Practice photoshoot with a friend C&C

[Primoz]

I wanted some practice with photographing people, headshots after watching videos of Peter Hurley (that guy is a freakin genius when it comes to posing and directing the model). So I asked a friend of mine if she wanted to get some photos taken =)
I found out working with a model is not easy, even if you have a very photogenic one. =)

Hope you enjoy the set and return some helpful critique! =) Thanks!

1) My favourite BTW =)

20120816_191432 by Primoz Kovacic, on Flickr

2)

20120816_191156-Edit by Primoz Kovacic, on Flickr

3)

20120816_191046 by Primoz Kovacic, on Flickr

4)

20120816_175904 by Primoz Kovacic, on Flickr

 

[michael9000000]

Well done mate! The color, exposure, focus, and poses are perfect in my opinion.

If I were to make any changes, I would smooth the image just slightly. This is not a criticism of your photography or your gorgeous model. It's just something I would do as a finishing touch for my own personal taste.

 

[jaxx419]

What lens ate you using? I like the bokeh in #2.

 

[Primoz]

Well done mate! The color, exposure, focus, and poses are perfect in my opinion.

If I were to make any changes, I would smooth the image just slightly. This is not a criticism of your photography or your gorgeous model. It's just something I would do as a finishing touch for my own personal taste.

Thank you! I am still trying hard to raise the percentage of nearly perfect shots on my photoshoots =D

What lens ate you using? I like the bokeh in #2.

That is Nikkor 70-200 f2.8 VR1

 

[tirediron]

Agree; a little work on the minor skin imperfections would be good. I would really like #1, but all the flyaway hairs really kill it for me.

 

[412 Burgh]

Gorgeous model I do like #1 but the fly aways do kill it for me, like previously stated.

 

[Designer]

These are very nice!

#1 You seem to have gotten correct focus on both eyes, which is not easy. Well done.
#2 Light and framing very well done.
#3 Not my favorite, sorry. the loss of one eye is enough to spoil it for me.
#4 Superb pose and framing! I like how you can use whatever prop is handy and use it well.

 

[Bynx]

When looking at a photo its not the same as looking at the model. Details. Check the details. The strands of hair is distracting in the photo. Also a bit of Portrait Pro will greatly enhance the image.

 

[Primoz]

Thanks for the responses! =)

It was quite windy so the hair was flying around a lot. To be completely honest I actually liked how her hair was taken sideways in #1, but now that many of you have mentioned it - the two that go over her face really shouldn't be there... But nevertheless it's still alive and a keeper for me =D

I did some spot removals on the skin and some local negative clarity and sharpness on larger areas such as forehead. But thanks for the heads-up- I can now see that I missed some little spots that should be removed, so I'll fix it.

Portrait pro? Thanks, but no thanks. Heavy retouching is not a thing I'd like to get into. I'll never change anything that makes the model for who she/he is. Yes, I do remove the little things that won't be there anymore in a couple of months (like little pimples) and I do some post processing fill light, but I don't want the polished skin effect. I rather cover any imperfections by modyfing the light and posing the right way (still in learning process though - but I'll slowly get there ).
Yes in fashion it's an industry standard - but I want the people I shoot to like their photos because they look good in that pose; because I managed a flattering light - and not because I made their skin look perfect (if that even looks good) on my computer =)
That's just the style I prefer...

 

[Primoz]

Here's another version of #1 with no distracting hair, but with what I believe is not as good of a pose as in original #1 =)


20120816_191306 by Primoz Kovacic, on Flickr

 

[12sndsgood]

Shots look good. stray hairs are a bit bothersome but i know how the wind can be.


As for portrait pro how far you take the photo is all up to you, its slider based just like photo shop. don't want fake plasticky skin then dont adjust the slider up. it only makes them look fake if you choose to make them look fake. I use it for the eyes a lot. some girls\guys have eyes that just pop and standout. but maybe a certain shot there just looking dull. you can easily and quickly bring that back without as much work.but for portrait work it really speeds up the PP time and does a great job. Do some people go to far, sure, but that's not the programs fault.