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06/24/2006 03:30:18 AM · #1 |
Hi all!
So last week I got the opportunity to take some photos of a family in my neighborhood. However, she had some problems with the photos I took, like the quality, etc and I'm a little confused.
Can you all take a look and tell me if they're any good 'cause I'm a little frustrated because I thought I did a pretty good job.
Thanks!
The Pictures |
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06/24/2006 03:31:58 AM · #2 |
| A classic case of not being able to distance yourself from your photography. I'll leave some comments. |
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06/24/2006 03:54:53 AM · #3 |
| might be helpful if you posted some of your camera settings too... |
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06/24/2006 04:28:10 AM · #4 |
Just glancing through them I'd just suggest a bit of PP on them. Add a little contrast and slightly more saturation. Just play around with them. In terms of framing posing etc it ain't too bad!
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06/24/2006 04:32:42 AM · #5 |
Left a few CC comments :)
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06/24/2006 05:01:38 AM · #6 |
| I would have to agree not bad shots just need some tweaking. Poses were nice some seemed soft in the wrong spots. Some was lighting issues.But all in all they were not bad |
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06/24/2006 07:11:17 AM · #7 |
IMHO The pictures are "nice".. Actually like the colors, could use some pp though, but what I think bothers me is the cropping or postitioning of you... Either take portraits or the whole body, ofcourse sometimes it is nice to cut some of the image, but overall I would say it is nicer to see the whole child or just the face :o)I do like the pictures where the kids are running and also the one of the whole family.. (could have asked her to put her chin down.. people usually don´t like pictures of them selves when their face is pointing to much upwards because of the effects on their.... well "chin...s")..
Nice work though and nice of you to take the pictures.
Message edited by author 2006-06-24 07:12:17. |
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06/24/2006 08:50:46 AM · #8 |
| All in all, the pictures are so-so. Honestly (and please don't take this the wrong way), if I were paying for a photo session and family portraits, I would want something a little better. It's not that they're bad by any means, they just don't look very professional. I think the biggest problem with the entire series is the time of day you chose to shoot. That bright overhead sunlight killed the shoot. It's probably not anything that can't be fixed with a little more post processing though. The poses are good and the expressions are great. I particularly like the one of the little boy by himself. That is a great example of good lighting, contrast, pose, and expression coming together to make a good picture. |
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06/24/2006 08:52:09 AM · #9 |
Looks like the time of day was really bad as most have overexposure issues. Should have tried to arrange it at a better time or find a nice shady area. Some of the shots have not flattering angles or bad crops that give them a little snapshotty feel. That would depend if she wanted casual or formal shots. The contrast and coloring also looks quite washed out for me. They're not awful shots, but if I was paying for them then I would likely expect some better quality. You may be able to fix some with PP.
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06/24/2006 10:41:12 AM · #10 |
I would reiterate what others have said, and suggest that the lighting conditions are the biggest problem. I'm not of the opinion that post-processing would help in this situation, particularly if you're not that familiar with it. Duotone with aggressive work on contrast might save some of the harshly lit ones, but the work could look forced.
Even non-pros, like your client, can pick up on classic "faults" in photos without knowing any of the technical specifics, like harsh mid-day lighting that creates unnattractive shadows, flat tonal range with little contrast, and blown background highlights. Pictures with elements like this just don't "feel" right, as opposed to correctly exposed, well-lit photos. |
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06/24/2006 11:22:13 AM · #11 |
The pics arent bad.. i think some are good and ill put comments on them.. general issue here of course is lighting../ shadow on faces...
a flash would solve the problem.. not always though.. but if she had some problems its becase the lighting i beleive that didnt gave a contrast to the photoes and harsh colors.. |
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06/24/2006 11:41:43 AM · #12 |
Left comments on them all.
It may seem like we're ganging up on you a bit but please don't take it that way. The big problem was the lighting. If you shoot on a bright day, find a nice location that provides some shade or postpone until another day.
One thing I noticed with the children is that you never bent your knees to try and get at their level. You shot looking down upon them. Try to get at their own level, it will really improve your shots.
Originally posted by Artyste:
A classic case of not being able to distance yourself from your photography. |
What Artyste said is very true. True not just for you, but for all of us. It's very hard to look at your own work with a critical eye and without any bias.
Take what we've all said with you and learn from it. Find a teenage girl that you can practice on. I can't think of many teenage girls that don't enjoy 'playing model' for a few hours. Prior to going on the shoot, consider the subject, get to know them a little, and decide what location would fit their personality. Consider their outfit too. Don't be afraid to zoom in close to get a more personal/intimate image.
Pay close attention to the background and little details. The dead grass ruined it for me in a few of your shots.
It's hard when you're starting out. There is SO much to remember. Write yourself notes and bring them with you.
Most of all...PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!
Message edited by author 2006-06-24 11:43:17.
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06/24/2006 12:02:08 PM · #13 |
| I realize that this may not be an option right now but if you're looking to move towards doing paid shoots, you might want to consider upgrading to a camera that has manual controls. It doesn't necessarily have to be a dslr, a number of p&s offer them as well but it would give you a bit more control that you might find helpful. |
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06/24/2006 12:26:57 PM · #14 |
None of the photos are horrible, but all of them need some sort of PS work.
Don't give up, but ya have to remember that the customer is usually right, even if the image is flawless.
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08/13/2006 10:01:42 AM · #15 |
Good photo memories in general but i would not want to pay for them. The lad on his own imo is the best shot.
However as mentioned above it only requires a little PP on them and they will be much better. The lighting for the shoot looks furious. |
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08/13/2006 10:04:40 AM · #16 |
Dude, that was almost two months ago. Why do people pull up these things?
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08/13/2006 10:08:27 AM · #17 |
Originally posted by wavelength:
Dude, that was almost two months ago. Why do people pull up these things? |
LOL, hey, I enjoyed the walk down memory lane :-)
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08/13/2006 10:40:11 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by wavelength:
Dude, that was almost two months ago. Why do people pull up these things? |
Maybe to make a comment
So what???
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08/13/2006 10:42:22 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by Tanny:
Originally posted by wavelength:
Dude, that was almost two months ago. Why do people pull up these things? |
Maybe to make a comment
So what??? |
Exactly what the forum's for. Don't worry about it.
Message edited by author 2006-08-13 10:47:52.
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08/13/2006 11:03:53 AM · #20 |
I dont think they are ghastly shots. The poses arn't that bad except for a couple of things like the kids running away instead of running towards you which imo would look better, the height of your shots make sure you are at their level. I myself would of taken the shots in the shade as it looks very sunny and has made the shots look over exposed.
Photo Shop would have been very useful here. The main thing here is to learn from your mistakes Good luck
Carl |
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08/13/2006 12:28:39 PM · #21 |
The main reason for responding to old threads is that new comments might help others that have the same questions. And since there is an unlimited number of newbies trying to learn, re-visiting old problems are the best way to learn and hopefully not have to go through them yourself.
Besides what everyone else has said, another big problem I see with these images is lens flare. The sunlight is hitting the lens causing a loss of contrast and sharpness. Most people think that lens flare is just round light spots on a picture, but when it slides across the front lens element, it can cause a loss of contrast... which is what you see in these images.
Mike
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08/13/2006 04:12:45 PM · #22 |
you might find this website VERY helpful.
outdoor portraiture
I've been doing outdoor portraits for a few months now- 3 paid sessions under my belt now. And I learn something new with each session. There is a member here who gave me some great advice and I used it on my last session which was very successful.
Shoot in the evening- not at sunset so much, but when the sun isn't so high overhead.
SHoot with the individual away from the sun- back to the sun.
I use a fill flash since I don't have an external flash yet. First session I didn't use any flash and I had a problem with shadows, and lighting big time- had to do some major editing to get the lighting and coloring right.
Use a tripod
Make sure horizons are level
But one big thing I always try to do is distance myself from those that I'm shooting. I use a 45-150mm lens and I've had people tell me that's too big of a lens for portraits, but really it's perfect becuase I get just enough of the bg yet awsome dof, and I can zoom in closer on the subject I'm photographing without cutting anything off or making it look like it's far away.
I read on a website it's best to not be right on top of your subject when shooting because a lot of people are not comfortable with someone shooting so close.
Anyhow, I think you have some good poses and have a way of capturing people, but need to work on lighting, color, and focus.
Like I said I'm not a pro but these are the things I've learned so far and have helped me. |
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08/13/2006 05:21:28 PM · #23 |
| The OP hasn't posted in 2 months to the forums, and this was the last one. I have a feeling this thread scared her away. |
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08/13/2006 05:23:53 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by Megatherian:
The OP hasn't posted in 2 months to the forums, and this was the last one. I have a feeling this thread scared her away. |
I was thinking the same thing. Last time I checked, none of our comments were marked helpful, either.
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08/13/2006 05:38:31 PM · #25 |
I didn't even notice that lol. Well I feel like a moron now lol.
AH well. |
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