First boudoir shoot. Tell me what you think.

ahijada · Dec 20, 2011

Big Mike said:
Dude, her head may be oddly shaped....but listen to people when they tell you that by using such a short focal length (21mm) and being so close, you are adding distortion.

You could have zoomed in (and stepped back), you could have moved to your right, so that you weren't closer to her head & torso, than the rest of her.

Another indicator....look at the size of her hand, and compare that to the size of her foot.

Noob question here. I'm trying to learn how to examine others' photos so that I learn by observing as well.... How did you manage to find the focal length he used on the first photo, etc? I'm only asking because I had posted a photo of mines and someone had replied with a similiar response like yours above.

Kbarredo · Dec 20, 2011

ahijada said:
Big Mike said:

Dude, her head may be oddly shaped....but listen to people when they tell you that by using such a short focal length (21mm) and being so close, you are adding distortion.

You could have zoomed in (and stepped back), you could have moved to your right, so that you weren't closer to her head & torso, than the rest of her.

Another indicator....look at the size of her hand, and compare that to the size of her foot.

Click to expand...

Noob question here. I'm trying to learn how to examine others' photos so that I learn by observing as well.... How did you manage to find the focal length he used on the first photo, etc? I'm only asking because I had posted a photo of mines and someone had replied with a similiar response like yours above.

there is a program you can download that tells you the details of the picture. From what type of camera, focal length, aperture, and shutterspeed.

Kbarredo · Dec 20, 2011

megan330 said:
Dillard said:

megan330 said:

I wanted to make sure that was ok to do before I just posted it and pissed people off or something

Click to expand...

Trust me...that never has stopped anyone here. haha

Click to expand...

lol, yeah looking through some posts that seems to be the case.

Well.... here's my input on the pictures. Before I get started I want to say that I don't want any of this to come off rude. Just looking at this from a woman's perspective and knowing how I would like to look in boudoir photos. Strictly talking about modeling and props since I don't know much about actual photography. I will say that I like your choice of black and white. Always a nice choice with pale skin and dark hair .

First pic. Leather is not always sexy, especially when it's a big, fluffy, squishy couch that looks like it belongs in some guy's basement man-cave. I think it would've been sexy if it was a sleek, modern leather sofa or chaise, but the big, fluffy couch kind of kills it for me. Next, and this is commenting more on her choice of wardrobe (maybe next time you do a boudoir shoot you can make suggestions?) the bra part of her top doesn't fit. She needs a smaller size, or better yet a corset. The top highlights her flat-chestedness instead of making her look like a goddess (all boudoir shoots should result in women feeling like goddesses ). You may not have any control over what they choose to wear BUT if they choose to wear something that doesn't fit like that, poses where they are leaning back or laying down are only going to make it worse. Last, but not least, one thing I LOATHE is being able to see the seams at the toes of somebody's stockings or tights *shudders*. Maybe it's just me but it gives me the creeps, lol. She should be wearing pumps or no stockings, or at the very least pull the seams to the back of the toes so that they're not visible. That was literally the first detail about this photo that I noticed.

Second pic. I hate her necklace. It just doesn't go with the whole shoot. I also don't like the printed cotton sheets/comforter, they look cheap. I think the best sheet option for boudoir are crisp white or something pretty that has texture to it. The biggest issue I have is the pose. Flat on your back with your arms up is probably the single most unflattering pose a woman can do. There's a reason breast exams are done in this pose (yes, I just said that, lol). It totally flattens your breasts. See how the bra cups of the top look even more empty than before in this (that weird grey space just inside the cups). Plus armpits and the squishy side of your arm are not the hottest things to accentuate. I think putting a woman into an unflattering pose makes her less comfortable/confident and therefore is less likely to model well.

Thank you very much. It was very informative and helpful. I will be sure to remember that next time. You think the sheets are distracting now, you should see what they were like before I turned it black and white, FRIGGIN RAINBOW.
Believe me I wish I had any say on what she was wearing. But I'm just a guy and my fashion sense is jeans and shirt. I really cant wait to do my second boudoir shoot though. Ill be more prepared next time.

kevinkt · Dec 20, 2011

There's not really anything sexy about the first photo. It seems slightly distorted and she's kind of in a stiff looking position.

Second photo is much better except for the distracting (and ugly) sheets.

DiskoJoe · Dec 20, 2011

You going to post any more pics or some edits? This cant be the best of the bunch.

megan330 · Dec 20, 2011

Kbarredo said:
Thank you very much. It was very informative and helpful. I will be sure to remember that next time. You think the sheets are distracting now, you should see what they were like before I turned it black and white, FRIGGIN RAINBOW.
Believe me I wish I had any say on what she was wearing. But I'm just a guy and my fashion sense is jeans and shirt. I really cant wait to do my second boudoir shoot though. Ill be more prepared next time.

Oh your welcome, I'm glad you found it helpful. I figured judging by your avi that you were a guy so I naturally wouldn't expect you to know these things without having to learn them :lol:

. Oh and I also wanted to say, if you're in a situation like that where you have to use their existing bedding and it's ugly like that, flip it over (assuming it's a comforter). More often than not, the reverse side of printed comforters are solid. That could help it be less distracting if you're faced with that issue :thumbup:.

ahijada · Dec 20, 2011

Kbarredo said:
ahijada said:

Big Mike said:

Dude, her head may be oddly shaped....but listen to people when they tell you that by using such a short focal length (21mm) and being so close, you are adding distortion.

You could have zoomed in (and stepped back), you could have moved to your right, so that you weren't closer to her head & torso, than the rest of her.

Another indicator....look at the size of her hand, and compare that to the size of her foot.

Click to expand...

Didn't notice I can see the information in LR! Thank you so much!

Noob question here. I'm trying to learn how to examine others' photos so that I learn by observing as well.... How did you manage to find the focal length he used on the first photo, etc? I'm only asking because I had posted a photo of mines and someone had replied with a similiar response like yours above.

Click to expand...

there is a program you can download that tells you the details of the picture. From what type of camera, focal length, aperture, and shutterspeed.

I viewed the picture in Adobe LR. I didn't even know that the information was available through LR when the photo wasn't mine! Thank you so much for the help!

Kbarredo · Dec 20, 2011

DiskoJoe said:
You going to post any more pics or some edits? This cant be the best of the bunch.

Lolno I just havent edited all of them yet.

KmH · Dec 20, 2011

ahijada said:
How did you manage to find the focal length he used on the first photo, etc? I'm only asking because I had posted a photo of mines and someone had replied with a similiar response like yours above.

It's known as EXIF metadata and it is added by a digital camea to each photo the camera makes.

Some editing and image saving processes strip the EXIF info. I use Opanda and can right click on most photos to look at the EXIF data.

Flickr sucks, because it blocks the EXIF info and, you have to go to Flickr to see the EXIF info.

www.opanda.com

www.photome.de

Kbarredo · Dec 21, 2011

Here are some more. How much do you guys think is a sufficient amount of photos. I took 50 including test shots. In the colored ones I used a red gel. I like it but I hope she will.
1.

2.

3.

4.

GeorgieGirl · Dec 21, 2011

She just does not have that what do you call it....je ne sais quoi. So what do you do then?

#1 of the second set is her best pose. See if you can lighten the sofa a bit so she stands out from it a bit more...You can see the bit of tightness in her muscles and to me that adds something that the other shots lack.

I think if she had taken taken her glasses off and got off the couch and the bed it would have been better, she looks like she is watching TV.

I think that you might consider the use of DOF more to your advantage for example in the #2 of your second set....

MTVision · Dec 21, 2011

Kbarredo said:
Here are some more. How much do you guys think is a sufficient amount of photos. I took 50 including test shots. In the colored ones I used a red gel. I like it but I hope she will.
1.
2.
3.
4.

I like the 1st one in the 2nd set of pictures. The 3rd would be a cool shot but she looks weird - I don't know if it's distortion or just her huge hair throwing me off but her lower body looks tiny compared to torso and head.