Senior Portraits - C&C welcome

jmphotocraft

I don't do this much, mostly I shoot sports, but I like to do portraits as a challenge on the side. This was my 6th senior in 3 years, and my first of this year. This is Sarah and she was very happy with the results. She wanted a beach/ocean setting and could only meet in the late afternoon which made the light a bit tough, but I think I handled it okay. Your thoughts are welcome.

1. one of her favorites


2. another of her favorites. I know, chest facing the camera is a no-no, but she was turning as I took this and we liked how it came out.


3.


4. let's try that again in a shadow...

(I will deal with the hair later)

5.


6.


7. I like this one, maybe not for "the" portrait, but I hope she uses it for something.


8. wanted to try this driftwood, but it was in a very heavy shadow. Gelled the flash to balance it, but the color is still a little funky. I like the pose though.


Thanks for looking, and thanks to jeffreaux2 and WingsOfLove for some inspiration. I've got a ways to go to catch up to them, but I hope to get there soon.

blaser321

Love 1,2 and 7 good light and pose

CyberSteak

I think number 7 would look better with the subject turned towards the center of the photo. There's too much behind her for no apparent reason. I can see that that's where the sun was (on your left). Maybe crop it?

jmphotocraft

blaser321 wrote:

Love 1,2 and 7 good light and pose

Thanks, those are my favorites too. I just realized 3 is the trucker mudflap girl pose!! Doh!

jmphotocraft

CyberSteak wrote:

I think number 7 would look better with the subject turned towards the center of the photo.

But then her body would be more shaded.....?

There's too much behind her for no apparent reason.

I was going for the rule of thirds there, while keeping her into the light. Sometimes I like subjects facing out of the frame, rather than into it. The background of this pic is where she grew up (coast of Maine) so I like that her body is facing away from it, towards the light and towards her future, if I may be so melodramatic for a moment!

Maybe crop it?

That is possible, and she can do that if she wants. These were taken with my new 5DII... with 21mp there is acres of room for cropping!!

CyberSteak

jmphotocraft wrote:

But then her body would be more shaded.....?



I was going for the rule of thirds there, while keeping her into the light. Sometimes I like subjects facing out of the frame, rather than into it. The background of this pic is where she grew up (coast of Maine) so I like that her body is facing away from it, towards the light and towards her future, if I may be so melodramatic for a moment!



That is possible, and she can do that if she wants. These were taken with my new 5DII... with 21mp there is acres of room for cropping!!

Ok well now with the story...it makes sense.

sweet caroline

I'm loving the light in these. #2 isn't quite square to the camera, so I think it looks fine. I like the breeze in her hair and the soft light in her face.

Caroline

Jacobovs

I have to agree with 1,2 , 7 & 8
I know the chest to the camera is sometimes a no no but it works well here. As for 7, I usually don't like this type of shot but this one has a certain appeal.

Number 8 is my fav, if it were cropped a little tighter. I actually like the color. It adds a touch of drama to the picture.

jmphotocraft

Thanks all.