First Boudoir Shoot-- CC, please!

[pkae1989]

I haven't posted in awhile, so I thought I'd share

This is one of my favorites from todays shoot. I've definitely gotten better at photography overall since I first started!

I used an external flash (that I just got yesterday) so I'm learning how to use it.. it's a Vivitar 383. Just let me know how the editing/lighting etc. was overall.

 

[bazooka]

I'd say not bad for your first ocf shoot. The backlight highlighting her hair is good, but the direct sunlight is quite a bit too much on her shoulder and... ehh.... frontal area. You could diffuse it or move her. Sunlight can be used as separation light well, but when it starts to 'dapple' into areas where your main and/or fill lights are present, it just creates annoying hotspots.

 

[tirediron]

C&C per req:

It's a nice enough shot, but there are a few areas for improvement. When you say 'external' flash, do you mean a flash mounted in the camera's hot-shoe, or one off-camera, remotely triggered? I see catch-lights dead centre in the subjects pupil, which makes me think you were using an on-camera flash.

In this case, the lighting isn't too bad, but it could stand to be improved. You have a very hot/blown area on her right shoulder/clavicle and down to her breast which has generated some distracting shadow. If you'd increased your flash by say 1 - 1 1/2 stops, you could have al but elminated that. As well, there's a complete lack of detail in the hair on the left side (image right), which the use of a reflector bringing in some of the key light (window?) would have reduced.

I also think the crop could be improved; either above or below the breasts (with below being preferred IMO), but not right through them.

Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.

~John

 

[KmH]

↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ That's prety much what I would have pointed out, too.

There is also an odd catchlight low in her left eye (camera right).

Notice the sharp edged shadow cast on her neck by her chin, and on her face by her hair. Had the light that had cast those shadow been modified (made apparently larger) the shadows would have a much softer, diffuse, much more feminine like edge.

The devil is in the details and I also wonder if the shoulder strap adjustment bracket could have been re-adjusted so it was moved behind her shoulder rather than being right on top of it.

 

[pkae1989]

I see what you're saying, thanks! uploaded one more

 

[tirediron]

Image #2: I think (assume?) that you going for a sexy sort of pout, finger in the mouth, but from this angle, it looks like she's biting a hang-nail. I think this might have been a good shot if shot from her toes but behind her, it doesn't do a lot for me. The exposure is good, and the WB seems spot on. Watch for awkward cropping like the knuckles of her left hand.

Also, watch the background and leg position. There's something dark (nightstand?) just peeking above the bed, and the position of shoes is distracting.

 

[KmH]

Some recommended reading:

Ellie Vayo's Guide to Boudoir Photography

Digital Boudoir Photography: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Fabulous Images of Any Woman

The Art of Posing: Techniques for Digital Portrait Photographers (Pro Photo Workshop)

 

[pkae1989]

@KmH--- I have definitely been studying poses, etc, etc. It's going to take me a while to get completely down! She was my guinea pig!

 

[joealcantar]

@KmH--- I have definitely been studying poses, etc, etc. It's going to take me a while to get completely down! She was my guinea pig!

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Cool job for first , folks already cc the 1st so will say something on the second shot. Watch your cropping of ends of fingers etc. or at the joints as it makes subjects look amputated. Play around with your depth of field to give things a different look. If you have to up your ISO do so to get the look you want but don't get carried away that you create alot of noise. Nice guinea pig keep shooting her and make up a test album as you get your shots to show folks, you can always make one up for her as you sell them to others.
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Cool shots and thanks for sharing, shoot well, Joe

 

[RidgewayPortraits]

I would have to agree with everyone else that this is a great shoot for your first. The sunlight is a little much on the shoulder in the first image and in the second image, I personally would want to see some eyes looking back at me. It create a much more dramatic feel.