High School Senior shoots

Swartzy

These kids are cousins and wanted to try different lighting with them. I still am working on "developing" a style with seniors as there are so many directions to go. Maybe in 5 years I'll figure it out...LOL.

#1



#2



#3



#4



#5



#6



#7



#8



#9



#10



Thanks for looking! :lust

anwmn1

#3, #6, and #9 really stand out for me. #3 is just awesome!!

Some of the others seem to have too harsh of shadows. I hope to be this good after another 5 years.

CoryJenks

Well done. Crisp and clear.

#3 is my fav of the group.

RustingInPeace

#3
#3 is the best of the lot. i also liked #8 & #9.

#1 Seemed flat to me. The light also seemed to pool on her shirt and not her face. I think if you moved to camera left a few feet, moved the light up about 1.5 feet, and used a larger aperture it would be better.

#4 is great except for the harsh shadow camera right. A second flash camera right for some fill and it would be great. Same for #10.

That's my humble opinion

Nikolai

David,
great series, I like the variety!

Couple of gotchas:
#1: her face is the darkets element in the whole picture. Watch for that white shirt losing details. I would try highlights priority mode here (and in any highkey scenario) if your camera supports it.

#5: watch for the softbox reflection on the guitar deck. SInce it's usually flat it's very easy to avoid - that is, of course, unless you were going for it.

And yeah, I hear you about looking for style...

Swartzy

Thanks guys. The harsh light is intentional. So often it seems we are always trying to minimize the shadows with even lighting (very easy to do). #2 was sidelit from a small softbox camera left, a strip box camera right set to 1:1 ratio. I used a bookend on camera right as the strip box was kind of back behind his shoulder and didn't want lens flare. For a young man I thought the shadow actually adds character to the facial features.

The outside on the bench shots: The camera was metered for him, then I upped the power of flash to create a bit of harsher look. Quite possibly this style isn't for everybody...here the intent was to create shadows.....something different.

I agree #1 seems a bit flat, more about the light on the blouse than the face. Always stretching out and your comments are invaluable. Thanks so much!

shatch

3 and 5 are my favorites. They seem to really capture her personality. Well done!

Tylwydd

#3 and #6 work the best for me. I like the attitudes of the kids in these ones, but the whole serie is great. Except maybe #1 which doesn't look as "deep" as the other shots.

South Shore Snapshots

Lovely photos. I've seen a lot of these threads recently.

Since we don't exactly do these in Canada here - at least we didn't when I was in senior year of high school - could you please give me some history and or explanation of just what senior shots are used for?

Thanks,

Rob

jeffreaux2

My opinion..... we know the value there...is that 3,5,6,and 9 are the choice photographs here. On #9, be careful of low shooting angles like that. It USUALLY isn't flattering shooting up under a chin and can widen hips., but you pulled it off here!

To pick on #1 some more....

She definately needed more light on her face....but maybe or maybe not less on her shirt. Also, shooting against walls can make for nice portraits, but doing it at an angle with a shallower DOF would look more dynamic. Lastly the pose. For viewers, crossed arms usually come off as defensive in nature whether we realize that is why we dislike the photo or not. Portrait taboos= crossed arms, hands stuffed in pockets, and bottoms of feet. Of course rules can always be bent or broken, but doing so may not be a sure thing.

I wondered if the light at the edges of #1 was natural or flash. Not that it matters really, but maybe moving her closer to the source to bring more of it onto her face would have helped. In your shoes, I would visit that wall again sometime as it looks to be a nice backdrop for portraits.

bon4ire

3,4 & 7 are my picks

Swartzy

jeffreaux2 wrote:

To pick on #1 some more....

She definately needed more light on her face....but maybe or maybe not less on her shirt. Also, shooting against walls can make for nice portraits, but doing it at an angle with a shallower DOF would look more dynamic. Lastly the pose. For viewers, crossed arms usually come off as defensive in nature whether we realize that is why we dislike the photo or not. Portrait taboos= crossed arms, hands stuffed in pockets, and bottoms of feet. Of course rules can always be bent or broken, but doing so may not be a sure thing.

I wondered if the light at the edges of #1 was natural or flash. Not that it matters really, but maybe moving her closer to the source to bring more of it onto her face would have helped. In your shoes, I would visit that wall again sometime as it looks to be a nice backdrop for portraits.

Good advice Jeff. Thanks for taking the time. Yes, I will revisit that wall and most likely will use the AB's there. Used an off camera flash bounced against drywall on camera right. Camera left was a reflector from window light. I could probably correct this in post as it was shot in low ISO. I've been playing around with angles with subjects and walls. I've noticed by your examples what you are saying and will implement that. Again, great advice and really appreciate your input. Thanks!

urbanaries

These are really nice, Dave. I like the lighting effect you were going for in the shots of the male. As for the lady, #7 is my absolute fave, she seems so relaxed and having fun, and I like the lighting you chose for this scene.

Wonderful set!

RustingInPeace

South Shore Snapshots wrote:

Lovely photos. I've seen a lot of these threads recently.

Since we don't exactly do these in Canada here - at least we didn't when I was in senior year of high school - could you please give me some history and or explanation of just what senior shots are used for?

Thanks,

Rob

Where I come from your senior year is the only time that you get use a picture of your choice for the year book, not what the school photographer set up.

Typically the prints go to family and friends and wallets typically go into your graduation announcement. Now I also include a some jpegs that the kids can use for their MySpace or FaceBook pages.

It has been evolving in complexity over the several years. When I was a senior my parents set up the shoot at a studio. We did like 30 minutes of pictures and were out the door. My parents then ordered 8x10 for all the grandparents and a bunch of wallets for the announcements. Some of my friends set up a location shoot. The photographer took a van load of kids to Silver Falls and took a few shots, and made a major up-charge for location.

Today the expectations I see are much higher. It's almost like doing a mini-wedding. Everyone expects a location shoot, and personal attention. No cattle call shots at the waterfall. Of course people are spending a lot more money too. My packages run from $500 to $900. I know one guy here that averages just under $1500 per session.

South Shore Snapshots

RustingInPeace wrote:

Where I come from your senior year is the only time that you get use a picture of your choice for the year book, not what the school photographer set up.

Typically the prints go to family and friends and wallets typically go into your graduation announcement. Now I also include a some jpegs that the kids can use for their MySpace or FaceBook pages.

It has been evolving in complexity over the several years. When I was a senior my parents set up the shoot at a studio. We did like 30 minutes of pictures and were out the door. My parents then ordered 8x10 for all the grandparents and a bunch of wallets for the announcements. Some of my friends set up a location shoot. The photographer took a van load of kids to Silver Falls and took a few shots, and made a major up-charge for location.

Today the expectations I see are much higher. It's almost like doing a mini-wedding. Everyone expects a location shoot, and personal attention. No cattle call shots at the waterfall. Of course people are spending a lot more money too. My packages run from $500 to $900. I know one guy here that averages just under $1500 per session.

WOW!

Thanks for clarifying this. Sounds like a *very* good gig if you can get it and pull it off. Here in Canada, at least when I was senior 20 years ago, we stuck to the gym snapshots you described above.

Nothing fancy.

Rob

picturegirl

I like 3/6/7/9, number 3 being my favorite!

Photosbychuck

Great Photos!

I like #3 & #4 the best.

Take Care,
Chuck,

snowalker

wow
awsome pictures.
I really likes all!
good job!

ttbest

Senior photos
Loved the pictures. Can you tell me what you shoot with? I have a portrait lens (cannon 1.8 50mm) and that's great for head and shoulders. However, I love the depth to senior pictures with walls and greenery and bridges etc. I don't think I can capture that with what I have.
-Tanya

Swartzy wrote:

These kids are cousins and wanted to try different lighting with them. I still am working on "developing" a style with seniors as there are so many directions to go. Maybe in 5 years I'll figure it out....

#1



#2



#3



#4



#5



#6



#7



#8



#9



#10



Thanks for looking!