The last image stands out to me as your best. Might just be me but image one looks like it needs some tweeking of the white balance. Image three- watch slumping of shoulders and turn her torso towards you. I feel flash would've greatly benefitted your images given your location and the images have a flat look to them.
Thank you Tee, I will definitely take your suggestions forward with me. Looking at Buckster's fantastic edit I'm thinking it isn't just you on the white balance.
For no OCF... these are very nice. Especially since they are basically your first serious attempt at this type of shooting. The expressions you caught in #2 are hilarious... looks like they had fun.
They would be improved greatly with better lighting, but with what you had.. they are not bad at all.
Thanks Charlie
I love #2! once they loosened up a bit and started acting like themselves it was great but it was a struggle on both sides to find that comfort level. I joked with them a bit but found I often got lost in my side of it and forgot to keep them engaged.
I like the compositions, especially the fun stuff.
To me, they look way over-warmed and too dark though. Is your screen calibrated?
Just to see, I worked a little on the first one. I dialed back the warmth to neutral with a levels adjustment on the green and blue channels, lightened the whole thing slightly, healed some of the blemishes, brightened and saturated the eyes a little, then sharpened the eyes, lips, some of the hair and jewelry. See what you think:
Oh my gosh Buckster! I love your edit! My monitor is definitely off, we had a major breakdown of our desktop and it needs replacing and I'm working on an ancient acer with a cracked screen until we get our feet under us a bit more and can afford to replace one or both, I usually edit on here then check on my iPod and I can usually get close (pls don't laugh). So no Photoshop (this machine won't really run it) and a bad monitor for a while longer.
I have to say I'm tickled that with some work the shots I took can be improved that greatly.
I agree, given what you had to work with and first go round....not too shabby. I really like number 4 myself. Great capture on the guy...looks like he belongs on that bike.
The last one...something struck me. Places I would try to edit, if they like that picture. The girl in the black and red dress....there is some kind of light reflecting on to her...I dunno what it could be but it shows on her boob and on her arm. I thought it might have just been the necklace...until I saw it on her arm too. So definitely watch for stray shadows and or light reflections on their skin. Also I would try to touch up that under arm bit of skin/fat whatever ya wanna call it. It's not bad by any means...but you know how teenagers are....they will notice that stuff instantly.
Great shoot though for your first time...share with us what you learned if anything. I am looking forward to trying to shoot people myself...so I'm quite curious.
Ernicus, thank you! I agree on 4, I really like how it turned out. I had hubby bring the tallest ladder we have over and I shot from the top of it.
Justin def looked right at home on Hubby's bike!
I see the reflections on Paige now that you pointed them out. They are actually probably streams of light through the trees, I thought I had them back far enough but alas a couple snuck through.
Things I learned, a LOT!
Right off the top of my head:
Make sure you review your pictures frequently so you are getting what you think you are getting and if not you can tweak things until you are.
Don't try to work against the light, if the light changes in one spot move or wait.
It is very important to engage the person you are shooting or catch them when they aren't aware of you, especially when they aren't used to posing. If you are getting the same look for a few frames talk/change it up.
Go in with a plan, have shots in your head/on paper that you want to try so things can keep moving, teenagers get bored quickly.
Watch for wardrobe malfunctions, distracting items in the background or foreground, check everything in the shot from edge to edge.
If at all possible check out the area first to pick out good spots.
Move back and shoot wider, I have a bad habit of shooting too tight and lost some great candid shots of them because I cut someone off.
Be patient and take your time.
If I think of anymore I'll add them
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