Quinceañera - Feedback

NedM · Jan 5, 2014

So just recently I photographed my first Quince.
I've been trying to work on DOF and I'm seeing MAJOR improvements.
Here are a couple photos:

Shot on 600D with fill flash.
C&C Welcome.
Improvements?
Strengths?
Weakness?

Ignore the watermark.

1.
f5.6
1/200 sec
ISO- 400
Focal Length - 65mm

2.
f/5.6
1/125 sec
ISO - 400
FL: 135mm

3.
f/5.6
1/200 sec
ISO - 400
FL: 40mm

ronlane · Jan 5, 2014

Just a couple of things that stand out to me. The skin tones look all over the place. (could be a wb issue). #2 looks blown out and the other two need fill light. Not a fan of the watermark, it's too big and takes away from a pretty lady.

limr · Jan 5, 2014

She's fifteen??

NedM · Jan 5, 2014

ronlane said:
Just a couple of things that stand out to me. The skin tones look all over the place. (could be a wb issue). #2 looks blown out and the other two need fill light. Not a fan of the watermark, it's too big and takes away from a pretty lady.

I noticed that too. Especially under her eyes on her cheekbones. At first I thought it was my wb, or perhaps some other lighting issue but I believe it was actually her makeup. All of these photos had a fill light. I might have overexposed the photos in post processing.
As for the watermark, I'm terrible at making my own, so I just went for simplicity.
Any suggestions as to where I can get a better idea for a wm?

NedM · Jan 5, 2014

limr said:
She's fifteen??

Last time I checked, yes!

ronlane · Jan 5, 2014

NedM said:
ronlane said:

Just a couple of things that stand out to me. The skin tones look all over the place. (could be a wb issue). #2 looks blown out and the other two need fill light. Not a fan of the watermark, it's too big and takes away from a pretty lady.

Click to expand...

I noticed that too. Especially under her eyes on her cheekbones. At first I thought it was my wb, or perhaps some other lighting issue but I believe it was actually her makeup. All of these photos had a fill light. I might have overexposed the photos in post processing.
As for the watermark, I'm terrible at making my own, so I just went for simplicity.
Any suggestions as to where I can get a better idea for a wm?

Either nothing or a simple font with your name or business name. Put it in a corner and make the opacity on it very light where you almost can't see it. JMHO.

NedM · Jan 5, 2014

Taken into consideration, Ron!

Anymore feedback, suggestions, comments?

tirediron · Jan 5, 2014

Get. The. Flash. OFF. Of. The. Camera! Your exposures aren't bad, and the use of fill flash definitely helped, a lot, BUT... it would have been even better if you'd moved if off-camera. For shooting this sort of event, I would use a flash bracket.

One issue that I think needs some improvement is your posing. #1 seems awkward and forced, especially the way she's propping up her light arm. #2 has distorted her right arm by pressing it against the structure she's leaning on, and in #3 you've cropped her elbow and hand; cropping joints is fine, IF you do it boldly, and not at/near a joint, never on a longitudinal axis, and don't crop of 'little bits' such as her fingertips.

Overall, they're not bad, but there is definitely room for improvement!

NedM · Jan 5, 2014

tirediron said:
Get. The. Flash. OFF. Of. The. Camera! Your exposures aren't bad, and the use of fill flash definitely helped, a lot, BUT... it would have been even better if you'd moved if off-camera. For shooting this sort of event, I would use a flash bracket.

One issue that I think needs some improvement is your posing. #1 seems awkward and forced, especially the way she's propping up her light arm. #2 has distorted her right arm by pressing it against the structure she's leaning on, and in #3 you've cropped her elbow and hand; cropping joints is fine, IF you do it boldly, and not at/near a joint, never on a longitudinal axis, and don't crop of 'little bits' such as her fingertips.

Overall, they're not bad, but there is definitely room for improvement!

A flash bracket?
Would distancing my flash away from the camera better the exposure and lighting overall? How so?

Hm, you're right. Her arm does seem a but distorted now that you mentioned it.
I'll be sure to study up on some more natural poses.
It's just she didn't know how to pose, and I tried making her as comfortable as I possibly can in front of the camera.

You're right there, I didn't think cropping her elbow wouldn't be a problem but I see it now!
I have one where the elbow and fingers are not cut off; I'll be sure to use that photo!

Thank you, I still have a lot to learn obviously, and your feedback definitely helps!

tirediron · Jan 5, 2014

A flash bracket. This will help do two things. One is to get rid of those nasty, 'dead-center of the pupil' catchlights from on-camera speedlight use, and it will also cause more natural looking shadows. Remember that we expect 'natural' light to come from above (the sun, ceiling lights) so even though the difference might be very slight, it will look better because the shadows will be closer to the way we expect to see them.

NedM · Jan 5, 2014

tirediron said:
A flash bracket. This will help do two things. One is to get rid of those nasty, 'dead-center of the pupil' catchlights from on-camera speedlight use, and it will also cause more natural looking shadows. Remember that we expect 'natural' light to come from above (the sun, ceiling lights) so even though the difference might be very slight, it will look better because the shadows will be closer to the way we expect to see them.

I'll have to look into these flash brackets. The day I shot the quinceanera, there were plenty of other photographers around shooting their sessions, and a few them also had flash brackets. Thanks!

ShootRaw · Jan 5, 2014

Make sure you watch the hands..Soft hands always..Tense hands or claw like hands are not flattering..

Steve5D · Jan 5, 2014

The only thing which really stands out to me is the absolutely unnatural pose in #1. No one stands while holding their arms like that. Ever.

Clee33 · Jan 5, 2014

Overall a terrific set of a lovely model. The shadow is a bit noticeable under the eyes, but does not detract. I'd maybe also just change the watermark to make it smaller and perhaps just in graded opacity screened over the image.

Hope this helps