Feedback Please

[shawn68]

I was asked by some friends of ours to take some portrait shots of their daughter. I warned them that I usually take shots of tractors, motocross, and landscapes, all things I don't have to direct, or talk to. I did the session and I wanted to know what y'all thought. I have another lady who now wants me to do the same for her.

 

[ElizK]

I'm not a professional, but I've dabbled in portraiture, too. I think you did a beautiful job!

Here are my thoughts (constructive criticisms... )

I think the 1st one is a smidge dark. Can probably be played with in Photoshop.
Love love love the 2nd one!! My favorite.
I do like the selective coloring in the 3rd one, but (as I've been told here on a couple of occasions), a more subtle looks can be more effective.
4th one is very pretty, but I prefer the 1st 3.

Keep up the good work!

 

[Suburbanmom]

I have a small portrait business, but still make plenty of posing errors. I like babies and toddlers best because you get what you get...there's no posing them! I have done a few seniors this summer and have had good feedback, so take my suggestions for what they are worth. I'm still learning too.

Your focus is great. You nailed the eyes all 4 times and I like the depth of field. I also think the 1st one is a little dark and agree that you could lighten it up in post processing. If you shot in RAW, it will be very easy. A slight levels adjustment will help with the dull contrast and make it pop more. Using a reflector or speedlight would have helped fill in the shadows too.

LOVE the 2nd one. I would like to see a little more of her fingers, but that's a minor problem because the lighting is so pretty.

I really like the pose of #3, but don't care for selective coloring. However, if the girl likes it, I wouldn't mess with it. A little more contrast will define her facial features a little better.

#4 is my least favorite. I do that pose a lot with teenage girls. You are coming from the right angle and did not give her "bunny ears" with her feet...that's good, but I wish I could see more of her arms and torso.

I think you did a great job!! Don't be afraid to try portraiture again.

 

[jann1033]

i don't do portraits so my opinion might be less worthy than the others but imo they all look nice. i am wondering if her eyes are really that blue(3)? they look more hazel in the others so wondering if the color is off a little?. I'm just not a fan of selective coloring but the photo itself is nice.

all the backgrounds look good, nothing growing out of her head or something weird. imo they don't overwhelm the photo either.

i like 2 the best. everything works in that one.

i'd like 4 more with less of her cropped out. like i said not an authority but from what i've read you want to include the hands if possible since they are expressive parts of the body. so maybe in one like 2 or 4 you could have posed her hand(s) a little differently to keep it from being cut out (for the next time) like in 4 maybe lightly resting by the side of her face/neck where her hair is?







.

 

[Frantasmic]

Agree with the comments of the others here.

If you do intend to continue doing this, and I think that is possible since you do a good job, invest in some external lighting. I guess I'm saying don't always depend on post-processing. The first picture is nice, but as others have said, a little dark.

Your second picture is your best, I agree.

You did the best thing first though: got an attractive model. Not to take anything away from your photographing skills, but I would bet she doesn't take too many bad pictures.

Finally, I know it's probably her "look" but you might want to suggest a few pictures with a different hair style.

 

[wenrob]

I've been reading up a lot on portraits lately as I now have people asking me to do pics as well. Like you, I tell them not to have high expectations because it' a hobby for me and I'm still learning. So take what I say in that light.

I picked up on what the others did. I would just add that her skin tone is different in all of the pictures. For the selective coloring I think it would have been better to go with her natural eye color. I'd actually like to see that pic in color. I have seen hundreds of Senior Portraits/back to school pics lately and they are all over the top over saturated. I really like your natural clean processing that's going to stand up over time much better. Number two is also my favorite and your focus is dead on.

 

[Chikabowa]

There is a reason everyone is commenting on #2 being their favorite. It's the only one that you truly got the light into her eyes. Kudos on that.

More than being 'dark' (these are all very underexposed), but you weren't using the natural light to your advantage. It looks as though you were shooting for backgrounds and poses and less about making sure your subject was in the direction that most enhanced the light on her face and into her eyes. Something to work on next time and into the future.

Personal preference totally... I do not like selective coloring much. And I don't care for the iris of the eyes being in color with the rest of the photo being B&W. Like I said - some people go ga-ga over it... for me... I could live the rest of my life and never see it again being a happy woman. More CC on your black and white though... It's a muddy conversion. There isn't a lot of depth to the conversion. I'd go and google Black and White Conversions, maybe download a few photoshop actions and start playing around with them. That's the best way to learn - and a skill in post processing that is transferable from tractors to portraits.

Your posing is pretty good - I can tell you went into the session prepared for that. Just watch body-parts... you are chopping hands and arms in weird spots. Again, something to work on for the future.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Just my opinion...since i"m not a professional photographer, I'd be more of the 'purchaser of photographs'..

I think they are all good...and I love the selective coloring

I'd be happy with them

 

[shawn68]

Thanks, all these comments help a lot. 2 is my favorite as well. 4 was done for her family. The color of her eyes is what the camera picked up in the evening light. All I did was turn all but her eyes black and white, it really shocked me as well when I saw the color of her eyes.

 

[pjacobi]

For the first image, I suggest using a flash to brighten up the face.

An external flash is preferable, but even the pop-up flash is useful outdoors.


-Paul