My first picture post on DGrin. Comments/Critique welcome!

Jamesbjenkins · December 18, 2011

Hey all, I've been on DGrin for a while, but I haven't posted any of my work for critique and commentary. To give you a little background: I'm a semi-pro photog with pro glass (24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 VR1) and an amateur body (D90). This session my images are from is my first session using my new Sekonic 358 meter. My lighting setup is two AlienBees B800s: one with a soft silver 64" PLM and the other with a standard bounced 48" umbrella. I use Cybersync wireless triggers and receivers.

I'm posting these images for the betterment of the community, and to get feedback on every aspect of the shot (composition, lighting, post, etc.) Thanks in advance.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6. This one is designed to be used for a Christmas card, or something similar.

7.

8.

I was pleased with how many of these turned out. However, I'm always looking to improve, so I'd appreciate any comments or criticism. Thanks! :thumb

Hackbone · December 18, 2011

Your first three shots seem flashy. The exposure on you background is great but you subjects seem hot and there is little direction of light. You processing in 4 & 5 is njce. In 6 & 7 your cropping is very flattering but not so much in the others. With large subjects get them to lean in to each other to hide the weight and to look up at you with a higher than normal camera angle to lessen double chins. Hope that sparks a few ideas.

Cowboydoug · December 18, 2011

Do you want it candy coated or the truth?

Mike J · December 18, 2011

First off, thanks for taking the next step and posting here on Dgrin. The colors are great and they look comfortable with you but my first impression was that the poses were not flattering them. Don't know if you have taken a look at Heather's recent posting (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=211745) but I sure learned a lot by looking at what she did.

Jamesbjenkins · December 18, 2011

Cowboydoug wrote: »

Do you want it candy coated or the truth?

If I wanted it candy coated, I'd have asked my mother for her opinion. However, "your shots suck, man" doesn't help anyone.

divamum · December 18, 2011

3 & 6 are the best of this set to my eye.

Light is ok, backgrounds and comp are mostly fine (although I'd lose the light and cables in 6); the main problem for me is the square-to-camera poses. These are seldom flattering to anybody, but to those with less-than-perfect physique's it really emphasises the flaws by making the body appear even wider. With this couple, I'd have angled them a lot more to make the poses more flattering and, as you did in 6, positioned them so they masked each other a bit.

Qarik · December 19, 2011

overall I think you did good. I am with charles here..I think the 1st 3 are a touch overexposed with flash and could you a little more ratio. The color, focus and comps, are pretty good though. Lot sof good energy and emotion are captured as well. The 1st shot cropping at the bottom bugs me a touch..shoulda kept the hands. The last shot..avoid mottled light if you can...not so bad in this shot though.

Cowboydoug · December 19, 2011

Jamesbjenkins wrote: »

If I wanted it candy coated, I'd have asked my mother for her opinion. However, "your shots suck, man" doesn't help anyone.

Jamesbjenkins wrote: »

If I wanted it candy coated, I'd have asked my mother for her opinion. However, "your shots suck, man" doesn't help anyone.

Haha... Nah, I wouldn't say that... but, to many times I read "Oh they are excellent, wonderful, ect." when really they aren't. Of course this doesn't help the photographer at all when they are truly wanting to improve their work... right? So I will be gentle but I won't blow smoke up your skirt and I certainly won't say they suck:) <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/mwink.gif" border="0" alt="" >
Having said that... Hi howdy... welcome... Let's get started. I think your portraits are charming, very friendly and you seem very capable of making these clients relaxed. But... I want you to do something... Take whatever lighting equipment you used for this shoot and put it away somewhere,,, never to be found or used again for shooting outdoor portraits... No really... I'm serious...<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/thumb.gif" border="0" alt="" > forget you own it!
 Your 1st image... I have to say I really wasn't certain if this was a green screen or outdoors? What a gorgeous setting but the lights beat the tar out of your subjects...OUCH! Take the subjects from #6 and put them in #1... and you'll see what I mean. Ah... nice... right?

Your 6th image is really quite nice despite a couple flaws already mentioned. I see why your clients chose this image as it stands out from the others for several reasons. But it begs the question... Why do you think your clients liked it?

What I like about this image over the others is the lighting... (though very modest) I encourage you to look for lighting situations similar to the one here. The subjects were under something that blocked harsh light from coming down on them but that let light come into their faces... It doesn't appear to have had any flash... <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/wings.gif" border="0" alt="" > I hate flash on outdoor portraits... I prefer and recommend reflectors... whiteboards anything but flash. One thing I like to do with my portraits is to have some side light modeling... Portraits need modeling... As a pro photographer, it is our lighting that sets us apart from amateurs... wouldn't you agree? LQQK for the light... the soft, subtle light... the magic kiss...
I notice the "kiss" of light on the guys shoulder and like the separation it provides to the background... I also like the kiss of light on his big bald beaner for the same reason.<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/mwink.gif" border="0" alt="" >
Next I like #4 ... and your #7 is just stink'n cute... You captured a sweet moment... and it could have been a really awesome image but for the flat lighting that sucks the very life right out of it... I guess what I am saying is... Light is life in portraits... Try taking portraits during the "Golden Hour" if possible... I think you will love what you see/create.
 One last thing... then I'll let you go... ok... 2 things... Clothing... she could have used a sweater/barn-coat...something... just to help flatter her... I always consult with all my clients regarding their clothes... They seem to really appreciate it... When possible we lay out their clothes or if I am lucky we send them shopping...
 Last but not least... Never-ever-never-never allow your subjects to grapple their fingers together like they have in #6 again... Snikies... <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/eek7.gif" border="0" alt="" > You could have gotten away with his left hand and her left hand, with his right pulled back to rest on her shoulder but the way it is... well... it looks like snakes mating...lol:D Hands are so important... think natural... I let people do what they will... then I casually refine if needed...
 Well... that's it... Thanks for sharing your images... I look forward to seeing more and hope you keep posting.

 the author of this post apologizes for typos, poor grammar and all the ...'s <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/wings.gif" border="0" alt="" >
 Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays & Happy New Year... and to all a goodnight

Jamesbjenkins · December 19, 2011

divamum wrote: »

3 & 6 are the best of this set to my eye.

Light is ok, backgrounds and comp are mostly fine (although I'd lose the light and cables in 6); the main problem for me is the square-to-camera poses. These are seldom flattering to anybody, but to those with less-than-perfect physique's it really emphasises the flaws by making the body appear even wider. With this couple, I'd have angled them a lot more to make the poses more flattering and, as you did in 6, positioned them so they masked each other a bit.

Thanks for the input. The point about the light and cables is definitely taken! I don't know how I missed that, but I will try to really focus on the little details like that that can easily get missed.

I'm going to study more about posing. I'm a complete green thumb when it comes to working with overweight subjects...