photoshoot in the library (C&C appreciated)

[Vince.1551]

Btw where is the library I wanna visit


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[JoeW]

A friend wanted to do a photoshoot at the library on campus. Got to try out a couple different things i've been wanting to play with, like putting her against a bright window, then over-exposing the background and getting her exposure right to simulate an all-white background.

Anyways, I'm still learning on all my portrait shoots, so any C&C from you guys is extremely helpful (from in-camera work to post stuff).

IMG_6421 by christophercoxphoto, on Flickr

IMG_6351 by christophercoxphoto, on Flickr

IMG_6358 by christophercoxphoto, on Flickr

First, thanks for sharing.

Okay, some advice....

On #1....people have mentioned about how pale her face is--I concur. I'd also position that right arm differently. I know it's hanging naturally. But it covers the small of her back (which therefore makes her look thicker than she is). You've got a bit of a natural crease/line in her back/waist that I'd remove. If you get a chance to reshoot this pose, not only position the right arm differently (you can have her hang it further behind her or put it up around her neck--many options) have her twist at the waist towards you. This takes 5 pounds off her and provides a hint of cleavage.

#2...this is the shot I like the least. Her face needs to be lighter and the glasses aren't effective here. The book hides her right hand (effectively cutting it off). I think given the nature of the pose and how she's dressed, she should undo one more button in her blouse (the top). Wouldn't be that revealing but would add greatly to the pose, it would look less "posed" and more naturally suggestive. Her left foot should be pointed (which would promote a nice flow). Her expression seems a bit dour as if she's counting the minutes till the shoot ends. You could slide the glasses further off her nose (so she's looking over them). Very easy when bare and on a flat surface for a thigh to just go "squish" which makes someone look flabby...not in this case. This has the potential to be an effective pose and instead I end up focusing on a bunch of small details that distract me.

#3...I actually like this one the best. A couple of things I'd change (if I could reshoot/recompose it). Have her point her feet. Feels unnatural to the model but it creates a longer, flowing line, looks graceful. This is how a model that's 5'2" can look 5'7". Look at poses of a ballerina and you'll see what I mean. The corners/edges of the table that appear in the lower right and left, are distracting and need to be handled (erase them so it's all white). Either a tattoo or cut on her right wrist is distracting to me. The glasses don't work for the purposes of the shoot--Tirediron is absolutely correct about what they look like. But I love the bokeh and the pose, she seems natural, it's a juxtaposition of a studious environment with a sexy pose.

 

[xzyragon]

Thanks for the input Joe! Here's another similar one to number 1 that might have fixed a couple things. Haven't gotten a chance to play around with these any more in post to try and fix up her face, but the post might be a little better in this one

IMG_6429 by christophercoxphoto, on Flickr

and here's another one sitting down
IMG_6356 by christophercoxphoto, on Flickr

I'm not necessarily sure if I can get her to do a re-shoot there, but I have a couple other friends who want to do similar shoots. Your comments on posing should help a bunch though. I didn't even think about pointing your feet, but it makes so much sense.

And Vince this is Geisel Library at UCSD. Was actually what they based the snow fort off of in Inception.

 

[Nevermore1]

Gotta ask because it's been bugging me ever since I saw this thread - how did you manage to not get kicked out of the library? I can see being allowed to take some photos but am surprised you were able to get photos in underwear.

 

[xzyragon]

Gotta ask because it's been bugging me ever since I saw this thread - how did you manage to not get kicked out of the library? I can see being allowed to take some photos but am surprised you were able to get photos in underwear.

its an 8 floor library on a weekend, so there were only a handful of people that saw this.

 

[xzyragon]

this also happened later on in the day. Edited this last night and tried to give her face a little more color

IMG_6546 by christophercoxphoto, on Flickr

 

[JoeW]

Gotta ask because it's been bugging me ever since I saw this thread - how did you manage to not get kicked out of the library? I can see being allowed to take some photos but am surprised you were able to get photos in underwear.

Piece of cake, especially with University Libraries (which are usually big, usually have weird hours like open to midnight). If you're there on spring break, between semesters early hours on a weekend (when there are usually no classes and most undergrads are sleeping off the Friday night party) then you often have the place to yourself. I was talking to a recent grad who said one of her co-workers used to be an assistant at a library here in Virginia. A couple times a week she'd catch people having sex in one of the study carols.

 

[JoeW]

Thanks for the input Joe! Here's another similar one to number 1 that might have fixed a couple things. Haven't gotten a chance to play around with these any more in post to try and fix up her face, but the post might be a little better in this one

IMG_6429 by christophercoxphoto, on Flickr

and here's another one sitting down
IMG_6356 by christophercoxphoto, on Flickr

I'm not necessarily sure if I can get her to do a re-shoot there, but I have a couple other friends who want to do similar shoots. Your comments on posing should help a bunch though. I didn't even think about pointing your feet, but it makes so much sense.

And Vince this is Geisel Library at UCSD. Was actually what they based the snow fort off of in Inception.

Let me talk about #1 in this series b/c it's got real potential. You've got a twist at the waist which is thinning and also shows some cleavage. But you've cut off her hand, her arm still cuts off the small of her back (which will make her look a bit thicker) and her face is a bit overexposed. All of those are things that are correctable. The basic pose will work with those additional tweaks I talked about.

Pose #2--the glasses down the nose is a great concept. These particular glasses are probably a bit too big to make this work. If one more button at the top was undone, she'd look very sexy without being risqué.

Let me talk about the third picture later in this thread. You've got raccoon eyes in the photo--that's a function of shooting midday with probably a sun out. You need a reflector or a fill flash to correct that. But it's a lovely pose and she's a lovely model.

Thanks for sharing these.

 

[greybeard]

Dark eye sockets in #2 are not flattering.

 

[snerd]

Thanks for sharing! I tried this once, but could not overcome the camera shake!! So no more sexy shoots for me, sadly.


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