Oldest daughter at the park. C&C Welcome

[CMfromIL]

Normally, she doesn't ask to do much with me now but today asked if I could take some pictures of her at the park. I obliged as it was the perfect combo. Daughter, photography, being outside! That being said, how did I do? It was about 2:00pm so the sun was pretty bright. We searched out some shaded areas. I really, really need a good flash, as in the open areas the shadows were terrible. I tried to fill with the on camera flash, but to no avail. So here is my contribution. 1:

2:

3:

4:

 

[bogeyguy]

I'm liking no.4 the best. Nice use of the natural lighting. No sun blasts.

 

[Big Mike]

Yes, certainly looks like you could use some more fill in most of these. Although, you could have exposed for her face and just let the background blow out, still might have worked well.

One thing to work on, is posing. In three of these, her shoulders and head are straight on toward the camera, and in all of them (maybe three), her face is directly at the camera. People usually want to look slimmer in photos, and facing the camera works against that.

But other than that, the look great. She has a great smile.

 

[Jaemie]

I'll echo the fill, but otherwise these are very nice! I especially like 3 & 4 for the original and natural poses, and the relaxed happy feeling. Sweet!

 

[Derrel]

I think pose #1 rocks. The shoulders squared up adds vigor, strength, and direct visual presence. It's not a decidedly feminine,demure pose--it's an active, modern, 21st century young woman's pose! Her clothes are so simple and stylish. She's rockin the white shorts, and the classic sandals and good tan...this shot looks like a pro shot from the 50's..or 60's..or 70's..or the Rockin' Eighties...this shot has the best fill light and the best initial color balance. Shooting in open shade like that is sooooo challenging, with all that green light from the foliage.

I took the liberty of a QUICK LR spin with image #1.This is how *I* envision the shot of Brooke, for use on Facebook, or some other type of social media use. Good shootin' dad! You must be very proud!


In this second re-envisioning, I just cloned out the branch that was behind her in that bright sky; the branch was on a very strong diagonal, and was stealing attention away from her, so branch be gone! I did some fill light in LR 3.6, and changed the shot to a monochrome look,once again, envisioning this shot as how SHE might want to be shown, for Facebook, Twitter, or on her own web pages,etc. The way you framed this shot, with the tree camera left, and her on the strong angled branch was fundamentally sound composition. All that was ruining a near-perfect shot was that doggone limb behind your subject. Take away the limb, and there you go--a very pleasing,lovely portrait.

 

[Designer]

I really, really need a good flash, as in the open areas the shadows were terrible. I tried to fill with the on camera flash, but to no avail.

I don't see much effect from the built-in flash. Until you can get a proper speedlight, you can make some reflectors for very little money. Problem is; you're going to have to get someone to hold and aim them for you. But it might be fun!

 

[The_Traveler]

I think these are lovely.

I do think they are a bit oversaturated (the orange-y color creeping in), especially the latter two.

 

[Granddad]

Great photos given the lighting circumstances. Well done.

If she were my daughter I'd forget the flash gun and invest in a shotgun instead.

 

[topazsol]

These are lovely! I am loving the natural poses, she is certainly a beauty.

 

[laynea24]

I think these are all great! She's very pretty. I agree with Derrel about taking out the branch. Shouldn't be too hard.