First DigGrin Post! Family Shoot C&C WANTED!

asdesigns

Hey everyone! This is my first post with Digital Grin. I was just wanting opinions with a family portrait session that i recently shot. C&C is greatly appreciated! :bow
I have just started out in the digital photography realm, as I have mostly been into graphic design my entire life. I am hoping to get some critique out of my photo skills so I can improve and make a name for my self in the St. Louis area (if possible :P)

Thanks!

blaser321

Love pictures but maybe to much B/W with color use like
#1 bow only or eyes
2 is good
4 is my favorite
6 is to blown out
and the last one is cute
next time number them it makes it easer

afev0602

#1 the eyes are over processed and the selective coloring doesn't look real here...I think on some of the shots the selective coloring would work if you desaturated it by several steps....I'm betting shot 1 could stand on it's own in color, as it really is a sweet shot. Some would dink you on the fingers being cut off, but I personally don't care since her smile and eyes are so delightful.

3 had interesting processing but the family has their eyes almost shut, I'm guessing due to the bright sun..may want to consider shooting earlier in the day or later closer to evening since it's summer.

On the second family shot your whites are blown, but wow, look at that little girl---she is precious.

I love the cropping on your final shot, but there is something creepy happening with her eyes...The color version may not have that

Next time number your shots when you post them--I'm old and lazy.

jeffreaux2

WELCOME to Dgrin!!!:D

The selective coloring, in my opinion, appears gimmicky and cheapens photographs that are otherwise good.

Let them be about the subject, and not about the processing.

asdesigns

jeffreaux2 wrote:

WELCOME to Dgrin!!!:D

The selective coloring, in my opinion, appears gimmicky and cheapens photographs that are otherwise good.

Let them be about the subject, and not about the processing.

Thanks!!!!
I actually do multiple variations of each picture with different processing, to leave the creative decision up to my clients tastes. I agree though, that too much selective coloring, makes the images look childish.

Thank you everyone for your C&C...i really appreciate it!

ontherivet

I'll share the thoughts on the selective coloring, it really detracted from some great subjects. If you must do selective coloring it should highlight the subject of the photo and not serve solely as a post-processing gimmick. In the images where it's used the viewer is unfortunately drawn to the girls bow and the boy's shirt and away from the kids themselves.

pwp

I have to agree that the selective colouring is just not my cup of tea. I only use selective color when the client requests it specifically for a specific shot, usually brides with the bouquet, or maternity/newborn clients. I think the family will be pleased with these shots without the colouring. Even though it is a little hot, I think #2 is my favorite.

Richard

Welcome to Dgrin, Adam. . These are nice pics, but I agree with the others that the selective coloring is not adding anything. My impression is that most photographers don't care for it, though many of their clients do. Go figure. If you are going to use it, though, you should consider very carefully what you are trying to accomplish artistically. It is so easy to do in PS that it tends to be abused, IMO.

asdesigns

Richard wrote:

Welcome to Dgrin, Adam. . These are nice pics, but I agree with the others that the selective coloring is not adding anything. My impression is that most photographers don't care for it, though many of their clients do. Go figure. If you are going to use it, though, you should consider very carefully what you are trying to accomplish artistically. It is so easy to do in PS that it tends to be abused, IMO.

Thank you all for your feedback on selective coloring. I usually give my clients options of black and white/color/and selective color for their photos. This particular family has this going in a teal room (dont ask me who paints walls teal) but ya, so i did alot of teal coloring.

Anyways thanks for the feedback.

~AS

Photosbychuck

My fav is #3

I had two red X's so guess two photos had load problems.

Welcome to dgrin!

ian408

First of all welcome!

Nice first post. I like the composition and the overall feel of your work. Smiles make it clear you connected with your clients.

As others have suggested, the selective color isn't really working here. Perhaps it's because the color is a light blue? Selective color is hard to get right. Picking the right color and the right item to selectively color is a real challenge.

rhondavid

Have to agree with the others on selective coloring. I will compliment you on the photographs themselves, particularly the little girl. You did a good job of capturing the personality of the children. Looks like the little was perfectly at ease with you and it showed through in the photographs. She is adorable and you captured that very well. Little guy too but is is not as candid as she is so really hard to compare the too. Group shots really did little for me.