Untouched Senior Portraits

Lissa79

Here are some senior portraits I did a few weeks ago. All photos are completely untouched. CC not only welcome, but needed!
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The b/w weren't converted using my PC, I set my camera to the b/w setting. Would any of you be pleased with these? Hope you enjoy, and like I said, I NEED all the CC I can get. I'm new to photography, but it is my passion, and I have SOOOOO much more to learn!

Icebear

Welcome to the asylum
Lissa, I'm not the best critic of "People" shots. I'm primarily an architectural photographer. BUT I know what I find appealing. Only two of your shots evoke any emotion in me, and those are 5 & 6. That's 'cause they're the only ones in which your subject isn't looking dead at the camera. Maybe that direct look really exemplifies her personality, but I think they look a bit like mug shots. The two I mentioned are really nice though. Just my $.02.

Lissa79

Icebear wrote:

Lissa, I'm not the best critic of "People" shots. I'm primarily an architectural photographer. BUT I know what I find appealing. Only two of your shots evoke any emotion in me, and those are 5 & 6. That's 'cause they're the only ones in which your subject isn't looking dead at the camera. Maybe that direct look really exemplifies her personality, but I think they look a bit like mug shots. The two I mentioned are really nice though. Just my $.02.

Thank you very much for your 2 cents, and opinion! She was really hard to get to smile because she hates her teeth. The 2 that you mentioned that you liked, I actually got offguard! She was about to fall in both of them, and I just started snapping. But they did turn out to be 2 of the better photos.

joshhuntnm

I am reading a book on posing. The author's perspective is to very rarely use a straight on, square to the camera poss, as you have here in a few. About 45 degrees to the camera is the go-to pose

Scott_Quier

1. Square to the camera, poor posture, no expression. Smiles not required, but she looks like she's just "putting up with it" to keep someone else happy. Very flat light.
2. This is better, better angle to the camera, better attitude. Might think about cropping from the top and just a bit from the left as she's a little centered in the shot. Words on clothing for senior shots - not usually successful.
3. Centered. Frown? Expression does not match the words on her shirt. Bench at her knee is not adding to the shot.
4. The pose is good. Turn her face to her left and move the camera to her left to catch the her boddy more in profile for a much better composition. Appears camera focused on the wall as her face is quite soft. She's centered in the frame - boring. Might want to think about cropping some from the bottom.
5. Finally, some life! The cut off foot is distracting. I think a different crop would improve the photo.
6. She and the post are pretty centered. Exposure seems to be about 1 stop dark. Some fill flash for her eyes is REQUIRED here.
7. Use of fill flash to balance the sky - good idea. But, flash illuminated the shirt more than anything else. Suggest some off-camera flash?
8. Frown? Centered.
9. Centered, dark, dark eyes.
10. See comments on #7

This is going to sound very harsh (sorry about that) - were I in your shoes, I would strongly consider a second shooting session. Getting a book on posing might be something to also consider.

Swartzy

I will second Scott's post. The last shot, even though the attempt is to be a bit different in angle and composition is not going to complement your subject....not a female and not a female in a white t-shirt.

Your job is to complement your model....to make them look GOOD. It's not about taking some shots. Look through the viewfinder and move around and see what grabs you.

Flat light with square body positions generally ends in poor results. Find backgrounds that "go with" your subject. There are telephone poles, wires, aluminum siding next to folaige, bird doo on the edging of the playground area......look for those details...get rid of them. If you don't catch it at the time of the shoot, then learn how to remove distractions in post processing.

Also, change up the DOF as everything in focus leads the veiwer to look at everything. Your subject is the one we want to view, not distracting elements.