Still Experimenting (NSFW)

[cauzimme]

Hey,

I recently had to experience duo photoshoot,
3 Duos setting, and I experiment different styles in hope to find mine.
Here's what I did. Overall I think I did a pretty honest job at making it ''tasteful'', duo shots can sometimes turn trash quickly. One of the lady doesn't show her face, so I try creative posing as you suggest.

1. More dramatic;

2. Only natural light, it's a bit noisy...

3. Natural light + Flash

 

[Granddad]

Much better! Conceptually I like them in the order they're posted ... although #2 is very close to #1.
Much more tasteful than the previous work you've posted (in my conservative old fuddy duddy viewpoint ). You've raised the subjects from "sex industry workers" to courtesans. (Making the assumption that you are working with the same client group as you previously stated is your market.)

 

[cauzimme]

Much more tasteful than the previous work you've posted (in my conservative old fuddy duddy viewpoint ). You've raised the subjects from "sex industry workers" to courtesans. (Making the assumption that you are working with the same client group as you previously stated is your market.)

Thank you, That's a huge compliment, i'm working hard !

 

[MRnats]

love the concept and execution of #2 a lot.

 

[Granddad]

Thank you, That's a huge compliment, i'm working hard !

It was meant as a compliment and you earned it.

 

[Dillard]

I personally think #2 is the money shot, but I also really like #1. Good work!

 

[scooter2044]

#2 is beautiful and the winner for me. Love the lighting. She has a small chunk of hair (I think) sticking out that I might try to fix though.

 

[JoeW]

Nice work with some interesting possibilities. Thanks for sharing these.

Let's start by acknowledging that the purpose of the shot affects the evaluation. For instance, an ad for an escort service or a specific model/escort, I think #3 would be the winner, for an artistic shot I'd go with #2, and for a boudoir/steamy feel without being too explicit then it's #1. So it depends upon what standards you're using to judge the photo for each of these--and each of them is a very different photo.

Also, my position for shooting tandem work is that the models should show some kind of connection (even if they aren't touching). They shouldn't just look like two hot chicks next to each other. Maybe one looks angry or frustrated or whatever but you should feel from the photo that they're a couple or that they are interacting/connected in some fashion.

As to the photos themselves:

#1: Lots to like about that photo. I would prefer a softer light myself--this is a little too hard for my taste. If one model wants to hide her face, you could still reduce the dynamic range, bounce a little bit of soft light in there and hide her face while giving the photo a more romantic feel. I don't like how their hands in the lap are cut off by the thighs (removes some flow). And the hand on the shoulder--if you want a very sensual element that isn't explicit, she should be touching the strap to the bra or just starting to slide it off the shoulder. But it's a lovely shot that I'm sure both of the women like.

#2: my favorite. Yeah, a bit of noise. The biggest issue in my mind is that you've cut off the feet of the woman in the bed. But otherwise, this photo tells a story, it's got a nice composition. The right hand of the model in the foreground is too tense--she looks like she is nervous or angry...let those finger drape instead of clench. Or you could have that hand holding something (bra, champagne flute, a rose, a knife) that would add to the story in the photo. But it's a great concept and pretty good actually. "Bed" shots in which a figure is in the foreground can be very compelling.

#3: Could be a good portfolio shot for an escort who's face is seen. Here's what I'd change...the nose of the hidden face is sticking out the back/head of the seen model....if you could reshoot have her turn her head slightly to the right so her nose doesn't jut out and destroy the nice flow of the hair. I might have them open their legs just a big so their knees slide in between the other's thighs and they're a bit closer. This allows the hidden model/one on the right to slide her left hand around waist of the model on the left. This does two things--hides a little bit of tummy (which will occur with a pose like this) and you don't cut off the hand and remove a flowing line). Upper righthand corner is blownout (and that results in a loss of detail on the back of the right-side model). Also, if you're looking for an escort ad/portfolio shot than I'd make the model on the left a tad more playful in her pose (to match her expression). Take her right hand and she can undo the bra clasp of the model on the right. Or just caress the model's bicep. But make the pose fit the expression.

All 3 are nice work. You're right that tandem shoots can be challenging. You've got some good possibilities here that I think you can tweak a bit more. But I like all 3 of them.

 

[PhotoriousMe]

I like all three but #2 really hits the mark. The noise doesn't bother me so much when there is strong back lighting like there is in that image. Beautiful images.

Dave

 

[JacaRanda]

Yup, #2 is really nice!

 

[cauzimme]

Nice work with some interesting possibilities. Thanks for sharing these.

Let's start by acknowledging that the purpose of the shot affects the evaluation. For instance, an ad for an escort service or a specific model/escort, I think #3 would be the winner, for an artistic shot I'd go with #2, and for a boudoir/steamy feel without being too explicit then it's #1. So it depends upon what standards you're using to judge the photo for each of these--and each of them is a very different photo.

Also, my position for shooting tandem work is that the models should show some kind of connection (even if they aren't touching). They shouldn't just look like two hot chicks next to each other. Maybe one looks angry or frustrated or whatever but you should feel from the photo that they're a couple or that they are interacting/connected in some fashion.

As to the photos themselves:

#1: Lots to like about that photo. I would prefer a softer light myself--this is a little too hard for my taste. If one model wants to hide her face, you could still reduce the dynamic range, bounce a little bit of soft light in there and hide her face while giving the photo a more romantic feel. I don't like how their hands in the lap are cut off by the thighs (removes some flow). And the hand on the shoulder--if you want a very sensual element that isn't explicit, she should be touching the strap to the bra or just starting to slide it off the shoulder. But it's a lovely shot that I'm sure both of the women like.

#2: my favorite. Yeah, a bit of noise. The biggest issue in my mind is that you've cut off the feet of the woman in the bed. But otherwise, this photo tells a story, it's got a nice composition. The right hand of the model in the foreground is too tense--she looks like she is nervous or angry...let those finger drape instead of clench. Or you could have that hand holding something (bra, champagne flute, a rose, a knife) that would add to the story in the photo. But it's a great concept and pretty good actually. "Bed" shots in which a figure is in the foreground can be very compelling.

#3: Could be a good portfolio shot for an escort who's face is seen. Here's what I'd change...the nose of the hidden face is sticking out the back/head of the seen model....if you could reshoot have her turn her head slightly to the right so her nose doesn't jut out and destroy the nice flow of the hair. I might have them open their legs just a big so their knees slide in between the other's thighs and they're a bit closer. This allows the hidden model/one on the right to slide her left hand around waist of the model on the left. This does two things--hides a little bit of tummy (which will occur with a pose like this) and you don't cut off the hand and remove a flowing line). Upper righthand corner is blownout (and that results in a loss of detail on the back of the right-side model). Also, if you're looking for an escort ad/portfolio shot than I'd make the model on the left a tad more playful in her pose (to match her expression). Take her right hand and she can undo the bra clasp of the model on the right. Or just caress the model's bicep. But make the pose fit the expression.

All 3 are nice work. You're right that tandem shoots can be challenging. You've got some good possibilities here that I think you can tweak a bit more. But I like all 3 of them.

Wow that was informative!
For the last one, the problem I had was that the girl is somewhat heavily tatooed on her arms and foot, she won't show her face, so her tattoo either. I try to cover the best I could, but had to remove some also, would you have any suggestion regarding tattoo how to hide them, how to minimanize my time in photoshop.

 

[annamaria]

Number 2 gets my vote.

 

[JoeW]

I'm going to talk about all pre-shot or in-camera options.

Cauzimme, some models will use dermablend to cover tattoos...it tends to work better if the model has an olive complexion but it can do a pretty good job obscuring tattoos and looking like natural skin. Another option is to use a scarf or lace with a pattern. Depending upon the nature of the tattoos and their color, the scarf or lace can effectively camouflage them so they aren't either noticeable or if you see them, they don't stand out or aren't distinguishable. The last resort is posing and lighting. Use a pose or set up lighting to create strategic shadows that will hide a face or obscure enough of a tattoo so it doesn't stand out or identify someone. Especially in tandem poses, you can use one model (by where she places her hands) to obscure tattoos or hide enough facial features that she protects her privacy while still posing effectively.

 

[FITBMX]

Wow that was informative!
For the last one, the problem I had was that the girl is somewhat heavily tatooed on her arms and foot, she won't show her face, so her tattoo either. I try to cover the best I could, but had to remove some also, would you have any suggestion regarding tattoo how to hide them, how to minimanize my time in photoshop.

Maybe shoot her in a button up the front shirt, have it unbuttoned and barely hanging on ( just enough to cover the tattoo) like the shirt is slipping off, or being slipped off by the other women. May not be your posing style though.

All three are really nice, but love the first one.