Photoshoot with a Friend (Thoughts/advice)

K24Photography · Sep 11, 2011

I have been getting back into photography after a LONG hiatus of about 12 years. I never was serious before but I'm taking it more seriously this time. I can't draw, paint, or color between lines. I look at photography the way I can get my artistic side out. Anyway, enough jabber. I did a couple shoots with a friend and was wondering if anyone wouldn't mind taking a look and telling me what they think and where I should start investing more of my time and learning.
The shoot was done with a D300s, 10-24mm, 50mm f1.4, and a SB600 with a sync cable. I've got some more lighting stuff that I'll be ordering soon, hopefully. Anyway, here's a few pictures.

The_Traveler · Sep 11, 2011

Every one of your pictures, except the first, seems to depend on some measure of odd angle for impact.
Most of the time what that accomplishes is to draw attention to the angle and not the person.

Re; the first picture.

Plenty of room at the top but looks truncated at the bottom.
Her limbs are cut off and they enter/leave at odd angles.
this looks like a small fragment off of a large print.

The second is all shoulder, the third is totally emotion-free.
The fourth is almost ok, she's relaxed and smiling but we can's really see her eyes and all the interesting part is in the left quarter of teh image.

Stop finding odd angles, snapping and thinking about buying stuff for a while.
Find places and people and take nice, well-composed shots that actually show the person, that make some connection.

Lew

K24Photography · Sep 11, 2011

Lew
I really appreciate the critique. I honestly never realized how I was using angles so much. Best advice I've gotten to date. Seriously I really appreciate it. I think I get in a rush to shoot sometimes because I feel like I'm making the subject hold a position for too long. Do/did you or does anyone else feel the same way? And if so, what would your advice on that subject be?

enzodm · Sep 12, 2011

I'm not able to do better than you, however I mostly agree with Lew, in particular on #1. #2 is a good idea but really the face is lost. Perhaps a different pose of the model could give more visibility, but I do not know how. I somewhat like #3, but there is a slight inclination of horizon. #4 is relaxed, clothes colors are too close to background color (undermining, ehm, some other interesting quarter

).
Your most important question has a positive answer: it is definitely worth to invest some time. Pictures are well lit, a good start. And you have a nice and patient model to work with.

The_Traveler · Sep 12, 2011

K24Photography said:
Lew
I think I get in a rush to shoot sometimes because I feel like I'm making the subject hold a position for too long. Do/did you or does anyone else feel the same way? And if so, what would your advice on that subject be?

As everyone here, if asked, would rush to tell you, I'm just a patzer when it comes to shooting. I generally don't pose people so much as I ask them to turn or sit a different way. I talk to them a lot and try to get them relaxed and engaged with me and the camera. I don't use auxiliary lights, I don't like the way it looks. I use a reflector now and them. I think a successful portrait means that you can see through the picture into the persona.

I know that's not any concrete help but I surely don't have any secrets to tell.

DiskoJoe · Sep 12, 2011

1 - Pan out further
2 - pan down and maybe out more
3 - pan out
4 - move to the left and swing the angle to the right to get her whole body in the shot.

you just need to watch your framing. lighting and focus were both pretty good but the bad framing just didnt show her off as good as you could have.

Stanza · Sep 12, 2011

The first one I think it have too much "air", too much space and no enough body, I mean, you could moved a little bit down your camera and show those beautiful bones that comes from the shoulders and next to the neck. The second one the angle don't let appresiate her beauty too much and the clouds stole a little bit the movie... The third one I like and the fourth one too but where are those eyes?!

I like the effect with the flash and is nice you play with the background!

K24Photography · Sep 12, 2011

Awesome input to everyone. As someone who's essentially new to this and trying to take it seriously, I am taking all of your suggestions on board. I'm visualizing the different framing that could have been achieved using your suggestions and am excited to take some more shots and see first hand the difference and better quality photos that I'll get. Again I really thank everyone for their input and constructive criticism.

oldmacman · Sep 12, 2011

Personally, I love number 3. Great light, well exposed and a rich, blue saturation on the dress. What's not working for me is the green building in the background and the fact that it feels like a horizontal crop might look better with her pushed along the left edge, then gazing over a narrow space. There's also three distinct colour zones, which hurts the overall unity: the muted blue in the sky, the warm richness of her skin and the rich blue of the fabric. You have some leading lines in the railing that you might want to use to your advantage... choose a position that has them leading someplace other than her collarbone.

I don't mind the angle on number one, but the tight crop cuts elbows and is uncomfortably close to her neck. I like the gaze and engagement in this image and there is a nice balance between the lit and shadow side.

DiskoJoe · Sep 13, 2011

When doing professional work for folks I try to take the same pose from different focal lengths and framings. Start zoomed out and then zoom in a bit which each shot. Then see what you think afterwards.

12sndsgood · Sep 13, 2011

K24Photography said:
Lew
I really appreciate the critique. I honestly never realized how I was using angles so much. Best advice I've gotten to date. Seriously I really appreciate it. I think I get in a rush to shoot sometimes because I feel like I'm making the subject hold a position for too long. Do/did you or does anyone else feel the same way? And if so, what would your advice on that subject be?

I have gotten the same way when i have been with a friend. you feel like your taking a long time and then you feel like you should be taking photos instead of thinking about what your taking a photo of. downside to that is you waste allot of photos. although on the upside you generally see allot of your mistakes after the fact. then you just gotta get someone back there to do it again and learn from your mistakes and try not to make them again.