Portrait session for C&C

[allison_dcp]

I am trying to focus more on lighting and hoping to get less 'flat' photos. (I will reiterate that I am a newbie.....) I finally figured out what a hot shoe is for lol. These were taken with my off camera slave flash bouncing off a white reflector to girls right. I also had my on-camera flash, heavy diffused, on so I could trigger the slave. (I dont think my camera, Canon EOS 20D, has an option for wireless activation w/o setting off the flash).
What are some ways to improve this set? This little girl was such a ham!
1. 2.5/f 1/200 200 ISO 2. 2.2/f 1/200 200 ISO3.2.2/f 1/200 200 ISO 4.2.2/f 1/200 200 ISO

 

[frommrstomommy]

I am a newbie too so take this with a grain of salt at least.. lol but I feel like these lack sharpness around the eyes to draw you in. #3 has it best, but the others lack. Your photos said ok to edit so I did some on the first and changed the crop bc I didn't care for it as is. I wish there were more space up top but I have only one hand so didn't want to get crazy with the sleeping baby on me. I sharpened some, softened skin a bit, light iris enhance and the crop.. oh and upped the blacks to darken the bg and hide some flyaways better.


Madison-2 by lovemyhero, on Flickr

 

[rexbobcat]

The lighting is still very flat. There are. I shadows on her face and Te illumination is unnatural.

Study traditional lighting techniques.

Rembrandt lighting
Split lighting
Butterfly lighting
Broad/Short Lighting
Loop lighting

 

[allison_dcp]

Ugh..... Thanks for the advice. Its hard not to get frustrated. So having the flash off camera didnt help? Could if have something to do with my pop-up flash still going off? I'm looking up alternatives to set off the slave and I think I'm going to start with a PC sync cable.

*rexbobcat* Thanks for the tips on different lighting techniques, I will look into those today

 

[ManualMode]

Ugh..... Thanks for the advice. Its hard not to get frustrated. So having the flash off camera didnt help? Could if have something to do with my pop-up flash still going off? I'm looking up alternatives to set off the slave and I think I'm going to start with a PC sync cable.

*rexbobcat* Thanks for the tips on different lighting techniques, I will look into those today

The on camera flash totally negates having the OCF. GEt some wireless triggers (about $50) and either a softbox or shoot-thru umbrella.. take the same photos again and you'll say "WOOOOOWWWWW!"

Its that much of a difference..

 

[Granddad]

If your camera doesn't do wireless you can pick up a wireless flash trigger with a couple of receivers for about $30 at Amazon.com, that will save you having to use the pop up and give you more flexibility.

 

[allison_dcp]

If your camera doesn't do wireless you can pick up a wireless flash trigger with a couple of receivers for about $30 at Amazon.com, that will save you having to use the pop up and give you more flexibility.

Thanks! will try this.