Photo/lighting portrait critique request

mrca · Jun 4, 2018

Keep up the good work and all the effort. You are doing exactly what will improve your shots. Try new things, it may not be perfect but get suggestions, re do it and your work will soar. Remember they don't call it trial and success, it's called trial and error and we learn from stretching and going beyond our limits, making errors then learning from them.

ac12 · Jun 4, 2018

re background:
This bothers me the most.
I would try to get a darker/toned down background that does not distract from the subject.
Visually it is hard for the subject to compete against a bright colored background.
I think even the dark purple in the bottom left is too bright (color wise) for the subject.
I've been burned by this problem more times that I want to remember. And even with post processing, fixing after the fact can be a LOT of work. Try to fix this at the shoot.

re hands:
Someone someplace posted that one way to "minimize" the hand is to NOT shoot the flat of the hand. Instead shoot along the edge of the hand. That way the hand does not look as large as a flat on shot.
Posing the hands, has always been very hard for me, so I tend to keep them out of my pix. Yeah, the easy way out of the problem.
But like anything there are exceptions, like when a person has small hands to begin with, or a particular person where you want to emphasize the hands.

re lens:
I agree about the use of 35 being too short for that portrait. (35mm on a DX D500 = normal lens)
I would use a longer focal length for that shot.
I reserve the shorter focal lengths for full length or group shots where I cannot back up any further, like when my back is literally up against the wall of the room.

re camera position:
It seems to me that the camera is down about her chest level.
That would emphasize her hands, because her hand is closer to the camera than her face.
I would get higher, maybe up at chin or eye level, to increase the distance to her hand.

re hat:
I think a hat can be an important part of a portrait, so don't think you have to get rid of it.
It is a challenge, but hey, we want the subject to look good and happy. In fact I rather like the pix with her hat.
However, if the color of the hat distracts from her face, that is another problem.

No, not the bright orange hat!!! argh

I would lower the softbox, to get more light under the hat. Yes you are changing the light plan, but to me that is better than the shadow of the brim.

Gud Luk

smoke665 · Jun 4, 2018

Your little girl brings back memories of my daughter at that age. Her long fine blonde hair would bleach almost white and it seemed like any color within a 100 yards would be reflected in that hair. In the winter after the red burn of summer was gone she had such fair skin that color tint would appear there. I learned to be very careful of bright backgrounds and bright colored dresses. Called her my 4 season girl. Remember reflectors come in white to move light and black (gobos) stop light.

gossamer · Jun 6, 2018

ac12 said:
re background:
This bothers me the most.
I would try to get a darker/toned down background that does not distract from the subject.
Visually it is hard for the subject to compete against a bright colored background.
I think even the dark purple in the bottom left is too bright (color wise) for the subject.
I've been burned by this problem more times that I want to remember. And even with post processing, fixing after the fact can be a LOT of work. Try to fix this at the shoot.

Yes, I agree, but the flowers are beautiful and wanted them reflected in the shot somehow. The modification I liked best of those that Derrell made was removing the highlights from her cheeks. How can I do that specifically?

re hands:
Someone someplace posted that one way to "minimize" the hand is to NOT shoot the flat of the hand. Instead shoot along the edge of the hand. That way the hand does not look as large as a flat on shot.
Posing the hands, has always been very hard for me, so I tend to keep them out of my pix. Yeah, the easy way out of the problem.
But like anything there are exceptions, like when a person has small hands to begin with, or a particular person where you want to emphasize the hands.

Yes, great points. She is getting better at standing still, so this is something I will try.

re camera position:
It seems to me that the camera is down about her chest level.
That would emphasize her hands, because her hand is closer to the camera than her face.
I would get higher, maybe up at chin or eye level, to increase the distance to her hand.

Yes, I was at about chest level. I wanted her looking directly at the lens, without me having to shoot down or up at her. I'll try to get up higher.

re hat:
I think a hat can be an important part of a portrait, so don't think you have to get rid of it.
It is a challenge, but hey, we want the subject to look good and happy. In fact I rather like the pix with her hat.
However, if the color of the hat distracts from her face, that is another problem.

No, not the bright orange hat!!! argh

This is a shot I took of her in front of forthysia just a few weeks ago. This was shot using my SB-700 flash and is a little overexposed, but so many people like this one better than the one above, despite the distraction of the background.

I think quite a bit is lost in these two pics in the process of resizing them to fit the site here.

I would lower the softbox, to get more light under the hat. Yes you are changing the light plan, but to me that is better than the shadow of the brim.

The problem I've had with this is shadows on one side of her face or the other due to the softbox being in the way of the camera. Would you explain how I can have the light in front of the subject, closer to her level, and still be able to get the camera in there unobstructed?

ac12 · Jun 6, 2018

Backgrounds are tricky.

Maybe if she holds a flower in her hand. Then you get the flower, but less of a distraction from her face.

The yellow flowers are more visually even, and the color itself is not as bright, so it distract my eyes less than the purple flowers. The yellow flowers match her, the purple flowers contrast to her.

Softbox

This is where a rectangular softbox works better. You can get it closer to the camera than an octabox.

paigew · Jun 6, 2018

Your most current images are FAR better. Maybe people just weren't as harsh on you before. Now that you are getting better people say more

Honestly, now you should probably move on to editing. You won't see the results you want until you start doing that

gossamer · Jun 6, 2018

Thanks so much for your feedback. It's because of your continued support, sound advice and criticism that my pictures have improved as they have.

Designer · Jun 7, 2018

gossamer said:
What can I do to improve this picture?

I think you have received some good advice based on this post, so I recommend that you simply put it all together and try again. With a hat, you need fill flash. Watch your WB. Ignore lens effects until you consistently get the exposure right. A good exposure and composition beat fancy editing and lens effects every time. (IMO)

paigew · Jun 7, 2018

Designer said:
gossamer said:

What can I do to improve this picture?

Click to expand...

I think you have received some good advice based on this post, so I recommend that you simply put it all together and try again. With a hat, you need fill flash. Watch your WB. Ignore lens effects until you consistently get the exposure right. A good exposure and composition beat fancy editing and lens effects every time. (IMO)