My day with Shannon...

Trevlan

So I took the trip out to Point Pleasant yesterday. Met Shannon (Flutis on Dgrin), what a surprise she had for me. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the peanut!

But first, here are a few from Shannon's portrait session. She wanted some shots so she can use on her site to promote her flute services. Which one do you think she should use?

#1


#2


#3


Now, the peanut!!!! Making these XL so you can see the details better.

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5


#6


#7


#8


#9


Here are a few of the boy Max.

#1


#2


#3 YUM!!!

Flutist

Ya made us look better than real life....Gosh knows ya had to work hard to make me look good!! Didn't break out his wide angle lens, must have a widescreen monitor then right?:D

Trevlan

Flutist wrote:

Ya made us look better than real life....Gosh knows ya had to work hard to make me look good!! Didn't break out his wide angle lens, must have a widescreen monitor then right?:D

22 inches of pure... Wiat second. Hahahahaha.

Chrissiebeez_NL

Trevlan wrote:

Flutist

Chrissiebeez_NL wrote:

That is just her sitting in her car seat, with the light from my van door being opened. Good to be parked with the sun to your back!!!

divamum

Trev and Shannon -

Beautiful set. Trev, what's the "metallic" effect you're doing with catchlights in these last couple of batches? I really like it (although perhaps for kids it's a tiny bit "edgier" than goes with the subject for me - totally a matter of personal preference on that, but fwiw).

Shannon - I'm going to SMACK you... you're beautiful!! I think the shots of you are lovely. My only reservation for them as promo shots for you as a musician is that the background is competing for attention with you. On the one hand, it's a beautiful setting which (since I think your website is promoting you for weddings and events) might act as a nice subliminal nod towards the kinds of events you want to attract; on the other hand, it doesn't make me think "musician" as much as "gorgeous shot - oh, and there's a flute" . Of these I favour #3 for promo, but are there any others which have a slightly less dominant setting? Again, i think they're BEAUTIFUL and as shots qua shots they're great, I'm simply thinking of how they'll be used.

Looks like you two had a blast with this project - woohoo! :ivar

Trevlan

divamum wrote:

Trev and Shannon -

Beautiful set. Trev, what's the "metallic" effect you're doing with catchlights in these last couple of batches? I really like it (although perhaps for kids it's a tiny bit "edgier" than goes with the subject for me - totally a matter of personal preference on that, but fwiw).

Shannon - I'm going to SMACK you... you're beautiful!! I think the shots of you are lovely. My only reservation for them as promo shots for you as a musician is that the background is competing for attention with you. On the one hand, it's a beautiful setting which (since I think your website is promoting you for weddings and events) might act as a nice subliminal nod towards the kinds of events you want to attract; on the other hand, it doesn't make me think "musician" as much as "gorgeous shot - oh, and there's a flute" . Of these I favour #3 for promo, but are there any others which have a slightly less dominant setting? Again, i think they're BEAUTIFUL and as shots qua shots they're great, I'm simply thinking of how they'll be used.

Looks like you two had a blast with this project - woohoo! :ivar

Diva, thanks for the compliments. There is no metalic effect! Thast's how her eyes are, incredible right? Like I said before, all I do to the eyes are 10 brightness on the mid tones. That's it.

Trevlan

Chrissiebeez_NL wrote:

Thanks Chris. I was just along for the ride. Jilly was the star of the show. I'm just happy she smiled for me and turned to the camera.

Flutist

divamum wrote:

Shannon - I'm going to SMACK you... you're beautiful!! I think the shots of you are lovely. My only reservation for them as promo shots for you as a musician is that the background is competing for attention with you. On the one hand, it's a beautiful setting which (since I think your website is promoting you for weddings and events) might act as a nice subliminal nod towards the kinds of events you want to attract; on the other hand, it doesn't make me think "musician" as much as "gorgeous shot - oh, and there's a flute" . Of these I favour #3 for promo, but are there any others which have a slightly less dominant setting? Again, i think they're BEAUTIFUL and as shots qua shots they're great, I'm simply thinking of how they'll be used.

Looks like you two had a blast with this project - woohoo! :ivar

I actually chose the spot. For me, and I think Trev too, studio shots were not the image we were going for. I wanted something different that stood out from the rest, and I think we achieved it

and thank you...I really don't look that good, Trev is a master PS!!

divamum

Flutist wrote:

I actually chose the spot. For me, and I think Trev too, studio shots were not the image we were going for. I wanted something different that stood out from the rest, and I think we achieved it

Oh, I wasn't thinking "studio" as much as perhaps some with slightly shallower DOF or a more neutral background. Again, don't get me wrong, I think these are beautiful, and if they're what you wanted, then sounds like ya'll got it exactly right between you Big claps to both of you!

Jazmyn76

The pictures are FABULOUS! I *LOVE* how 'the peanut' has skin that looks like a doll- and with little Max too! Wonderful catchlights in all pics. For the promo pic, I'd choose 3 as well. It speaks 'professional' to me for some reason. I like it, and think that if I were in the market, that image would certainly get my attention. Heck, all three would honestly, but the closeup I think I just like better for a business site (is it just me, or are there chipped fingernails in the first two shots?).

You all look amazing, what a great session! WELL DONE Trev!

Kinkajou

Was there anything done to smooth the girl's skin in some shots? I love #6 because it looks real - the trueness of details and variations in the skin... some of the other shots looks as if they skin is too smooth to be real. Some may enjoy that, but it doesn't do it for me, personally.

A nice set, though! Was this for the Portrait Project?

Flutist

Jazmyn76 wrote:

The pictures are FABULOUS! I *LOVE* how 'the peanut' has skin that looks like a doll- and with little Max too! Wonderful catchlights in all pics. For the promo pic, I'd choose 3 as well. It speaks 'professional' to me for some reason. I like it, and think that if I were in the market, that image would certainly get my attention. Heck, all three would honestly, but the closeup I think I just like better for a business site (is it just me, or are there chipped fingernails in the first two shots?).

You all look amazing, what a great session! WELL DONE Trev!

Oh, yes jeez look at that, didn't even notice I had chipped nail polish (looking at my hand now...it's my ring finger the others look pretty good)...Gosh I just had them done a couple days ago too.....:cry what the heck did I pay for?

I think if the top 2 were cropped the same as the third some may have different answers....I think it's the crop that makes you think "professional", as most you see have a similar crop.

Trevlan

Kinkajou wrote:

Was there anything done to smooth the girl's skin in some shots? I love #6 because it looks real - the trueness of details and variations in the skin... some of the other shots looks as if they skin is too smooth to be real. Some may enjoy that, but it doesn't do it for me, personally.

A nice set, though! Was this for the Portrait Project?

The ones where the skin looks nice and smooth, that's mostly light. I do minimal skin tone corrections on the photos to give them even skin through out. It's my style and my clients like them. On 6, I did the same exact skin tone correction. It doesn't look 'overdone' because it was natural light I guess.

This was not for the portrait project. This was just two Dgrinners meeting and exchanging techniques and ideas. I made a great friend. I'm glad I took the trip.

Flutist

Trevlan wrote:

This was not for the portrait project. This was just two Dgrinners meeting and exchanging techniques and ideas. I made a great friend. I'm glad I took the trip.

Although that might be fun too.....

mpaulie

These are really nice Frank, your learning to use that flash well. I like #1 the best because of the composition. Let me know if there is ever another NY/NJ trip!

D'Buggs

Trevlan wrote:

But first, here are a few from Shannon's portrait session. She wanted some shots so she can use on her site to promote her flute services. Which one do you think she should use?

#1



I think,,,,,, this one!

Trevlan

mpaulie wrote:

These are really nice Frank, your learning to use that flash well. I like #1 the best because of the composition. Let me know if there is ever another NY/NJ trip!

Thanks Michael. If you are ever in the city, let me know and I'll go meet you somewhere.

Kinkajou

Trevlan wrote:

The ones where the skin looks nice and smooth, that's mostly light. I do minimal skin tone corrections on the photos to give them even skin through out. It's my style and my clients like them. On 6, I did the same exact skin tone correction. It doesn't look 'overdone' because it was natural light I guess.

Actually, now that you mention it, I did have something similar happen with natural light on a child's face once - maybe it's just the nature of pure, delicate child-skin that the rest of us have lost with age

sweet caroline

I think #1 for the website.

By the way, will you PM me if you have any advice about beginning flute, selecting an instrument, etc? My 12 year old has been wanting to start for years, and she's finally going to have a chance.

Caroline