Portraits of my boys for C&C

[robertc]

I tried taking some portraits of my boys the other day, hoping to get something a little better/different than the typical school portraits. They were semi cooperative . I have one speedlight, and an umbrella which I just got that I used.

1.
2.

I'd love any advice or suggestions on these photos.

 

[kanuski]

I am NOT an expert but I can imagine what some if the comments will be.
#1. Cropped to the wrong side. You need more room on the right and less on the left. Straighten the backdrop.
#2. Iron the blue shirt. And maybe do something about the glaring white buttons. Look at the camera.
3. Get a reflector for fill light. White poster paper, tin foil on cardboard, anything white or reflective works.

 

[robertc]

I am NOT an expert but I can imagine what some if the comments will be.
#1. Cropped to the wrong side. You need more room on the right and less on the left. Straighten the backdrop.
#2. Iron the blue shirt. And maybe do something about the glaring white buttons. Look at the camera.
3. Get a reflector for fill light. White poster paper, tin foil on cardboard, anything white or reflective works.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[The_Traveler]

Sorry to be so late to this.

I think the sharpness and focus are right on but the light is way too harsh, resulting deep shadows on the dark side and bleached out skin on the bright side.
There is a lot of empty space.
Fill that frame with the subject.
Get them relaxed and happy.

 

[robertc]

Sorry to be so late to this.

I think the sharpness and focus are right on but the light is way too harsh, resulting deep shadows on the dark side and bleached out skin on the bright side.
There is a lot of empty space.
Fill that frame with the subject.
Get them relaxed and happy.

Thanks for the advice. I will try using a reflector next time to even out the light and reduce the shadows. I like the difference in the cropping. Getting them relaxed and happy is definitely the hard part with two teen boys, when they see the camera, I usually get eye rolls and groans.

 

[kdthomas]

They sell the thick project poster board at Wally world, in both black & white for a reflector/flag.

 

[robertc]

Thanks. I actually have a 40" 5 in 1 reflector and some white foam boards. I guess I was so excited to play with off camera flash and an umbrella for the first time, it just didn't even occur to me to use them. I'll have to try again.

 

[Granddad]

You're headed in the right direction. Keep trying, follow the advice and you'll get there.