's so hard about it?

8 Posing Guides to Inspire Your Portraiture

 

[daggah]

Here's the one with the light stand in the frame:


Sexy in Red #2 by davidgevert, on Flickr

And another on the couch:


Sexy in Red #3 by davidgevert, on Flickr