The portrait, the whole portrait, and nothing but the portrait

[Peniole]

They want me to do some portait shots at work to update the website. So I scoped out a few locations with my fiance as a model for group shots, indoor at work shots, and some outdoor locations. They don't want anything fancy but I'm not one to completely listen and will give them the boring (what they want) and something with a bit more personality in it (what they'll hopefully like and include on some of the pages). What I need help with is the boring. Here is a cropped shot, bottom is the full frame just outside the building. Let me have it, what's wrong, what's right...etc.

150mm
f4.5
ISO 160
1/250 sec
No Flash
Time: morning, west side of building, in building shade

Thanks :thumbup:

 

[musicaleCA]

I'd say a fill flash would probably help soften the lines on the face. Other than that, seems like a good enough spot to shoot. I like that there are leaves close to the fore-ground that that your background isn't just one monotonous blurred-out slab of green (I honestly think bokeh is over-used in portraiture, but that's just my opinion).

 

[Sw1tchFX]

I disagree on the fill flash, but more exposure wouldn't hurt.

 

[Peniole]

Thanks for the comments. I actually have a fill flash version of this picture, it unfortunately blew out the white blouse she was wearing. I had to back up to 65mm reduce the GN and still got a hotspot on the blouse. I asked her to wear white, there will be a lot of lab coats come the day. I'll bump up the exposure next time thanks. Which did you prefer the whole frame or the crop?

Here's the 65mm with fill in flash. Hand position needs work.

Here are some locations for single and group shots indoor and out...

Outdoor group

Indoor group

At desk/bench (needs to sit up straight)

Outdoor headshot

Thanks

 

[Peniole]

Any further comments/critique?

 

[Dcrymes84]

very nice pictures

 

[Big Mike]

I think you/they need to know just what they want. For a business website, I'm thinking either straight up head shots (cropped quite closely) or maybe an environmental portrait showing them at work. In other words, the outdoor 'artsy' shots may not be appropriate. Although I like the idea of a group shot with the office in the background (if that is where they work).

 

[Peniole]

very nice pictures

Thank you

I think you/they need to know just what they want. For a business website, I'm thinking either straight up head shots (cropped quite closely) or maybe an environmental portrait showing them at work. In other words, the outdoor 'artsy' shots may not be appropriate. Although I like the idea of a group shot with the office in the background (if that is where they work).

Yes that is the "office" in the background. Thanks for the thoughts big mike. They're having a meeting today with these examples and then they can make up their mind as to what they want exactly for each group.

It's a cancer research building and cancer hospital setting, so PhDs and MDs, throw in admin people, statisticians, technicians...etc.