FIrst ever "model" shoot

JaimeGibb · Apr 27, 2008

Please give me some honest critique on these!!

It was my first time doing an adult. I was in a studio with black paper as a backdrop, which I darkened because it came out almost gray. Ill be shooting adults in this type of situation again so please let me know what you think!!

1.

2.

3.

4.

Lyncca · Apr 27, 2008

The lighting seems kinda harsh to me. Also, on the first one, I can see where you darkened it, because you missed spots...

Alex_B · Apr 27, 2008

in 3 and 4 i can also see where you missed some spots in darkening ...

#2 looks rather cruel to her face ... too many reflections. either you need some softer light, or some make up, or some serious postprocessing. in #2 IMHO

I like the smile in the last one, get her to smile more often

JaimeGibb · Apr 27, 2008

I agree about the lighting. I actualy wanted it a LOT softer but the photographer I was with was in charge of the lighting. She really dug the harsh contrast.

Ah! I did miss spots!! Hehe woops

Lyncca · Apr 27, 2008

Alex_B said:
in 3 and 4 i can also see where you missed some spots in darkening ...

#2 looks rather cruel to her face ... too many reflections. either you need some softer light, or some make up, or some serious postprocessing. in #2 IMHO

I like the smile in the last one, get her to smile more often

I took a few seconds and tried some post processing. I think it helps to soften her features some. I used an Action called Porcelain Skin.

JaimeGibb · Apr 27, 2008

Holy cow. That's amazing Lyncca!! Can you share where you found the action...?

Lyncca · Apr 27, 2008

It's part of a set here:
http://www.craigsactions.com/Products/CActionsProductivity1.html

I used the hidden porcelain skin, where you paint in the parts you want to blur so the whole picture isn't blurred. I also lowered the opacity of this layer so that her skin still had some texture to it.

Edward Crim · Apr 28, 2008

Jaime,

black velvet is a good investment, it's the only thing that can get a lot of light on it and still be black. Black paper can work, but you have to have a lot of distance behind the subject to let the light fall off. Were you using strobes or incandescent lights?

JaimeGibb · Apr 28, 2008

Edward Crim said:
Jaime,

black velvet is a good investment, it's the only thing that can get a lot of light on it and still be black. Black paper can work, but you have to have a lot of distance behind the subject to let the light fall off. Were you using strobes or incandescent lights?

I believe they were strobes. Basically huge lamps that you can adjust. Strobes, yes?

Yea the backdrops were white paper or black paper. Velvet huh, that's a good idea. One day Id like to have my own studio so this was a great experience for me, even with the mess ups and critiques!! Only makes you stronger. Any other opinions?!

noescape · Apr 28, 2008

In #1, the burn-job is sort of blotchy... and the stool is tilted... #2- can you burn out the white in her eye? Otherwise like it- especially with Lyncca's edit.
Other than that and what has already been mentioned... I like these shots.

JaimeGibb · Apr 28, 2008

noescape said:
In #1, the burn-job is sort of blotchy... and the stool is tilted... #2- can you burn out the white in her eye? Otherwise like it- especially with Lyncca's edit.
Other than that and what has already been mentioned... I like these shots.

Thanks

Good idea about birning out the white in her eye...ill try that.

I didnt realize that the actions cost money...poo.

elsaspet · Apr 29, 2008

I think you will find that if you white balance these, the lighting won't be nearly so weird.
You were shooting RAW hopefully.

JaimeGibb · Apr 29, 2008

Ok so I played around on PS and did an edit...what do you guys think?

Before:

After:

elsaspet · Apr 29, 2008

Now it's way heavy on the yellow chanel. Did you shoot this in RAW?

elsaspet · Apr 29, 2008

Two things went way wrong here. The first is that I suspect you shot JPEG. Never Ever Ever shoot Jpeg on a client.
The result is a tunsten lighting, which is really red, as seen in your photos.
The other problem I found while fixing one, was that you were two stops under. A full two stops.
Not bad for a first time, but there are a few things you need to consider.
Here is the original:

And this version that is white balanced and exposure corrected.

Happy shooting.