My first portrait shoot. Senior Prom of my niece. Help please I have questions. c+c

[shefjr]

So I had my first chance to shoot some portraits. I have many photos however, I like this one the best minus the issues. Depending on my responses that I get for this I may post more.

Here are the things that I know that are wrong;
1. The fence rail goes through her head.
2. OOF!!!! So out of focus!!! grrr!!! I have a question about this. I was focusing on her eyes (auto focus) and once I found focus I would drop the camera down to eliminate the extra head room. My shutter button was half way depressed until I took the shot, I never moved either. The stupid focus boxes (Nikon d7000) were on her eyes when I auto focused. I made sure of that. So now to the question. Question number 1. Why would the fence rail be in focus and her eyes out of focus? I can only assume it's because it never actually had focus on her eyes. Question number 2. Is there a better focus technique?

The setup, 43" diffuser over her left shoulder to stop the harsh 4 o'clock lighting that was hitting her. D7000, f3.8, 24mm, ISO 100, 1/250 Shutter speed. I did have a sb700 however, I don't know if the flash was used in this photo. If it were it was in auto simply because I don't know what I'm doing yet. I can't seem to determine that from my exif data.

For those of you who helped me with my thread regarding portrait gear, I didn't use much of anything that I bought. :sigh: I did take everything with me but, I didn't work out the way I wanted it to so I never got to use it. :/
Question number 3. Other than the two things I know are wrong, what else could I have done differently, composition, lighting, or any of the like?

BTW, the ugly pink sheet was on the bench because she didn't want to sit on the bench because the paint was peeling and she didn't want it on her dress.

Thank you for any and all help


kelly-out-of-focus by Shefjr, on Flickr

 

[Designer]

1. Presumably she still has the dress, so you can do it over. Look around for a much better setting. Try to select on the basis of the background, as that is the most difficult to change. If I may suggest; try a variety of poses, standing and sitting in several different poses. Just from the light reflections, it looks as if the flash popped, but you should always know this.

2. Your camera has focus lock as well as selective focus points, so become familiar with these settings before you go out again.

3. Plan your setup to avoid clashing colors of bench, background, etc. I see stones on the ground here, and IMO, a formal dress needs a more formal setting. Polished wood or marble floor, upscale furnishings, and tasteful decor. By all means take your flash, reflectors, and the whole kit, as you will want to make adjustments as the shoot progresses. Forewarn your model that she may be in for a couple of hours of posing, but it will be worth it, as you plan to take her out to dinner afterward.

 

[The_Traveler]

She has a baby face but the pose seems completely out of character.

 

[davisphotos]

The seductive pose with the garter is kind of skeezing me out on a 16 year old girl. The focus issue explains why focus and recompose isn't always the best method. Unless you were in single shot focus mode, your camera will refocus the shot when you move the frame. If you were in a continuous focus mode, the camera will refocus whenever you move the frame. I shoot canon, but I use the AF lock button on the back of my camera, and manually select my focus point before taking the shot.

 

[Ernicus]

My camera does that too, if I focus on something, move it , it will refocus. unless I lock it, or I just switch to manual focus.

I was going to comment but not sure how it would be taken. But that is a woman's dress and a womans pose with a young lady in it. I feel dirty looking at it, as sure it's seemingly harmless, yet it's seductive. and the low see through mesh as well. I don't want to have those thoughts looking at a young lady. lol. I know the kids are wearing and dressing more and more revealing these days....*shrugs*

 

[Robin Usagani]

There is a bed sheet over a bench in front of a chain link fence... mmmm kay

 

[shefjr]

Designer, thank you for your input. I doubt that I'll be doing any sort of re-shoot with her. This was kind of a one time deal for me and I was stuck with a location with either a busy background or a busier background. There is no fanciness at this location for me to use. I actually have her in several other poses some with and some without her date. Which after reading the responses so far I don't think I'll post. As for the focus lock vs. focus points, I know that I had focus lock on and I believe I understand the difference between the two.

Traveler, she does have a young face but I can assure you that she is eighteen next week and the pose here was all her, her mother, and her aunt. I actually had zero say in any poses that I did. :/

Davis, She's eighteen next week. I was in single focus mode not continuous focus mode. I use continuous when shooting birds and other moving object. So I guess your opinion on "The focus issue explains why focus and recompose isn't always the best method." isn't really correct.

Ernicus, my camera didn't refocus once. On the d7k in single shot mode with the selective focus mode once the shutter button is pressed half way the camera will hold focus no matter where it is pointed. As for the dress I'll admit I wouldn't have wanted to take photos of her without her mother and family there. I wouldn't put my daughter in a dress like that.(I don't yet have kids) My wife and her sister (50 year old mother of said girl in photo) literally had to stitch her into this dress.

Thank you for the C+C

 

[davisphotos]

And yes, the sheet does not help things at all. A wrinkled bed sheet is just about never a good addition to a photograph. And every time I look at the photo, I feel like I should clear my browser cache lest the FBI come knocking. My daughter is going to wear a Burka to her prom, damnit.

 

[MK3Brent]

Looks like the fence post is the focus point.
You can fix that technical problem in the future.

The rest is more of experience thing.
Posing children (yes, 17 is a child), is tricky.

I guess I don't understand the garter belt thing... thought that was a bridal accessory. (I'm an idiot about this stuff.)

If you were to shoot again, perhaps in the backyard there by the trees with a shallower DOF.
Other than all that, it's good you're getting more practice. Keep shooting, and one day you'll look back and see the progress you've made.

 

[shefjr]

Great C+C thanks guys. I'm not a professional but you are and your responses are "mmmmmm kay bed sheet" and basically kiddie porn??? I did this for fun hoping I am not a professional and was only hoping for a lil c+c and thus far designer has given the only actual C+C. So that said I guess if you feel dirty and don't have any C+C to discuss stop looking. Thank you!

 

[Robin Usagani]

all I am saying is.. if she doesnt want to sit on the bench.. then dont sit on the bench. Do a shot standing up.

 

[shefjr]

Looks like the fence post is the focus point.
You can fix that technical problem in the future.

The rest is more of experience thing.
Posing children (yes, 17 is a child), is tricky.

I guess I don't understand the garter belt thing... thought that was a bridal accessory. (I'm an idiot about this stuff.)

If you were to shoot again, perhaps in the backyard there by the trees with a shallower DOF.
Other than all that, it's good you're getting more practice. Keep shooting, and one day you'll look back and see the progress you've made.

All the kids had garter belts. I don't know when this started happening I don't recall doing that myself but, whatever. I do have other photos with shallow DOF where the trees are the back drop. However, I was posting this photo up first to get help on the focus issue. Thanks for the c+c

 

[davisphotos]

I definitely second the suggestion to have her stand up, get the chain link fence out of the background, find some open shade to shoot in, and figure out the focusing system of your d7000. The light on this shot is actually pretty good, but the pose, facial expression, location and focus all leave a lot to be desired. She is sort of looking off to the side of the shot and looking a little confused or bemused.

 

[shefjr]

all I am saying is.. if she doesnt want to sit on the bench.. then dont sit on the bench. Do a shot standing up.

She wanted to sit. She just didn't want to get dirty. I literally had not creative control with this. I was being directed by her mother. I'm not creative and so her photos would have looked like mug shots lol. I try (and am not got at) taking photos of stuff in nature. I have no desire to take portraits but figured I would do this for fun. Also I have many other shots of her not on a bench, this one though is one with a focus issue that I wanted to talk about.

 

[Ernicus]

It's the kids these days. They all want to look and act older. Not much we can do about it. They (her and her parents) wanted you to shoot it, you did. No harm no foul. I think some of us, I'll include myself, just are taken back a bit 'cause at first glance its "hubba hubba" then closer look it's a kid. That's all.

C&C is comments and critique...so you will get both. Seems like you are taking offense...and I hope not. When you post on the internet, you will get comments. Maybe just use one C instead of 2? lol, for critique only? or even head off the chatter with acknowleging things you think people may focus on rather than what you want them to focus on...

for instance "yeah the sheet sucks....and I don't like her attire...but can you critique my lighting or framing" etc etc.

It's the net man...no one is, I don't feel, is suggesting anything bad about you...just commenting on the shot.

Reason I am kinda /rant on it is because I hate seeing people put up "I don't think I'll post here anymore" after they get some feedback. That's silly sandbox mentality. It's just feedback....

for what its worth, I think it is a great taken picture, I think you did better than I would do, but the choice of location and attire, allbeit not entirely in your conrtrol kinda mess it up for me. She is a beautiful young lady and I would have rather seen her captured as such.

Stick around...post more stuff, help others. It's a good place to be.


also, I am familiar with the camera, I was reviewing it before I decided I couldn't really afford it as a learning camera and went with the 3100. I was only stating what mine does, not that yours was doing that. While you know how to use your camera...and it's features...it does seem that that "feature" didn't work, focus point was lost and stuck on the fence. Not being a dick...but I doubt the camera messed up...so it has to be user error...so rather than get annoyed at some responses...take a moment to see where you may have erred. That's all included in learning my friend. I screw things up all the time and don't mind a single bit when pointed out...it's how I learn. ;-)