Natural light only (NSFW, looking for JoeW critique ;))

[cauzimme]

Okay so yesterday I did my first shot with only natural light. My d300 didn't really permit it before as I didn't have a great lens either. But with my new d610 i'm amazed at what I can do, it made me realize that I was at a point where I could'nt perform not because of me not having talent, a eye or a technique but because I was stuck there.

I'm overall happy. BUT I did a few mistakes, I'm not use to shooting people with prime so some of the shot are weirdly cropped... I'll show you here the one selected by the girls. I think they are still great images for their website considering their previous tandem photos...

Oh yeah, I also start charging, I know some will say that i'm not ready but I think considering what girls are charged by crappy ''pornographer'' in that industry, I have a right to be pay for my time (I don't even have time to see more than 3 gentlemen a week, getting 2-3 shooting a week, editing, helping girls with their text and description. I got my company name 2-3 weeks ago, I'am registered. Didn't get my tax number since here you have to do more than 30k before needing it and got my insurance, Invoices and Contract (which are an online agreement, the girls that I don't personnaly know don't want to sign their real name, that's something I'll need to talk about to someone more specialize)

Rates wise; I charge them 175 each for 2hours (1hrs 30 shooting) and 7edited photo each.

Natural light + reflector in some of the shots. Those are the first girl (Long hair) pick that I had time to edit.


1. Here, I'm missing a leg, I should have asked her to bring it more to the right, missed it.

2.

3. That one could have been way better, if she was more stable on the table, arching the back elbow lower, head towards back, lips open. Damn

4.

5. I'm so pissed at myself because it's one of my favorite but I didn't realize I was cutting the hand. I need to learn to adapt myself with a prime. I will definitively try it again next shoot.

6. I did a couple like that playing with the aperture. Long hair girl pick that one even if it's her friend on which is the focus. I personnaly prefer the one that are cropped at the tight.

7.

They still have 7 others pick.

 

[JoeW]

I'm honored you'd want my critique. And there are plenty of others on here with some good insights too. Thanks for sharing this work. And when you look at your early posts, you can see clear improvement and progression in your ability to compose and create a lovely result. Your use of light is so much more effective, your choice of space works much better.

Now...individual comments:

#1: Love the pose of the seated/long-haired model. Diagonal line, the pose stretches the calf (which flatters every woman), the triangles formed by the legs...it's a really love pose. Pose by the aggressive model (leaning in to her) isn't bad either. I wish she hadn't used the feather boa--it adds inches to her torso and makes her look chunkier. I don't mind you can't see her left leg. This is also a great example of a setting where the bright background will lie to your camera so if you're on auto setting for exposure you'll underexpose your subjects--I think they could use just a little more light (even if it washes out the background more). And I'd remove the vent on the ceiling near the window.

#2: Nice idea but I'd change the angle (so the back of the short-haired model isn't facing you directly, instead they've turned to you by 15 degrees). This will thin her a bit, make her legs look better. The pose by the long haired model is terrific--she looks like a million dollars. Not wild about the expression--it looks like she's saying "my friend asked me to pose so here I am playing model." It's not great as an escort shot (she looks like she's inviting you to play coffee, not engage in hot steamy sex). And as an art photo, she looks disconnected from her "lover." Ditto on the vent on the ceiling.

#3: Helluva good pose...no, helluva great pose. She looks outstanding. If she wants to hide her face (for an ad/web picture) she's done that while still giving you a hint that she's cute). If it's not about hiding her face, than I'd have her turn her head just 5 degrees to the camera. Also, not sure the table is horizontal in the photo. Crop or clone out the chandelier. Ditto with the vent.

#4: Yep, cutting off the hand ruins the flow to the picture. The wine jug to the left of the model is distracting. This is a shot that would be so much better if you'd had a 6 foot piece of foam core to the right of the model. On her left, she's a bit blown out. On her right (the interesting side) she's a bit under-lit. So that big reflector would have bounced some nice soft flattering light on her face and you could have played with exposure compensation or shot a little faster and you'd have yourself a really beautiful shot. Note to you for future stuff: this model (pale skin, red hair, dark lashes, dark lingerie) just screams out for some high-key shots where what we see are the dark g-string, her eyelashes, her hair and then just her form. You could get some spectacular and sexy high-key art with her b/c she's pale but with those darker elements.

#5: The hand again. This has the potential to be a really dynamite shot, you just need to correct a couple of things. First, don't cut off the hand. Second, model in doorway looks too posed and too symmetrical for my taste. Have her right arm up higher. This exposes more of the model on the bed AND it frames her (a great compositional element). Also, take a lacy piece of lingerie (something clearly identifiable as such...a bra is good) and throw it on the foot of the bed. In the blur, it will still likely be identifiable, it will look sexy as hell, the photo will suggest a story. I'd also lose the lamp to the side of the bed--too distracting (especially the silver neck of it).

#6: I like the concept a lot...playing with mirrors and reflections. I think there's a lot of potential here. This shot isn't bad. The back of the reflected model is so-so (while her front and expression in the mirror works well). If you're looking for an erotic/sexy shot, I'm not wild about her expression...she seems to be having doubts like "why am I doing this--I don't really like her?" kind of expression so as an erotic art shot, it works well. As an escort ad, not as much. The model on the bed is good--you managed to fit quite a lot in with a narrow reflection. I wish you hadn't cut off the arm. The model on the bed would look even better without the panties--nothing would be exposed in her pose but it would be a much more suggestive shot. This is also a shot that would have called for the standing model to be unclasping her bra (or at least have two hands back on her clasp). It would give you action, she'd likely be leaning back to do it (which would thrust her chest forward and her breasts would look bigger).

#7: Cute expressions. The shot would work better if the model with her back to us had her top slipping off of her right shoulder--it would be suggestive and sexy. As it is, b/c of their dress, the one pulling on the back of the leotard just looks like it's a bit of a practical joke...like snapping someone's underwear or giving someone a wedgie. It's not a bad shot. But if you were trying for something that is suggestive or sexy, it tends to come off a bit more like two friends goofing around....expressive, funny, a bit sexy, cute but not erotic or hot. Also, clone out the shelf coming out of their heads and the shelves to the left.

 

[Designer]

These are good considering the venue and the lighting. You already know the shortcomings, so more practice will get you up to speed.

 

[Rgollar]

Some one gave me a tip I think helps alot. They said when looking threw the view finder scroll all the way around the out side of the image in the view finder. To try and catch cut off limbs or any distracting subjects in the background. It actually helped me out a few times. Not saying there is anything wrong with your pictures. Just made me think of this tip when you said you wish you would not have cut off the hand in picture. Nice photos

 

[Parker219]

I agree with JoeW, so not much more to add.


Do you plan on editing out all the marks, blemishes, and noticeable bumps?

 

[cauzimme]

I agree with JoeW, so not much more to add.


Do you plan on editing out all the marks, blemishes, and noticeable bumps?

No they don't want to. I would have but they were very specific.

 

[Bod]

agree with what I scanned through of JoeW's watch cropping, good that you are using a prime, try to get some better facial expressions out of them, theres nothing wrong with the looks you were going for, but some of the expression seemed a little dry and staged, the pictures has more life, and invokes more if the facial expressions look almost completely candid.

 

[Donde]

Agree with others these are a nice improvement and doesn't hurt that you've found more attractive models.

 

[Granddad]

Agree with others these are a nice improvement and doesn't hurt that you've found more attractive models.

Not sure if the models are more attractive or if the quality of the shooting just makes them seem so.
I've certainly seen worse results from photogs that charge (a lot more) so while you keep your charges reasonable your subjects are getting good value for money.

You continue to improve.

 

[cauzimme]

Agree with others these are a nice improvement and doesn't hurt that you've found more attractive models.

I'm sorry, I disagree here, they are all beautiful and different. My job is to make them feel enough confortable so that their beauty can shine through my lens. Sometimes I suceed other time I fail. But it has nothing to do with picking more attractive models, I don't pick them, they pick me.

Agree with others these are a nice improvement and doesn't hurt that you've found more attractive models.

Not sure if the models are more attractive or if the quality of the shooting just makes them seem so.
I've certainly seen worse results from photogs that charge (a lot more) so while you keep your charges reasonable your subjects are getting good value for money.

You continue to improve.

Awww thank you They were very happy with the result! They still ask me how much do we own you, and i'm like nothing everything was included you already pay.

 

[FITBMX]

Your skill seems to really be gaining fast, these really look good! And what problems there were have been pointed out, and none of them are big.
I think your price is more than reasonable, for such nice looking work. And with you and your friends new business, you're like the new inhouse photographer! Which is a nice perk!
Keep posting, love love seeing the progression!