First time model on a first time TFP C&C please

[IronMaskDuval]

I took her out this morning for a shoot. This is her first time in front of a camera and mine in front of a stranger. I'd like some C&C to help me improve on compo and such.

 

[tirediron]

C&C per req:


1. I REALLY like the way the two tall strands of barley(?) are framing her face, but her face is under-exposed, there are fly-away hairs across the bridge of her nose and her eyes are basically lifeless. A little squire of fill flash or reflector would have this from 'okay' to great. A slightly happier expression wouldn't have gone amiss either.


2. Not sure; nice conversion, 'though a slight contrast boost might not hurt. The vertical lines against the bright background are a bit unsettling.


3. Based on the catchlights I have a sneaking suspicion you may have used on-camera flash. For that, I sentence you to 20 lashes with a rusty cable release! The shadows on her face really aren't working for me. Again, a big reflector would have made this shot.


4. Hmmm... a little tightly framed and again, dark eyes and under-exposed face.


5. This one looks like you may have overdone the skin processing on her face slightly, and I think you could dial back the saturation slightly as well. I would DEFINITELY get rid of that blade of grass that is right between her breasts. Also watch the crop; the longitudal crop of her arms is less than ideal.


6. Great smile here, but those catchlights....


7. This one is nice, but again the face is significantly under-exposed. Have I mentioned "reflector"?


Overall, it's a good, solid start. Lots of areas in which to improve, but you're on your way!


Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.


~John

 

[IronMaskDuval]

C&C per req:


1. I REALLY like the way the two tall strands of barley(?) are framing her face, but her face is under-exposed, there are fly-away hairs across the bridge of her nose and her eyes are basically lifeless. A little squire of fill flash or reflector would have this from 'okay' to great. A slightly happier expression wouldn't have gone amiss either.


2. Not sure; nice conversion, 'though a slight contrast boost might not hurt. The vertical lines against the bright background are a bit unsettling.


3. Based on the catchlights I have a sneaking suspicion you may have used on-camera flash. For that, I sentence you to 20 lashes with a rusty cable release! The shadows on her face really aren't working for me. Again, a big reflector would have made this shot.


4. Hmmm... a little tightly framed and again, dark eyes and under-exposed face.


5. This one looks like you may have overdone the skin processing on her face slightly, and I think you could dial back the saturation slightly as well. I would DEFINITELY get rid of that blade of grass that is right between her breasts. Also watch the crop; the longitudal crop of her arms is less than ideal.


6. Great smile here, but those catchlights....


7. This one is nice, but again the face is significantly under-exposed. Have I mentioned "reflector"?


Overall, it's a good, solid start. Lots of areas in which to improve, but you're on your way!


Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.


~John

Thanks, old man. I was using a speed light that was attached to my camera, but I just got it in a few days ago. I have no idea what I'm doing with it. Did I mentioned that I've only been shooting people for a month and things for about two? lol. I have a lot to learn. A reflector? I had my mnetor offer his assistance, but the shoot was rescheduled on an inconvenient day.

 

[Robin Usagani]

the shadow and the bright spot on the face is very distracting. It is also apparent you fixed the exposure quite a bit.

 

[IronMaskDuval]

the shadow and the bring spot on the face is very distracting. It is also apparent you fixed the exposure quite a bit.

You are correct. How can you tell. Is it a pro thing to distinguish that?

 

[IronMaskDuval]

Anyone else? So from what I gather, I should use a reflector. What's an alternative if I don't have an assistant? I have a manual flash, and I don't understand the concept of fill flash yet. Also, I'd like to know how one could tell that I worked the exposure levels a bit.

 

[Braineack]

What's an alternative if I don't have an assistant?

a reflector, a clamp, and a stand.

also watch the spotted light on the face...

I feel if you're not going to use a reflector or fill and back-light the subjects, then you need to expose for the face and let the background wash out.

The last image is your strongest, imho, but I think you over did the staturation a bit and I'd bump her exposure in post at least.

 

[IronMaskDuval]

What's an alternative if I don't have an assistant?

a reflector, a clamp, and a stand.

also watch the spotted light on the face...

I feel if you're not going to use a reflector or fill and back-light the subjects, then you need to expose for the face and let the background wash out.

The last image is your strongest, imho, but I think you over did the staturation a bit and I'd bump her exposure in post at least.

Thanks, Braineack.

Is the saturation thing your subjectivity, or is it standard to go less saturated? Here's a bump down in saturation. I like it, but the more saturated one doesn't bother me much either, but it's not about me as much as it is for her and those seeing her photos.

 

[Trever1t]

For your first time, and hers you did great. There are too many to give specific critic so I'll just say in general you have a lot of mixed lighting and shadows on your subjects and that's very distracting and unflattering. Model is nice, locations are nice. Framing is fine. Keep shooting!

 

[jenko]

Good job for first time. Looks like you were also working with some tricky dappled lighting.

Yes, get a reflector! Or bounce the flash off something--like a card.

 

[IronMaskDuval]

For your first time, and hers you did great. There are too many to give specific critic so I'll just say in general you have a lot of mixed lighting and shadows on your subjects and that's very distracting and unflattering. Model is nice, locations are nice. Framing is fine. Keep shooting!

Thanks. In regards to the mixed lighting and shadows, is this a process of learning how to use my flash better and using a reflector? I've been looking at other portraits, and it seems like most of them have the skin evenly and completely lit. Is it safe to assume that's my goal?

For example in #3, instead of using flash, should I have used a reflector to bounce the light back onto her face? As you may notice, the sun is behind her, and I used the flash to light her face, but her hair shaded a good portion of it.

 

[jenko]

Thanks. In regards to the mixed lighting and shadows, is this a process of learning how to use my flash better and using a reflector? I've been looking at other portraits, and it seems like most of them have the skin evenly and completely lit. Is it safe to assume that's my goal?

Not really. Dappled light can make for some interesting and beautiful portraits. But if you are going to go in that direction, get rid of the flash altogether and embrace the possibilities of uneven light and the patterns it creates. This would have required a very different exposure, though. Personally, I rarely use completely even lighting on a portrait. I like how shadow gives the face some personality and dimension. It really depends on how you plan to use these images and the mood you are trying to create with them.

For example in #3, instead of using flash, should I have used a reflector to bounce the light back onto her face? As you may notice, the sun is behind her, and I used the flash to light her face, but her hair shaded a good portion of it.

Yes, a reflector would have softened those shadows. If you had placed it to your left and turned the flash to bounce off it, it would have lit her face and the hair reflections would not be there. This is where OCF really comes in handy. I had a lot of these same issues using on camera flash. Even with a reflector, you can get the unwanted shadows because you are limited as to where the light source is coming from.

Edit: Oh you were not talking to me. Sorry for butting in. lol

 

[IronMaskDuval]

Thanks. In regards to the mixed lighting and shadows, is this a process of learning how to use my flash better and using a reflector? I've been looking at other portraits, and it seems like most of them have the skin evenly and completely lit. Is it safe to assume that's my goal?

Not really. Dappled light can make for some interesting and beautiful portraits. But if you are going to go in that direction, get rid of the flash altogether and embrace the possibilities of uneven light and the patterns it creates. This would have required a very different exposure, though. Personally, I rarely use completely even lighting on a portrait. I like how shadow gives the face some personality and dimension. It really depends on how you plan to use these images and the mood you are trying to create with them.

For example in #3, instead of using flash, should I have used a reflector to bounce the light back onto her face? As you may notice, the sun is behind her, and I used the flash to light her face, but her hair shaded a good portion of it.

Yes, a reflector would have softened those shadows. If you had placed it to your left and turned the flash to bounce off it, it would have lit her face and the hair reflections would not be there. This is where OCF really comes in handy. I had a lot of these same issues using on camera flash. Even with a reflector, you can get the unwanted shadows because you are limited as to where the light source is coming from.

Edit: Oh you were not talking to me. Sorry for butting in. lol

Thanks, Jenko. I don't care who the reply comes from. I just want to sponge up what everyone is willing to give me. My kids get tired of me trying to practice on them, so coming equipped with some brain juice is better than nothing for the next shoot.

 

[Braineack]

Is the saturation thing your subjectivity, or is it standard to go less saturated? Here's a bump down in saturation. I like it, but the more saturated one doesn't bother me much either, but it's not about me as much as it is for her and those seeing her photos.

somewhat subjectively, but i said it here because of the way the purple is bleeding out around the edges. Look at the area above her legs...it looks bad there because you're boosting the purple CA.

 

[IronMaskDuval]

Is the saturation thing your subjectivity, or is it standard to go less saturated? Here's a bump down in saturation. I like it, but the more saturated one doesn't bother me much either, but it's not about me as much as it is for her and those seeing her photos.

somewhat subjectively, but i said it here because of the way the purple is bleeding out around the edges. Look at the area above her legs...it looks bad there.

Ok, I see what you mean.