How do I make these snapshots look better?

[beachrat]

Another one of a much bigger fish that I wasn't happy with.
And again,I left my name off of it because I don't want anyone to think i'm a whore.
Make it better for me. And tell me how you did it.

 

[Designer]

Ya got 60 secs.
Talk to me man!!

You talk! You need to get the fishermen engaged in some worthwhile small talk, and get their motivation up to get their picture taken. I like the idea of setting up a special area with nice backdrop, maybe a scale, and heck, even offer something in return, like a coupon. If you're really creative, you get one of the local restaurants to provide the coupons for you to hand to the fishermen for posing.

While you're getting set up, keep talking! Make their fish the main topic, and anything else that they want to talk about. Explain to them that it may take a few seconds to get your light set up, so they know what to expect.

Maybe get a light stand and a pair of radio remotes to fire the flash. Some folks say cheap works just as good as expensive. Keep your camera and flash relatively easy to grab when someone comes in with a fish.

Be sure to thank them and give them some kind of small reward for their time.

 

[vintagesnaps]

It looks like you didn't get a proper exposure for the first one but the second one seems to be a decent exposure. If you can do a few test shots (before you push pull or drag one of your subjects into the scene) you could check to see if your camera's set so the meter is indicating you're getting the appropriate amount of light. I could do this with existing light but would need to get the camera set for the amount of light that day.

The backgrounds and how you're framing shots seems to be what could be improved. On the right side of the second photo there's an edge of a window, an edge of a chair, an edge of a fence and bush, etc. - those are distractions because just part of them are sticking into your photo.

What about doing some test shots without a guy or a fish (unless the fish wants to act as a model)? - see if you can get a nice looking background. You could use an object (a bucket with a couple of fishing poles propped in it?) to be a stand-in for a person and set up at some different places around your shop/building, or get some shots in front where the sign's showing. Make sure you're facing the building straight and not at an angle like in the second shot.

Frame the shot so there aren't any other objects sticking into what you see framed in your viewfinder. Make your eye move around the viewfinder/viewscreen and make sure everything in that rectangle is what you want in your picture. Move around as needed to change your vantage point - sometimes a couple of steps back, forward or sideways can make a difference.

If you can get in some practice shots ahead of time then you'd be prepared so maybe all the guy and his fish will have to do is stand there for a minute and you'll be done quick and they can be on their way.

 

[Qveon]

Well I tried to upload from my phone but my phones doesn't support it, but talking about the first picture I warmed it up a bit, added fill light and some vibrance and cropped liked someone suggested to landscape pretty much at the top of his pants keeping the whole fish in the picture

 

[tirediron]

The idea is to get the sign in there tireiron.

I purposefully left my sign blocked

Ah well... silly me...

 

[beachrat]

The idea is to get the sign in there tireiron.

I purposefully left my sign blocked

Ah well... silly me...

Yeah,I guess I was clear as mud,right?
Thanks for all the suggestions so far.
Still pretty foggy here so maybe I can convince someone to stand in and get some practice.

 

[Designer]

Still pretty foggy here ..

Meaning the weather, or your understanding of what was written?

If you are not clear on what advice was offered, just ask for clarification.

Sometimes people assume the neophyte knows more than he does. It would be as if I came in to your store looking for fishing gear. What assumptions would you make of me? All fair assumptions until you find out otherwise.

 

[deeky]

And I wouldn't worry about showing your sign anymore. You've asked enough questions and been engaged enough it's obvious you want photo help.

 

[beachrat]

Still pretty foggy here ..

Meaning the weather, or your understanding of what was written?

If you are not clear on what advice was offered, just ask for clarification.

Sometimes people assume the neophyte knows more than he does. It would be as if I came in to your store looking for fishing gear. What assumptions would you make of me? All fair assumptions until you find out otherwise.

No I meant the weather!
I appreciate all the advice and am figuring a few things out slowly but surely.
Worried more about exposure than composition right now,but working on both of them.

 

[tirediron]

View attachment 46239

Another one of a much bigger fish that I wasn't happy with.
And again,I left my name off of it because I don't want anyone to think i'm a whore.
Make it better for me. And tell me how you did it.

I'm not really sure that there's a lot to make better after the fact; the best solution will be to develop a formula and stick to it. Derrel had some great suggestions on the previous page. My thought is that since you have some gear, take a couple of hours one day when you're not busy and work out a good location, showing the sign, etc and one that's appropriate to fishing. This shot looks to me like it was taken in front of someone's house. Figure out some lighting, if you've got a few speedlights for OCF work ,then play around with lcoations, settings, etc 'til you can get a formula that works, and you can set up quickly. I'm thinking one light, medium soft-box, prepped and ready to go in the store, customer comes in with fish, you grab camera and lightstand w/ speedlight and modifier already set up, tell customer to stand on red 'X', you put lightstand on green 'X' and you stand on blue 'X', settings are already dialled in... crack a joke to get him/her smiling, take 3-4 exposures, and done.

 

[beachrat]

View attachment 46239

Another one of a much bigger fish that I wasn't happy with.
And again,I left my name off of it because I don't want anyone to think i'm a whore.
Make it better for me. And tell me how you did it.

I'm not really sure that there's a lot to make better after the fact; the best solution will be to develop a formula and stick to it. Derrel had some great suggestions on the previous page. My thought is that since you have some gear, take a couple of hours one day when you're not busy and work out a good location, showing the sign, etc and one that's appropriate to fishing. This shot looks to me like it was taken in front of someone's house. Figure out some lighting, if you've got a few speedlights for OCF work ,then play around with lcoations, settings, etc 'til you can get a formula that works, and you can set up quickly. I'm thinking one light, medium soft-box, prepped and ready to go in the store, customer comes in with fish, you grab camera and lightstand w/ speedlight and modifier already set up, tell customer to stand on red 'X', you put lightstand on green 'X' and you stand on blue 'X', settings are already dialled in... crack a joke to get him/her smiling, take 3-4 exposures, and done.

First piece of advice that I took from Derrel was to set it to "vivid" and it definitely helped with the color.
Then I started doing exactly what you're suggesting,spiking the spot for me,the guy with the fish,and a lightstand or two.
I don't have a softbox,but I do have a couple of shoot through umbrellas and a couple of reflector umbrellas to work with.
All I need is a victim to stand there while I practice.
And thanks again to all of you.

 

[tirediron]

Simple is best; I'd work on a one light set-up so that it's quick and easy to put up and take down. Umbrellas are good modifiers, but I'm not a fan of them for outdoor work; even the slightest wind has a tendancy to make them take off. I would suggest looking into something like the Lastolite Ezybox (and don't forget some shot or sandbags to weight the stand with) which produces really nice light. Granted that the largest (30") is a bit smaller than ideal for a full body shot, but it can do the job.

This is a 3/4 body shot using a single 30" Exybox with an SB800 on (IIRC) 1/2 power:

 

[beachrat]

Nice job with the lighting tirediron.
I'm not good enough at figuring light/flash placement yet,but have the great opportunity to hang with Joe McNally at Adorama next month and grab a few pointers.
I've met him before and he's a great guy with a killer sense of humor for dopes like me,so I'm gonna keep pluggin'.
Again,I thank you guys for all the tips and help and will always put my pics up and seek more assistance as it goes.
You've all been a lot of help and I thank you.

 

[weepete]

Ok mate, let me wade in on this one and provide my point of view. As a recreational sea angler myself let me assure you that unless the pic is really awful its not the person that I'm looking at, nor do I expect awesone skys or wonderful shots. Yep the first one needs improved and you've been shown how and anglers are difficult to capture but I look at these fish and wish I had them on the boat. Damn that is nice fish and I wish I was there!

 

[beachrat]

Ok mate, let me wade in on this one and provide my point of view. As a recreational sea angler myself let me assure you that unless the pic is really awful its not the person that I'm looking at, nor do I expect awesone skys or wonderful shots. Yep the first one needs improved and you've been shown how and anglers are difficult to capture but I look at these fish and wish I had them on the boat. Damn that is nice fish and I wish I was there!

weepete,I see you're from Glasgow.
I have a whole crew of guys that come in twice a year from GB,Wales,Scotland and Ireland to fish in Spring and Fall.
Great group of guys that fish like maniacs for the whole time that they're here.
Don't know how they all hooked up together,but they have a great time and are very entertaining.