My first go at senior portraits

[christen2484]

This is my favorite shot from my first senior portrait session. I edited it using a preset action, called sun kissed, in photoshop. I love the way she looks so carefree. Im not crazy about the reflection of the trees in the water. I haven't mastered the editing process enough yet to fix that. You'll have to try and ignore the watermark also....So, tell me what you think!

 

[tirediron]

I think I don't like Photoshop (or Lightroom) actions. I also think that on my [calibrated] monitor she is too yellow looking; almost jaundiced. I'm also not fond of the cropped right forearm, or the disembodied left hand (my first thought was, "Hey, there's Thing"). When posing clients, ALWAYS watch for the little things like hands and feet. If you have to crop limbs, do it boldly, and never laterally, at, or near joints, and with rare exceptions (one person's arm around another) avoid disembodied appendages of any sort.

I understand what you were going for here (I think), but the hair all across the face seems a little messy to me, and hides a good part of what seems to be a very attractive face. Good job on the lighting here.

Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.

~John

 

[Ms.Nash]

Remember that eyes always go to the brightest part of a picture first so perhaps a better background composition , with that said , I kinda like the water reflection myself but the blown out sky Is distracting. The pose is odd - where is she looking and her hair covers the most important part of the picture. Maybe this pic featured in a set would stand up better. The dress was not flattering in this pose either. I like the preset you used.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[cgipson1]

I think that pose and the outfit makes her look pregnant or fat.... not really attractive. She looks like a lovely girl... I hope you got others! Don't care for the processing either...

 

[Tuffythepug]

If I were paying for this I would not be very happy. Not a good pose and too much of her face is obscured. Perhaps other shots are better. but this is what you posted.

 

[christen2484]

Here are a few other shots. Don't hold back

 

[christen2484]

Remember that eyes always go to the brightest part of a picture first so perhaps a better background composition , with that said , I kinda like the water reflection myself but the blown out sky Is distracting. The pose is odd - where is she looking and her hair covers the most important part of the picture. Maybe this pic featured in a set would stand up better. The dress was not flattering in this pose either. I like the preset you used.

Thanks for sharing.

I agree with your comment about the brightest part catching the eye first, I'll be more conscious of this and fix these!

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Were these freebies for her?

 

[christen2484]

Were these freebies for her?

No, are they really that bad?

 

[cgipson1]

Here are a few other shots. Don't hold back

#1 badly overexposed....
#2 interesting.. but can't see much as it is so small. Background is way blown out.. and that draws the eye away from the subject. Use flash for shots like this... you can control the background exposure that way....
#3 looks soft. highlights on her face are VERY bright... she is also yellow (common with that much blue in the photo.. needs to be corrected for). Highlights on her feet and the background are way to bright...

 

[MWC2]

I'm not a fan of #1, I'd like to see a hint of her legs/feet. Posed like this with the dress she is wearing it just looks like she is a floating torso. Her hair doesn't bother me.

The 3 additional images look over exposed to me on this monitor (not calibrated) and parts might be even be blown out (once again un-calibrated monitor so I could be wrong). Her forehead looks to have hot spots in the 2nd shot, her hand and arm in the 3rd and her feet and one hand in the 4th.

I do like the pose in #4.

remember I am not a pro and still have a ton to learn myself so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

 

[cgipson1]

OP.. if you are shooting and charging people for it... you seriously need to consider getting a monitor calibration setup! It will greatly enhance your photos.... by allowing you to see and work with your images exactly the way they will print.

 

[christen2484]

OP.. if you are shooting and charging people for it... you seriously need to consider getting a monitor calibration setup! It will greatly enhance your photos.... by allowing you to see and work with your images exactly the way they will print.

Thanks, I didn't even know there was such a thing. I will definitely look into this! I'm just a beginner and not a professional at all!!

 

[ronlane]

OP.. if you are shooting and charging people for it... you seriously need to consider getting a monitor calibration setup! It will greatly enhance your photos.... by allowing you to see and work with your images exactly the way they will print.

That is the second time I have seen reference to this. Can you tell me more about it? I have an HP laptop with a 17" monitor that is supposed to be for gaming and entertainment.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

OP.. if you are shooting and charging people for it... you seriously need to consider getting a monitor calibration setup! It will greatly enhance your photos.... by allowing you to see and work with your images exactly the way they will print.

That is the second time I have seen reference to this. Can you tell me more about it? I have an HP laptop with a 17" monitor that is supposed to be for gaming and entertainment.

Call Sanford and Son, this hardware won't cut it for professional pic processing