Purple Dress - Amateur Portrait Attempts

[Tropicalmemories]

Fuji XF35mm f1.4
Natural light plus a low-cost LED ring light

 

[Jeff1547 47]

Very nice set............

 

[SquarePeg36 7]

Hi. I am not a portrait shooter so take this with a grain of salt please. Some of these look underexposed. Just curious - did you consider shooting from the other side and using the window light on the subject instead of for backlighting? Also, the wrinkled bed is a distraction - well for me anyway! I don't shoot boudoir stuff so not sure how that is normally handled. Maybe not have the bed lit so well?

 

[Tropicalmemories]

Hi. I am not a portrait shooter so take this with a grain of salt please. Some of these look underexposed. Just curious - did you consider shooting from the other side and using the window light on the subject instead of for backlighting? Also, the wrinkled bed is a distraction - well for me anyway! I don't shoot boudoir stuff so not sure how that is normally handled. Maybe not have the bed lit so well?

I don't shoot boudoir either, or have a studio - just shots of my wife on my bed.

I added a tint to some shots to give a moody look - perhaps too much if they look under exposed.

I did take some with the window behind, but thought the back-lit ones had a more interesting look?

And sooc without the tint ....

 

[Tropicalmemories]

Very nice set............

Thank you!

 

[Derrel]

I prefer the "feel" the tint adds. I prefer the slight bit of added warmth the tint brings, as opposed to the coolness of the SOOC color.

 

[smoke665]

No boudoir for' me, "if" I could find a model, the DW would put a stop to it real fast, and "if" I could talk her into it, there'd be hell to pay if I ever posted them. LOL

That said, I'm not sure it's so much about exposure or tint but the limitations of the scene itself. In the one with the back light of the window, that's a powerful light, that needs fill on the model to counteract it. I'm also more predisposed toward warm skin. This could be shot to give you a SOOC similar, but I did an edit in Lr to show you the difference. I first did a split tone WB adjustment adding some warmth to the shadows and highlights. Then did an oblong radial filter>inverted>used brush to delete around the edges of the subject. Then raised the exposure, shadows, and warmed the WB even more on the subject. Then I pulled a gradient down from the top reducing the exposure and clarity of the background. I used a brush to delete the effect from the subject. The Develop panel settings are below. Finished with a dark vignette.

 

[Tropicalmemories]

No boudoir for' me, "if" I could find a model, the DW would put a stop to it real fast, and "if" I could talk her into it, there'd be hell to pay if I ever posted them. LOL

That said, I'm not sure it's so much about exposure or tint but the limitations of the scene itself. In the one with the back light of the window, that's a powerful light, that needs fill on the model to counteract it. I'm also more predisposed toward warm skin. This could be shot to give you a SOOC similar, but I did an edit in Lr to show you the difference. I first did a split tone WB adjustment adding some warmth to the shadows and highlights. Then did an oblong radial filter>inverted>used brush to delete around the edges of the subject. Then raised the exposure, shadows, and warmed the WB even more on the subject. Then I pulled a gradient down from the top reducing the exposure and clarity of the background. I used a brush to delete the effect from the subject. The Develop panel settings are below. Finished with a dark vignette.
]

Wow! Thank you. Your post processing skills are muck more advanced than mine.

I need to work on my editing and my lighting.

 

[smoke665]

I need to work on my editing and my lighting

It's far easier to get it closer in camera. LOL Not sure of your equipment, but when working with difficult lighting it's always going to be easier if you have a light meter that reads incident and reflective. It can be done with the camera meter but there's a lot of guessing/trial & error involved. You can find decent used meters, in the $100 range. Next if you don't have lights, then reflectors are the next best thing with window light. You can use plain white foam core, or a 5 in 1 collapsible reflector gives you the option of a gold reflector (not overly expensive $40-50 for a descent one). Also important in control of light are flags (black foam core). Once you have everything it's a matter of bringing light in where you need it with a reflector, and blocking light (if you need to with the black. The advantage of ambient light is the ability to see where you need to add/subtract before you click the shutter.

 

[Donde]

A very nice set Tropical and some terrific technical feedback above. My own shots are absolutely basic natural light. My girlfriend would balk for sure if I tried to set up reflectors or other photographic set ups. Kudos to your patient wife lettimg you experiment.

 

[Tropicalmemories]

A very nice set Tropical and some terrific technical feedback above. My own shots are absolutely basic natural light. My girlfriend would balk for sure if I tried to set up reflectors or other photographic set ups. Kudos to your patient wife lettimg you experiment.

Yes, really useful technical tips. I like your natural light photos, and sympathise over the problems of using partners as our models.

I also have some challenges with an impatient model, so need to set up everything in advance, as she gets fidgety after 10 minutes. I also have a strict brief from my 'customer' - make my legs look long, my skin look white, and no nipples!

The professionals with their experienced models must have a totally different experience to us. I think we need a thread on tips for photographing partners?

 

[smoke665]

think we need a thread on tips for photographing partners?

I find it frustrating to work with DW when I'm experimenting and trying out ideas. She gets bored with the the whole thing fast, which causes me to become uncomfortable and rush. I've found it best to use "silent stand ins" like wig heads, large teddy bears, mannequins, etc to practice on. When I get to a point that I'm happy with the lighting and exposure, it's much easier to bring her onto a mostly dialed in set.

 

[Tropicalmemories]

think we need a thread on tips for photographing partners?

I find it frustrating to work with DW when I'm experimenting and trying out ideas. She gets bored with the the whole thing fast, which causes me to become uncomfortable and rush. I've found it best to use "silent stand ins" like wig heads, large teddy bears, mannequins, etc to practice on. When I get to a point that I'm happy with the lighting and exposure, it's much easier to bring her onto a mostly dialed in set.

Good idea. I'll try test shots using inanimate objects first. Think I'll also put the second lens on my old spare body to avoid lens swaps - like a pro wedding photographer.

The main driver for my switch from off-camera manual flash to LED was also to avoid the need for 'chimping' test shots.

I'd love to have the time for relaxed composition and settings, but I know she'd get frustrated, and this would show in her expressions. I now have a new found appreciation of the talents of professional models.

 

[JoeW27 1]

She's lovely, thanks for posting.

Here's a thought--since the purple outfit is in the same color family as the drapes, then center her (as a compositional element) so she's framed by the drapes. This would be especially true for #1.

I understand the feel of shooting with soft natural light for boudoir. But these do seem underexposed. Use a giant piece of foam core as a reflector to add soft fill light--you'll love the look it creates.

Also, part of the challenge with shooting on a big soft bed is--hands sink in to it (see #4) and destroy the flow (she becomes an amputee). If you're going to shoot on that setting in that pose, put a book under the cover so her hand doesn't sink all the way in.

Keep up the good work.

 

[Tropicalmemories]

She's lovely, thanks for posting.

Here's a thought--since the purple outfit is in the same color family as the drapes, then center her (as a compositional element) so she's framed by the drapes. This would be especially true for #1.

I understand the feel of shooting with soft natural light for boudoir. But these do seem underexposed. Use a giant piece of foam core as a reflector to add soft fill light--you'll love the look it creates.

Also, part of the challenge with shooting on a big soft bed is--hands sink in to it (see #4) and destroy the flow (she becomes an amputee). If you're going to shoot on that setting in that pose, put a book under the cover so her hand doesn't sink all the way in.

Keep up the good work.

Thank you.

Great suggestions. And yes, I've now spotted a lot of my photos have the missing hand issue. We'll have another go at the weekend.