Recent photo session in Paris

AlexMorris · Aug 7, 2011

Alex Morris Photography.

Had a photo session in Paris with a friend last friday and I absolutely loved it but I would love some more professional feedback as I know that I could always improve and have a lot to learn but I am definitely happy with the photos and I should be seeing Alix (the model) this tuesday for more photos so any tips and advice would be very welcome.

Thanks,
Alex.

MissCream · Aug 7, 2011

If you want some great c&c then post a couple o your favourites in this thread. A lot of users won't click on a link and there are probably too many pictures posted to give a proper critique if they did click on it. There is a sticky thread on how to post pictures, apparently it's out of date but it seems right to me.

Derrel · Aug 7, 2011

Nothing quite like a beautiful woman in a fashionable dress and sexy short boots--shown repeatedly sucking on a stinking,filthy cigarette. Ughhh....

AlexMorris · Aug 7, 2011

I have to say I agree but i'm used to it and most people in Paris smoke though she does smoke a lot more than last time i saw her (three years ago) but she was very respectful and told me to tell her if it bothered me.

AlexMorris · Aug 7, 2011

Any tips for getting rid of strong sunlight in the background in situations like this? I don't know if the weather will be nice next time I see her. Oh and the area where we will be has a lot of old vintage shops and then we will go up to another area (Montmartre, but not the over the top tourist area) which has more typical Parisian surroundings and a lot of art shops so how could i use those types of surroundings in photos? Keeping in mind i still want to stick with portraits/glamour/fashion but hopefully with a bit more creativity.

AlexMorris · Aug 7, 2011

Tomasko · Aug 7, 2011

Your model is really beautiful, but... but...

- I'm not a fan of fake blur
- I'm not a fan of over-processed photos
- your wb is quite off and inconsistent (yeah, I know, it was probably your intention, but...)
- some have busy backgrounds
- not really sure why you chose horizontal orientation on these photos. Some photos are OK like that, but I don't think, that these have so interesting background that you can afford to crop your model like this (for instance the very first image when clicked on your link - it could be MUCH better if shot vertically)

Any tips for getting rid of strong sunlight in the background in situations like this?

Sure. Don't shoot when there is a strong light like that or shoot in a shade

Strong sunlight is probably the worst light ever (well except complete darkness I guess

)

AlexMorris · Aug 7, 2011

Thanks for the tips

and yes i'm going to be using the lensbaby composer less because it is a lot harder to focus with it but none of the photos have been processed except the blueish ones?

Any tips for setting the white balance? I just put it on auto because i didn't like the look of any of the settings in the camera and didn't have any grey card, so i'm guessing i should buy one?

And i'll definitely take into consideration the whole horizontal vertical thing and i'll admit that I have already read about not shooting in strong sunlight but did it anyway but oh well i'm still learning

MWC2 · Aug 7, 2011

The first thing that stuck out at me in the images you posted here are you need to get more light in her eyes. The shadows are causing very dark eye sockets giving her raccoon eyes.

AlexMorris · Aug 7, 2011

ok, should i use fill in flash for that?

AlexMorris · Aug 7, 2011

although i think that might just be her make up? could be wrong though.

Patrice · Aug 7, 2011

Tell her a joke or give her a tickle, she needs to smile once in a while.

MWC2 · Aug 7, 2011

AlexMorris said:
although i think that might just be her make up? could be wrong though.

I believe it's a combo of the make-up and the lack of light giving her a bad set of raccoon eyes. You can use a reflector to help balance it out. I'll be the first to admit, I'm not very good with using or remembering to use my reflector but it does make a world of difference.

I've just really started to play with fill flash, so I can't give you any advice on that, it would be the blind leading the blind.

Tigertail · Aug 7, 2011

The first and last ones are the strongest from what I can tell. You might want to try getting a reflector. On a shoot I was assisting they were using types that were basically glossy cardboard poster-boards that worked really well. They're cheap so I would try one of those first. Might be hard to hold one and wield a camera but I've seen some people do it.

Also, from looking at your blog you seem to be focusing a lot on just editing the photos in PS and applying effects. I feel like it kinda cheapens the look of the photos so I would try to avoid that over-processed look.