What could I have done better?

[vipgraphx]

Well easter was yesterday and since I am always volunteered as the family photographer I took some simple family shots. I did not bring my flash so I had to crank up the iso which added more noise than I wanted but, what you gunna do. Anyways I would like some feed back on what could I have done better in this shot. Body positioning and what not. Girls are really picky on what they like and its almost always these three girls never like their photos.


girls by VIPGraphX, on Flickr

Thanks!

 

[tirediron]

Adding fill light and choosing a different background are the two things that stand out for me. I like the posing and composition, but the bright reflections of the doorway really detract from the girls. A different, plainer, or less reflective background would have really made this.

 

[frommrstomommy]

and they should rotate sandals.. lol I really think a different background would have made all the difference in the world here.

 

[DarkShadow]

I have to agree and with respect the pretty ladies are easy on the eyes but the doors as a back got to go.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Desperately needs off camera lighting, but an ok pic for FB

 

[vipgraphx]

Thanks! Usually at my parents they have a pretty garden with colorful flowers but, this year they did not plant any. Hopefully next year they will.

I appreciate the feedback!

 

[The_Traveler]

Sometimes, you got what you got and Mother Nature doesn't want you to get the light right and the only place out of direct light is a disturbing background and fill flash would show like a mirror in the glass doors BUT you have pretty girls, sharp focus and decent color.

So make some masks (background glass doors, sill, anything shiny, etc), darken whatever is too bright and do the best you can.
(yes, there are defects but I was rushing.)

 

[vipgraphx]

^^^ good ideas and tips...thanks, looks better!

 

[hirejn]

It's not bad. The girls are beautiful so of course they want to look their best. Other than go into all the technical stuff, I'd say one easy way to improve this is put more distance between the subject and background. The texture is a bit distracting.

 

[vipgraphx]

here is a stab at it. I masked in some darkness around the girls to darken the reflections. I used color effex to add in a gold reflector effect. cropped in and here is the result.


girls copy by VIPGraphX, on Flickr

 

[Derrel]

I'd say getting all three girls to have the same kind of type of expression would have helped. The girl in the center has her "I am getting my picture taken smile" on, and it looks, for lack of a better description, like a genuine fake smile. The other two have demure expressions, which really do not coordinate well with a forced smile. The background? The reflections? Neither bothered me anywhere near as much as the forced smile on the center girl. Her coral-colored shorts and the white top make her really,really stand out in that location...the white shirt just makes her POP! off of the dark background. Still, as family gathering snaps go, they all look attractive, young, and in-the-moment. Someday this will be a treasured family memory!!! That is one of the wonderful things about family photos!

 

[DiskoJoe]

The framing is off kilter. When using squared structures like doors as background it is very important to watch or correct your alignment carefully. really easy fix here though since you have plenty of space around them to work with.