FIRST paid portrait session. =)What do you think?

westerngirl14 · Dec 11, 2010

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This was my very first paid portrait session. It was actually to take the little girls' one year old pictures, but we got one of the whole family too. =) So let me know what you think! These are only a few of the pictures I don't have the other pictures on this computer.

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MohaimenK · Dec 11, 2010

I like the 1st but that cloth on her head seems totally blended into the background which makes her head looks odd for some reason.

sobolik · Dec 11, 2010

The tell tale lines have told on you. I always include more in my framing to straighten them and then crop. On the left as we view it the lines angle left bottom to top. On the right they angle right bottom to top. I always notice and deduct from my assessment of Pro? or amateur? quality.

Thus I would crop off the right door jamb reference line a hair to avoid allowing it to tell on you. It won't be there as a reference. The others can be overlooked more easily.

And What is on her throat? It should probably be removed unless it would be missed. i.e. Some things like a missing eye cannot be doctored back in without causing a stir.

I think #2 needs more cropped off the bottom like 1/2 of the blue and left almost up to the back of the head as we view it. Then it won't look like the chopped off head top was an accident. It will look like it was intentional.

Number 3 is nice enough but restoring color to the eyes only might make it killer. It is one of those rare shots that might never be noticed that it was massaged. i.e B&W except for the eyes.
To fully perfect this deception restore full color to the eyes and just a hair of color to the shirt.

reznap · Dec 11, 2010

westerngirl14 said:
paid portrait session

EXIF said:
Camera Model = SP500UZ

:gah:

westerngirl14 · Dec 11, 2010

moheimenK: yes I can see what you mean about her head covering blending into the background...hmm...will see what I can do to fix that...thanks for pointing it out. =)

Sobolik: You are SO right about the lines on #1! thanks a LOT. I will do what I can to fix it! I love all the professional help I get on here!

As for that thing on her throat... it is the bow of the ties of her head covering. She is a conservative Christian (as am I) and we wear head coverings as we believe the Bible tells us too.

It's a religious covering. So no, I won't edit it out.

Your ideas for #2 and #3 are super great. I think #3 will be STUNNING in the way you described it! Will see what I can do.

thanks to both of you for your kind replies.

sobolik · Dec 11, 2010

westerngirl14 said:
moheimenK: yes I can see what you mean about her head covering blending into the background...hmm...will see what I can do to fix that...thanks for pointing it out. =)

Sobolik: You are SO right about the lines on #1! thanks a LOT. I will do what I can to fix it! I love all the professional help I get on here!

As for that thing on her throat... it is the bow of the ties of her head covering. She is a conservative Christian (as am I) and we wear head coverings as we believe the Bible tells us too. It's a religious covering. So no, I won't edit it out.

Your ideas for #2 and #3 are super great. I think #3 will be STUNNING in the way you described it! Will see what I can do.

thanks to both of you for your kind replies.

I thought that they looked like just a wonderful lovely couple. I thought about saying so but chose not to. Keep it all professional and such. But now I know why! "a conservative Christian" God bless you in you endeavors!

One tip about the tie. Carefully select it and then tone down the brightness so that it is not bold. Rather it ever so gently takes the edge off the obviousness.

Robin Usagani · Dec 11, 2010

2 & 3 seem distorted. Im sorry westerngirl.. I dont like any of them.

Karri · Dec 11, 2010

I like #2 a lot as it is... I think the blue of the shirt brings out the blue of her eyes. The fading and smoothness around the woman's hair and ears in #1 is distracting as I keep looking at her trying to figure it out. I agree with sobolik about #3.

Ken Rockwell Fan · Dec 11, 2010

They look a bit over exposed. Try to keep the highlights from getting blown out. Merry Christmas and God bless!

Chad

Nikon_Dude · Dec 12, 2010

I think the first one is a bit overexposed and soft.

Two and three look pretty good, agree with the cropping advice on number three.

Raian-san · Dec 12, 2010

Hopefully you didn't charge so much! But congrats on your first paid photoshoot. Is there more photos beside those 3 or did you posted the best 3? The 2nd one is nice, I lik.e The first one could use better composition because that's so ordinary and the baby wasn't looking at the camera

. The 3rd one shouldn't be in BW IMO. That poka dot shirt makes it look like it's from the 60's. In the end though, as long as your client like it, that's all that matter. Keep it up!

Derrel · Dec 12, 2010

#1 suffers a bit from having three different lines of gaze on the subjects....the mother is looking right at you, while the father is looking behind you,and so is the little girl. That lack of a united gaze makes the family not appear "cohesive". it's a very important requirement that in a small group of just three, especially when photographed posed, that each person be looking pretty close to the same direction and distance. So, the first photo is not a really good classical family portrait.

The second photo is a semi-profile, and kind of cute on the little girl. I wish the camera had been a bit lower in all three photos. The last photo needs her eyes to be a bit more to the left in the frame, so just crop off a little of the left hand side and re-do your logo, and maybe make the contrast a little bit snappier. For a first time, not too bad. If you keep at it, you'll probably get better pretty quickly! The people seem comfortable enough with you. A little bit more "directing" from you would help on your next session. A squeaky toy or something eye-catching can be used to unify the gaze of three to six people pretty easily...something you can smash into your forehead in a fake crash for example, like a little cloth hammer, or a rubber ducky works great for kids.

SabrinaO · Dec 12, 2010

Don't like any of them... or the processing of the b/w. Looks very flat. Who are these people... whats their deal?

SabrinaO · Dec 12, 2010

Derrel said:
#1 suffers a bit from having three different lines of gaze on the subjects....the mother is looking right at you, while the father is looking behind you,and so is the little girl. That lack of a united gaze makes the family not appear "cohesive". it's a very important requirement that in a small group of just three, especially when photographed posed, that each person be looking pretty close to the same direction and distance. So, the first photo is not a really good classical family portrait.

The second photo is a semi-profile, and kind of cute on the little girl. I wish the camera had been a bit lower in all three photos. The last photo needs her eyes to be a bit more to the left in the frame, so just crop off a little of the left hand side and re-do your logo, and maybe make the contrast a little bit snappier. For a first time, not too bad. If you keep at it, you'll probably get better pretty quickly! The people seem comfortable enough with you. A little bit more "directing" from you would help on your next session. A squeaky toy or something eye-catching can be used to unify the gaze of three to six people pretty easily...something you can smash into your forehead in a fake crash for example, like a little cloth hammer, or a rubber ducky works great for kids.

Derrel, you are AWESOME!! I learn so much from your posts....