I need some help trying to get these urban portraits right

[stone_family3]

I want something a bit more urban portrait like this (http://www.paulmanoian.com/photogra.../2010/07/urban-portrait-photographer-0728.jpg). I'm practicing with my kid, because she's free labor and generally likes to help me out. I took these today, but it just doesn't look right to me. Any portrait suggestions to get these to turn out right?

 

[ewick]

in picture 2 she just blends in. and in picture one there is no emotion behind it. I think these poses are too mature for a child. I think they would work better if she looked like she was enjoying it. i think picture 2 should have been shot landscape and picture 3 portrait. maybe that would have helped.

 

[stone_family3]

@ewick More like this for shot 3?

 

[DiskoJoe]

I want something a bit more urban portrait like this (http://www.paulmanoian.com/photogra.../2010/07/urban-portrait-photographer-0728.jpg). I'm practicing with my kid, because she's free labor and generally likes to help me out. I took these today, but it just doesn't look right to me. Any portrait suggestions to get these to turn out right?

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?????

Im confused. Are we looking at the same work? I mean this seriously. I dont think you realize what you have so let me explain.

You say you want more urban like the link, eh.........

Your stuff is way cooler. I love these photos. The link you posted is garbage.

All three shots are really solid and your little girl has way more attitude the girl from the link photo. The desaturation was one of the best uses I have seen in a long, long time.

Dont change anything.

 

[DiskoJoe]

@ewick More like this for shot 3?

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Just leave it like it was. Its a little swimmier with the whole scene but with the desaturation the eyes still get drawn back to her.

 

[o hey tyler]

The reason that they do not work for me is totally contextual.

This is not an environment you would expect to see a young child in. These are trying to be to "hard," and don't flatter your child IMO.

I know you're using your kid because she's a free model, but the environment and model do not mesh at all. If you had a more age-appropriate model (Teens or early 20's) this would be a great location to shoot.

Not meant to discourage, just voicing my opinion.

 

[DiskoJoe]

The reason that they do not work for me is totally contextual.

This is not an environment you would expect to see a young child in. These are trying to be to "hard," and don't flatter your child IMO.

I know you're using your kid because she's a free model, but the environment and model do not mesh at all. If you had a more age-appropriate model (Teens or early 20's) this would be a great location to shoot.

Not meant to discourage, just voicing my opinion.

See I would do something like this with my kids. It could be out of place for some peoples kids but to me her kid does not look out of place. She seems interested. The kid is kind of funky with the pig tails, the knee socks and the plastic frames. Plus the art has child like aspects to it.

But this would be a great place to do a model shoot like tyler said.

 

[stone_family3]

Thanks everyone.

 

[ewick]

@ewick More like this for shot 3?

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Yes< while I think that its still too mature IMO it does look a little bit better.

 

[12sndsgood]

for me it just doesn't reallly have the urban look. the wall in the link is grafitti. the wall your kid is standing by looks like something a community pays someone to do aside from a few individual tags. add the cute kid in and it just loses its urbaness to me.

 

[shortpants]

I'm not sure if the environment works for her in general like people have said, but the shot with her pointing up to "you lie" is excellent if you ask me. Not sure if it was intentional or what you were going for but I love it :thumbup: