Ladies church group portraits.
My nieces Wednesday night ladies church group had an activity night and they wanted me to come and photograph them. Sounded like fun and it was.
This is the first time I have shot any indoor portraits so it was a learning experience for me. We hung some fabrid my niece bought at the fabric store and just went for it. I used a small softbox and sb800 for the light.
I think I had the ladies to close to the background on some of these.
Feel free to provide constructive criticism, as I said this is the first time I have tried indoor portraits so I probably didn't get it quite right.
And what would a ladies church group set be without a baby in a bucket shot??
This is the first time I have shot any indoor portraits so it was a learning experience for me. We hung some fabrid my niece bought at the fabric store and just went for it. I used a small softbox and sb800 for the light.
I think I had the ladies to close to the background on some of these.
Feel free to provide constructive criticism, as I said this is the first time I have tried indoor portraits so I probably didn't get it quite right.
And what would a ladies church group set be without a baby in a bucket shot??
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21695902@N06/
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alloutdoor.smugmug.com
http://aoboudoirboise.smugmug.com/
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Comments
dak.smugmug.com
There is something about the make-up that distracts from the pictures, for me. It makes their skintones look "painted". It distracts from natural beauty. Maybe it is a cultural thing. American ladies tend to wear a lot of makeup, Europeens less so. As someone who is more used to seeing a lady in her more "natural state", the make-up is very obvious.
That being said, I really like the 1st picture. I like the baby too, but it unfortunately looks like it is wearing make-up!
You done real good. I love #1. The eyes though have red in the pupil (4 of the shots). These up close portraits need a bit of eye help...make them crystal clear, beautiful, popping!. Other than that, they are lovely. Nice job.
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I think what was there was mostly the small catchlight from the on camera flash which I did a very poor job of cloning out. Anyway I cleaned them up and here are reposted below. There was same small red eye in a couple of them that I could see at 200% thanks for pointing that out.
As to the processing. My clients and folks I shoot for Love this look. If they wanted reality they would shoot their own pictures complete with all their blemishes and skin flaws and bad skin tone. They want to look as good as possible.
I don't dispute the photos are processed to make the ladies look their best and I am ok with that. I do understand the viewpoint of the folks that prefer to leave photos of people just how they are, that just isn't what I do. If people want that look they don't hire me.
Reposts, the eyes should be ok now. Thanks for pointing out the problem.
I do appreciate all the constructive criticisms.
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But for your first ever indoor portraits, they're exceptional. Congrats.
Jim
I don't want the cheese, I just want to get out of the trap.
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How in the world was that accomplished?
O mother river, Mississippi sing me your song.
as a southern baptist youth pastor's daughter... no, it isn't too sexy... it's probably close... but it'd be acceptable, she's modestly dressed, so she's ok lol
It's trying to have the 'come hither' eyes coupled w/ the pose.
I could care less, but that shot is provocative all day.
I know it's a matter of taste, but I do agree w/ the others about the skin being over processed. This looks more like glamor shots than portraits.
Dak,
Good grab on the red eye. I don't even look for red eye anymore due to how I light things. Nice to be reminded that red eye can occur even when lighting is off camera.
-Jon
How are you making them look their "best" when your making them look nothing like them selves?
make them look better? What's wrong with who they are? Why does everyone want to be something/someone they arn't?
They are good portraits and the effect works if thats what you are going for. I just find it odd how you explained what you did.
#1 looks like she is going to pop out of her shirt. Good looking girl though.
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If the clients are happy with the final pictures, it doesn't matter what we think. I don't like heavily processed pictures either, but in the end, it's what the customer/client wants that matters.
Great pictures.
Oh I agree whole heartedly. But in these images your not making your clients look "their" best. Your changing their looks.
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I agree. I think is one of the big reasons that European women are so attractive. There is also the same phenomenon in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. (the states of Oregon and Washington). Women there tend to be more natural, and beautiful, too.
Here is a link of an example of what some people are doing out there today.
Just look in any magazine.
http://www.glennferon.com/portfolio1/index.html
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alloutdoor.smugmug.com
http://aoboudoirboise.smugmug.com/
Wow! I am surprised at how much the images are manipulated. Not just adjust contrast and brightness, but we are talking boob jobs, tummy tucks, and digital lipsuction!
I find it sad that natural beauty is lost, and hidden. Why all this trends for more make-up, more bigger boobs, flatter this, thinnner that?
I guess this is why I haver felt drawn to glamour photography. It is not real. I tend to prefer the more candid style of photography.
Sorry, I am highjacking this thread now Zoomer. Not my intention, but I just wanted to say, that some people still prefer "au natural", than "fake". I just wish I had the talent to capture it though. I would very much love to see if you could photograph the 1st girl, in a more natural setting / state. She is beautiful, and I am sure the pics will turn out superb.
I don't like it, either, however, the folks they are attracting with these images can be just as fake, so I don't know that it matters much...
Very nice lighting and poses, though...
Cheers,
Mike
I am biased a bit toward short lighting, and I like most of what you've done with these ladies. The one who could have (IMO) benefited most from short lighting though, was the younger looking girl with the flowered thingy in her hair. With her round, slightly chubby face, she was not flattered by the broad lighting. I don't do much portrait work, so can't claim any expertise, but I know what I like.
Overall I really like these shots. I think the pp went a little bit overboard, but that's just a matter of degree. When I DO shoot portraits, young women especially, my guiding principle in skin smoothing is to try to make the subject look the way she might have looked on the mythical best day of her life, when every single "piece" of her was at it's most beautiful and perfect. Maybe today the skin on her cheeks is a bit dry and scaley - but once is was perfect. Maybe today her eyes are a bit bloodshot - but once they were perfect. Maybe she drinks too much coffee, so her teeth have gone a bit yellow - but they COULD be whitened.
Before we had photography, any portrait was painted or sculpted. Most of the time, those artists did their best to portray their subjects in the way that best brought out the essential attractiveness, power, piety, or whatever, of the subject. A literal technical rendering of the physical likeness of the subject not the idea.
And whoever said "church ladies" have to be asexual beings?
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
Alaska is about being more natural too... we rarely wear make up and if we do it's not made up
of course if you're TRANSPLANTED here... you stand out because chances are they cake it on (compared to most of us)
I hate the stuff myself lol
Fantastic shots, especially the first one.
You say that like its a bad thing:D
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
i'm sorry, i dont know what you americans put in your cereals but if she is 12, you should really reconsider if you can put people in jail for taking jail bait. from my view, she looks more like 21 then 12
I think you did an excellent job on these portraits
I do have a hard time understanding how this was your "first" attempt, given how well the lighting is setup and subjects posed. If so, man, your a natural talent and I await more of your pics.
On the post processing:
I understand everyone's likes are different to a degree, but I like your PP work. I spent a fair amount of money going 6 states over from mine to work with a fantastic portrait photographer, to learn from him. A large part of his "magic" is in PP.
His thoughts are "They see "real" everyday in the mirror, that's not what they want to see in their portraits" While some/many may disagree, I do not.
I am a bit perplexed about all the folks who think that a picture should not be processed past some magical line in the sand. But, dare I say that not one of them will post a pic here without post processing it.
Hmmm...
A curves layer to give the picture more POP!
Some USM!
Vignette anyone?
How about Black & White? --- Who see's in Black & White in reality?
Why is it OK to whiten teeth, but not smooth skin?
Wow, how'd I get up on that soapbox?
Anyway, I like your pics...
I think it is mostly a matter of differing tastes and opinions......and we obviously have a variety of those in the forum. Many of my clients lean heavily on the side of wanting BW or other forms of monotones. Others are buyers of strictly color. Guess there is a lid for every pot?
Jeff
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