waiting for Hailey

frommrstomommy · Feb 2, 2015

these are friends of my husband and I who are expecting their first. #4 is not the sharpest image but it is one of my favorites so it stays! lol I have such a hard time with the big 70-200 and sharpness and I think its 100% the weight of it and my weak wrists no matter how I try to prop myself.

1

CBC_8091 by capturedbybc, on Flickr

2

CBC_8097 by capturedbybc, on Flickr

3

CBC_8099 by capturedbybc, on Flickr

4

CBC_8118 by capturedbybc, on Flickr

5

CBC_8130 by capturedbybc, on Flickr

6

CBC_8157 by capturedbybc, on Flickr

tirediron · Feb 2, 2015

To be honest? I think you copped out on these. The technical side is okay, but the posing? It looks like every other set of materinity images from the last five years. You have to put more effort into the creative side IMO.

SquarePeg · Feb 2, 2015

I must be getting old when all the expectant parents look like kids to me! I like the 4th shot the best but wish it was cropped in more - they are too far away. Is that due to your comment about it not being sharp enough?

rottroll · Feb 2, 2015

I really don't mind that the focus isn't absolutely spot on each time, and they probably care even less. Also you had good light and a nice scenery. What you didn't have or what you didn't take is time …

I took the liberty and looked at the EXIF info on flickr – these shots were taken within about half an hour. Simply not enough time for them to get comfortable with you and the camera. And that shows. They don't look happy, they don't look relaxed. Next time, take them on a walk, talk to them, let them have fun and forget about all that set up stuff like the letters and the shoes. Make it more casual.

pixmedic · Feb 2, 2015

rottroll said:
I really don't mind that the focus isn't absolutely spot on each time, and they probably care even less. Also you had good light and a nice scenery. What you didn't have or what you didn't take is time …

I took the liberty and looked at the EXIF info on flickr – these shots were taken within about half an hour. Simply not enough time for them to get comfortable with you and the camera. And that shows. They don't look happy, they don't look relaxed. Next time, take them on a walk, talk to them, let them have fun and forget about all that set up stuff like the letters and the shoes. Make it more casual.

The shots may be within 30 minutes, but how do you know they didn't spend 2 hours together prior to that chatting and hanging out?

Braineack · Feb 2, 2015

pixmedic said:
The shots may be within 30 minutes, but how do you know they didn't spend 2 hours together prior to that chatting and hanging out?

maybe he read the contract?

rottroll · Feb 2, 2015

pixmedic said:
The shots may be within 30 minutes, but how do you know they didn't spend 2 hours together prior to that chatting and hanging out?

I obviously do not – but I think the main issue with these shots is, that the people don't look natural. Instead of working with them to get one really believable shot where they look happy and in love and generally "real" this photographer set up some less interesting poses with the shoes and the letters.

I was trying to help by giving some advice.

frommrstomommy · Feb 2, 2015

Thank you for the input. shoes and letters were things they wanted and I helped them pose them, etc. The first few were all taken in a close time frame, the silhouette was much later As well as the name laying on the belly. I spent almost an hour and a half of shooting time to answer that. They are friends of mine, I don't feel as though they ever felt uncomfortable except they did admit they had not had photos taken since their wedding.

frommrstomommy · Feb 2, 2015

SquarePeg said:
I must be getting old when all the expectant parents look like kids to me! I like the 4th shot the best but wish it was cropped in more - they are too far away. Is that due to your comment about it not being sharp enough?

And yes shot 4 I shot wide on purpose for scene and might have chosen to crop in later because I really like that one but it lacking sharpness kept me from doing so.

kdthomas · Feb 3, 2015

I like the idea for the shot with the blocks on her abdomen (so much, in fact, I'm going to steal it

), but I would have liked to seen her face in the shot also.

P.S. did you lift the blacks on these?

frommrstomommy · Feb 3, 2015

kdthomas said:
I like the idea for the shot with the blocks on her abdomen (so much, in fact, I'm going to steal it ), but I would have liked to seen her face in the shot also.

P.S. did you lift the blacks on these?

Well, as pointed out above you can steal all you want but it wouldn't be from me.. lol that's a popular one on pinterest. In fact, I have a picture of myself JUST LIKE IT from when I was pregnant with my son. But yes, its adorable and people love it.

We couldn't do her face in it.. the way her body laid on the grass it just wasn't flattering at all to include her face. lol When her husband was sitting with her and her head was in her lap, all was fine.. but without him there as a pillow it was just not flattering for her, or likely anyone from what I could tell. Maybe if we had her up on her elbows and not laid flat but yeah.. that might be something to try!

I almost always lift the blacks/shadows.. that's just my editing style I guess. Some of the images I actually had to do the opposite in because of the light (in the grass there mainly) because there was so much sun flare happening.