Gorgeous Sleeved Model

gconnoyer · Dec 5, 2012

Ok, so after my last botched attempt (uncooperative model) at doing some portrait photos, I got another one of my friends to help me out.
Gorgeous girl + sleeves and piercings give her something to stand out from the million other cookie cutter models, IMO.

Anyway here are the ones that I think turned out best. Also going to leave a little comment about each one.

1)
Well theres two here really. I know that you generally don't want to cut anything off of someone, but even though her leg is cutoff I really love this one.

2)On this one, I need to go back and get rid of her dress strap...other than that, anything I did wrong?

3)

4)For this one, I shot it with the 50 1.8. They looked good on camera, but when I got home and started sorting, they had a weird color change/effect that I didnt get with my 24-70 2.8. I really wanted to get her face in focus and everything else blurred so I wanted to use the 1.8. In retrospect, I think using my 24-70 on 2.8 and scooting close and shooting it at around 28-30 would have given about the same DOF effect and much better image quality.

First time shooting anyone and I had a blast! Definitely going to be doing more people...until the dragstrip opens back up lol

ronlane · Dec 5, 2012

Greg, I they look good at the size you have them posted on here. The only thing that I could see was #1 was soft focused when blown up to the biggest size you have.

Designer · Dec 5, 2012

Re: #'s 1 & 2 I think for this model, considering that she has some bruises or something on her legs, that I might prefer a much tighter frame, cropping her legs even higher. Also, FWIW; I think the background colors do her no favors.

Is this girl some kind of construction worker? More wounds on her hands as well.

The marks on her chest are distracting, so if you have a mind to clear them up in post, go right on ahead.

gconnoyer · Dec 5, 2012

Thanks Ron, I notice that now that you mention it.

Designer, she actually was in a bad car crash and thrown from the car. Traumatic brain injury, broken back, and a ton of scars. I asked her if she wanted me to do anything with them and she wanted to leave them. If you look through the rest she has a big scar on her back, a big scar from a trach in her neck, a few on her head (not sure if you can see those in the pics). She's proud of them and wanted to keep them in the image.

As far as the marks on her chest, those are jeweled studs. I should have used a deeper DOF so that they didnt look like marks I guess.

The background colors on which picture? The only complaints I have about color is the ones in the blue/purple/silver (whatever) dress. I don't think the dress compliments her anywhere near what the black one did, and it didnt work with the backgrounds just as well.

amolitor · Dec 5, 2012

Well done. #3 is I think literally the ONLY photograph I have seen that used the desaturated/mid-contrast look that I actually like, so, extra well done!

She is lovely. Leaving the scars is a good choice. Scars are interesting, they suggest stories, they raise questions.

Vtec44 · Dec 5, 2012

Very pretty model!

I like two but skin tone is off on my uncalibrated monitor. The blemishes on her chest is distracting IMHO.

gconnoyer · Dec 5, 2012

Thanks for the input guys!
I think they turned out pretty good for my first time lol. People are ALOT different than cars.
We're going to shoot again soon, and there are SO many things I noticed/wished I would have done different once I got home and really started looking through the pictures. I wrote down all my ideas/fixes so hopefully next time out I can end up with some better stuff.

Vtec, my monitor is uncalibrated too, so I can't really tell you if the skin tone is off lol.

Designer · Dec 5, 2012

gconnoyer said:
The background colors on which picture?

#'s 1 & 2. The background colors are vibrant and interesting, but they are clashing with the model's colors instead of complimenting them.

joshua_ · Dec 5, 2012

I really like these photos. I would have liked them even without the back-story, but with the back story I find them even more interesting.

I enjoy the poses and the different locations and clothing.

I'm glad you'll have the chance for more photos with her so you get the opportunity to learn and fix some of the technical stuff. I really like the story with the scars. I hope seeing these photos of herself makes her feel beautiful since that is how she appears in them. I'm very glad that yall chose not to remove her scars.

Derrel · Dec 5, 2012

gconnoyer said:
Ok, so after my last botched attempt (uncooperative model) at doing some portrait photos, I got another one of my friends to help me out.
Gorgeous girl + sleeves and piercings give her something to stand out from the million other cookie cutter models, IMO.

3)

I thought that this shot, of her in the backless dress, was simply far and away the best shot of the bunch, by a mile.

shefjr · Dec 5, 2012

Very pretty model. My favorite is number 3.

gconnoyer · Dec 5, 2012

Thanks again everyone.

Yeah #3 seems like its the most liked image.

I think I like #2 the best, but wish I would have done a few things a bit different.

ronlane · Dec 5, 2012

gconnoyer said:
Thanks again everyone.

Yeah #3 seems like its the most liked image.

I think I like #2 the best, but wish I would have done a few things a bit different.

See if you can clone out that strap on the right of her dress at the top in #2. The way it loops just caught my eye.

pgriz · Dec 5, 2012

Your model has lived through a lot. And yet, there's an amazing spirit that shines through. Her attitude seems to be a bit of defiance - "Life, you threw a lot of sh!t my way, but I'm going to live it well, and on my terms". I am sure as you work with her, you'll come up with some dynamite shots. Definitely keep at it with her - there's a lot of potential.