my 1st e session

VayCayMom

I offered this as a freebie to a family friend, for the experience and hopefully for referrals down the road.
1.

2.

3.

3.

4.

5. what they are using for the engagement announcement..

tenoverthenose

Great work Trudy! I wish my first e-session looked this good! I really like how you managed to work the ring into #1, good thinking. #3 looks washed out because of the backlight, especially compared to the contrast of #2. Try and apply the processing of #2 to #3, you might like the results. Watch out for hotspots in the background, like the post in #4, they steal the viewers eyes. My least favorite is #5, more for the processing than anything else - but it will probably print up nicely in a newspaper that way.

Keep up the good work!

Qarik

Vaycay,

This is decent stuff..but I am going to say it..not your best. I like 1 and 3 (btw you have 2 3's). I feel you you need more variety in the set you presented..your show mostly tight close shots. The last one..did you whiten the eyes and teeth? Looks overdone

Shima

Have to agree with the other two, the last one looks a bit overdone. I like 3 the best in this set.

Wachel

I like them. I am going to agree with the last one being over processed. It is easy to go overboard with the eyes and teeth. Good work overall!

chris5olson

I agree with the pp's but i really like #4!

VayCayMom

Thanks everyone !
HOT spots are ALWAYS a problem for me. I lost my light meter a few months ago that makes it even worse, I miss it !
Yes the last one is very over PP. I presented that photo 10 different ways and this is what they selected, it will be printed as a photo postcard. I must admit I have new software I wanted to play with , I over did it.

One reason the last one was chosen by the bride and her mom, is that there is a big difference in the skin tones of the bride to be and the groom, and uh.. mom doesn't like it.. and that is all I am going to say.

I am just now trying to work with the sun backlighting. I don't have the hang of it yet.

Thanks all for keeping me on track.. I do tend to try trendy stuff a bit too much and it really is not my best work.
Oh and one reason I went with more close ups was due to the bride's request, she is not secure in her appearance and even asked for a lot of touch ups on double chins etc.

Looks like I need to do a few more freebies before I do a paid shoot. This C&C will be helpful for my next shoot.

tenoverthenose

VayCayMom wrote: »

Thanks everyone !
HOT spots are ALWAYS a problem for me. I lost my light meter a few months ago that makes it even worse, I miss it !

If you want, I have a light meter I can sell you. I say that because I haven't used it in about three years because you just don't need a light meter. Use your cameras LCD + histogram. When you take a photo you can easily review it quickly to see if you have blown anything out in the frame. As you spend more and more time with your camera and learn what can/does come out of you will really understand the relationship between the LCD and actual file output.

Also, there is more information in your files from middle grey to black than there is from middle grey to white. So it is better to underexpose (so as to not clip the highlights) and then push the file in post (obviously within reason).