First real practice with portraits - what do you think

[DVC Jen]

I took all of the advice I have generously been handed the past few days - begged, pleaded, and bribed my youngest to give me "half an hour Em - that's it - just half an hour. I promise". So yesterday while her older sister was babysitting we went out into our backyard and she "posed" for me in the chilly, windy weather.

It figures - I get so caught up in trying to get the composition right I forget to double check my exposure. I WILL get this - all of it - eventually.

I am taking both girls out later this afternoon and practicing some more.

Here is a link to the gallery. Emily I took 120 shots of her yesterday in that "half an hour". These are what I think are the best of the best. The top ones are in the gallery as well as a few I played with on Photoshop.

suggestions? thoughts? advice?

 

[wkrider]

All of them are good...but this one stood out to me.

 

[DVC Jen]

That is my personal favorite too. I think it captures her personality a lot.

 

[jann1033]

i like the one where she is standing by the fence...maybe the top one would be better with a little shallower dof so the bushes and fence are more blurred, and if you put a little more distance between her and the brick or stones it would be less of a sharp background, more blurred so she would stand out more from the background. i think the fence is ok cause it's not so busy i guess due to the longer shot. plus i like the diagonals with that one.

 

[DVC Jen]

i like the one where she is standing by the fence...maybe the top one would be better with a little shallower dof so the bushes and fence are more blurred, and if you put a little more distance between her and the brick or stones it would be less of a sharp background, more blurred so she would stand out more from the background. i think the fence is ok cause it's not so busy i guess due to the longer shot. plus i like the diagonals with that one.

I totally agree Jann - and thought about that - after the fact of course.

 

[jann1033]

yeah I know if i could retake 90% of what I take I'd be 90%perfect

 

[donaldduck1967]

They are all very nice. I agree with Jenn on the 1st one. Something else to think about is what is in the background. The 1st pic is a very nice shot but the rusty fence post takes away from it somewhat.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Great shots, I agree the last one is nice.

 

[TwoOldPoohs]

I like them all, but my favorites are #4 and #12 (which is the 2nd photo in your post here) on your smugmug site. I like them because the simplicity of the fence in the background puts the focus on your daughter. In addition, in each photo her pose seems appropriate for her expression, i.e. in #4, she looks cold sitting huddled on that cold rock. In both of these, and especially #4, I think I would move back a bit to give more of a feeling of "aloneness." I also like the photos of your daughter with your dog, especially the close shots since they convey such playfulness and affection. Overall, an excellent collection of portraits!

 

[tinksdad]

A great start!! I like #3 and #4 for the personality that they show. I think that's what portraits should be about, the personality of the subject. Trying something new that you don't see all the time is a good thing as long as you bring out the inner soul of the person. Easier said than done, but you get the drift.

I agree with the call to bring her out from the walls, tray about 6' or so. It will give a nice blurred background. Don't forget about looking for the contrast. Contrast in the color of her clothes and the back ground, the contrast in the light and shadow. I also think #3 would have benefited from a bit of fill light from camera right, just fill in the shadows a bit.

Don't forget to focus on the eyes!!

 

[Miss Kelly]

Great Job! I love the fence and brick photographs. I'd love to see more of those.

 

[MICKEY88]

I did a quick edit, to blur the background on this one for you

 

[argusp2]

I see you also took out the metal poles too. Nice job

 

[allie5]

They look great. I also like the one with her hair blowing.

What camera and lens did you use Jen? (Im new to the photography board, I usually hang out on the UK forum but just discovered this place!).

 

[DVC Jen]

They look great. I also like the one with her hair blowing.

What camera and lens did you use Jen? (Im new to the photography board, I usually hang out on the UK forum but just discovered this place!).

A Canon Rebel XTi and the lens is the Canon 28 - 135mm IS lens.

 

[DVC Jen]

I did a quick edit, to blur the background on this one for you

there was also a tree back there that I took out - but after fighting with that darn tree - I let the poles stay - especially since it was just a practice shot. Now when I actually do the real senior photos of my oldest I will make sure things like poles and trees are not in the photo.