I like the varying styles of post work. The B&Ws are nice too. I'm normally not super picky about portraits in landscape orientation, but I do think the last would work just as well (or better) in portrait. Others will disagree, but I don't mind the head chop in the first b&w either
I can't say that I'm a fan of the low contrast in the first one...especially next to the second one, which is popping with contrast. On it's own, in the right setting, it's still really good though.
I can't say that I'm a fan of the low contrast in the first one...especially next to the second one, which is popping with contrast. On it's own, in the right setting, it's still really good though.
That was my thought exactly, but I didn't really want to say that first off...I just don't think that specific, exact type of low-contrast,diffusion look is the best possible one for shot #1. The low-fi type look in #3, that kind of 1970's bad color print film look, is MUCH more to my personal liking, and I think works pretty well with the shot #3. What I like about #3's low-fi look is that the white dress is kept "low", and not "high" in tonal value....in #1 the skirt part of her dress is really bright, and competes with her, and the overall diffusedglow effect in shot #1 just does not "go well with" such a low-key background...it sort of violates the traditional idea that a light-colored diffuser or vignette ought not be used when the background is dark.
Again though, that look in #3...I LIKE that look. It's very contemporary! These could be processed a half dozen ways, and her beauty would make any flaws sublimate to a pretty high degree. The set might look more cohesive processed all in one style (and I realize you're showing us just a sampling of the whole set!).
I love 2, 4 and 5. The lighting in image 2 is excellent! Not much of a fan of the effect in image 1 and 3. As Derrel said, image 3 really looks like it is out of the 70's or early 80's. If this was the effect you were going for I think you nailed it spot on.
I think a mix of the two first edits would be best! (in my view!)... Like, a little more contrast and saturation to the first one... and then I really like the black and white ones.