Ally calendar shoot...

zoomer

I did Ally's wedding last year and she wanted to do a calendar for her husband. We shot 12 different outfits..it was a lot of fun.

I don't do any studio work so we decided to try shooting it at her house. 99 percent of my work is done outside.
We were in a a small room so we squeezed her in between a couch and loveseat and did the best we could. I had to clone out the furniture....you can imagine.

Anyway not much for creative lighting, the lights had to go where they would fit. 36" softbox and 24" softbox Alien B800 and an sb800 controlled from the on camera flash..Nikon CLS system. Same setup I use outside.

I can't decide which I like better for the calendar, black and white or color.
What do you all think?

I wasn't sure if these needed to go over here cause they are borderline for the main forum.

angevin1

I think you did a jam-up job!

Why not some of both...it is a calender: Different seasons, moods: symbology abounds!

Her Husband is going to be so happy with these, I'll bet!

cheers, tom

DI-Joe

I think the fact that she's inversely half-dressed is sort of distracting. Usually if you're going to have a lady wear only one piece, it's the bottom piece.

I'd conjure have her either wear both pieces(top and bottom) or lose them all together.

For the space you had, you did well though. Good work.

Nikolai

While I'm mostly in compliance what guys have already said, I'll just break down my thoughts:

• Good pose on #1
• For #2 to work she'd have to tilt her head way back
• I agree, being bottomless and not topless creates a strange impression. There is a *very* little effort needed on model's behalf to cover the nipples, so why keep the top at all if she already lost the bottom?
• I might be greavely mistaken, but #1 looks like a cut-and-paste job. Maybe it's just lighting, though...

zoomer

Thanks Angevin1,
Good idea, a mix should work fine.

angevin1 wrote:

I think you did a jam-up job!

Why not some of both...it is a calender: Different seasons, moods: symbology abounds!

Her Husband is going to be so happy with these, I'll bet!

cheers, tom

zoomer

Thanks DI-Joe,
Despite the photos Ally is really pretty modest, she was wearing a g-string which I told her I could clone out. I agree wearing the bottoms and then some sort of coverup with the arms would have been cool, but then I like this pose... I see your point.

DI-Joe wrote:

I think the fact that she's inversely half-dressed is sort of distracting. Usually if you're going to have a lady wear only one piece, it's the bottom piece.

I'd conjure have her either wear both pieces(top and bottom) or lose them all together.

For the space you had, you did well though. Good work.

zoomer

Thanks Nikolai,
I know what you mean on 2. That more arched pose is what we were trying to get to but she just couldn't quite seem to get there. I am happy with the way this one came out however.

Nope not a cut and poste, the background was neutral gray then I changed the color and darkened it a bit. I darkened her body down a bit also but if it looks cut and pasted to you maybe I should have darkened her more or lightened the background a bit????

Nikolai wrote:

While I'm mostly in compliance what guys have already said, I'll just break down my thoughts:

• Good pose on #1
• For #2 to work she'd have to tilt her head way back
• I agree, being bottomless and not topless creates a strange impression. There is a *very* little effort needed on model's behalf to cover the nipples, so why keep the top at all if she already lost the bottom?
• I might be greavely mistaken, but #1 looks like a cut-and-paste job. Maybe it's just lighting, though...

Dave Clee

Overall I think these are pretty good attempts..But I think the skin could be softened a tad in both of them, to give it a more of a glow quality. To me the skin comes across a bit on the "harsh" side.

IMO the 2nd pose is the better of the 2.

Cheers

Dave

angevin1

Nikolai wrote:

While I'm mostly in compliance what guys have already said, I'll just break down my thoughts:

• I agree, being bottomless and not topless creates a strange impression. There is a *very* little effort needed on model's behalf to cover the nipples, so why keep the top at all if she already lost the bottom.

If you stop and re look/rethink about this I think you'll surmise why she chose the bottom over the top to lose. So many, many, things influence a gals decision on this topic. Actually for me, I like the difference it brings...with/ without...all a nice mix~

cheers, tom

ps: thanks for sharing these with us~

Wineman

I actually like it just the way it is, not having the bottom makes it very sexy and all is left to the imagination.

Z.

Tentacion

I like the direct intense look of 1, but might I suggest a different bra....that one makes her appear very flat and it is very distracting to the eye...just my humble opinion,

ADMIT Photography

very nice image for such a small space. I would be interested in seeing what else you were able to come up with. I do agree about the bra she is wearing make her look very flat but still great lighting and I like the pose as well.