First Photoshoot (Critique it)

[A/Ox4]

This was my first ever portraiture photoshoot.
Shot with a D5300 and a Sigma 70-200 f/2.8.

I was going for a warm, bright style, which is why the background is overexposed in most images.
Let me know what you think. (Other than the guys wardrobe.. I tried...)

 

[tirediron]

I"m sure he'll hear about that from her too! Overall, not too bad. I understand the look you were going for, but I would have liked to see just a bit of fill light to knock down the harshness of some of the ambient such as on his hair in #3; he looks quite grey there and the shadows on her face aren't quite ideal, but in general a nice set with which I'm sure they're pleased.

 

[A/Ox4]

[emoji38] I"m sure he'll hear about that from her too! Overall, not too bad. I understand the look you were going for, but I would have liked to see just a bit of fill light to knock down the harshness of some of the ambient such as on his hair in #3; he looks quite grey there and the shadows on her face aren't quite ideal, but in general a nice set with which I'm sure they're pleased.

Thanks!
They were pleased.
His hair is actually surprisingly grey...
I just got my flashes today, and the shoot was yesterday. That's okay, it was just for fun.

 

[Chrispyphotos]

Dealing with harsh light is never fun...but you gotta deal with what ya got!

The images themselves aren't terrible. They are definitely warm and bright like you were going for. I would maybe cool them down a little bit...but that is me personally. What the of focusing were you using? They seem a little soft to me...or I am getting old! =)

 

[Braineack]

they do lack some sharpness looking at the full sized, but the warmth should stay.

 

[FITBMX]

For a first time they look good to me!

 

[DaPOPO]

They are nice natural images. I would have cloned out the specs on his t-shirt on the last one. Nice job!!

 

[KmH]

Way to warm for my taste.
I prefer more natural looking skin tones.
As it is, it looks like they used to much no-sun-needed tanning cream.

Judging by the shadows, I would say the time of day was about the worst time to shoot with available light - the mid-day hours.

I agree with the comments regarding the shadows caused by the dappled sunlight shadows in #?.
Oops. Sorry. No numbers. No edit preference. No location either.

Composition is OK. They are a photogenic couple. It'd be nice to see him groomed a bit more.

It looks like your lens needed a good cleaning, particularly the rear lens element.
Lastly. Did you have a lens hood on your lens in #? - the one of them walking away from you.

 

[A/Ox4]

Way to warm for my taste.
I prefer more natural looking skin tones.
As it is, it looks like they used to much no-sun-needed tanning cream.

Judging by the shadows, I would say the time of day was about the worst time to shoot with available light - the mid-day hours.

I agree with the comments regarding the shadows caused by the dappled sunlight shadows in #?.
Oops. Sorry. No numbers. No edit preference. No location either.

Composition is OK. They are a photogenic couple. It'd be nice to see him groomed a bit more.

It looks like your lens needed a good cleaning, particularly the rear lens element.
Lastly. Did you have a lens hood on your lens in #? - the one of them walking away from you.

They are overly warm. I probably won't do my next shoot that warm.

You are correct. It was mid day. The location we chose was in a valley and we had to work it in to their schedules.

I told them the usual stuff to be ready. Obviously he didnt take it to heart.

You are the second person to suggest lens cleaning. What leads you to this? Its a fairly new lens. The dots in the last picture everyone keeps mentioning were little bits falling from the trees in the wind. I left them because they were actually there and visible in person. I felt it contributed to the memory of the image.

I always shoot with a lens hood.

 

[e.rose]

It's not even that they're overly warm... they're just too green.

1. This one could stand for a little more contrast

2. The lighting is a bit too harsh on her, and the angle of her head is not flattering. But with a tweak of the head position this could make for a very nice genuine moment between them.

3. You've got some super harsh lighting going on here, with some badly placed shadows. Again the angle is not the most flattering for her, but this is a cute moment you captured between them, none the less.

4. Cute

5. Cute again.

As mentioned, I would work on your white balance/color correction as while these would look great *warm*... there's too much *green* overall in them.

 

[A/Ox4]

Thanks! I didn't do much posing other than "sit here, between his legs." Etc. I'm still learning posing. I let them interact naturally.

 

[msheffield]

What time was this shoot at?

- mbsfield

 

[A/Ox4]

What time was this shoot at?

- mbsfield

2pm ish

 

[msheffield]

Have you heard of the magic hour? If possible try your next shoot around that time. It's an hour after sunrise or before sunset. You tend to capture really beautiful light with gorgeous shadows. A true sense of light... Great first attempt!

- mbsfield

 

[A/Ox4]

Yes i am aware of the golden hour rule. However, as I already stated, we were in a narrow valley which limited lighting and we had to work around their schedules.

Thank you for the suggestion though. Next weekend I have another shoot and we have scheduled it for the golden hour.

Have you heard of the magic hour? If possible try your next shoot around that time. It's an hour after sunrise or before sunset. You tend to capture really beautiful light with gorgeous shadows. A true sense of light... Great first attempt!

- mbsfield