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tigerland

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This is my second try at portraits, I could use some more tips. I have already recieved some great info, I am looking for some more. Thanks.

 
Nice portrait.
Looks like you have some blown highlights.
The natural foreground doesn't match the un-natural background.

Rick
 
Thanks for the reply. I am working very hard to figure out how to post process studio shots. The original photos are not blown out at all. I can't figure out a way to get a good finished product without coming close to blowing out the highlights.
 
tigerland said:
Thanks for the reply. I am working very hard to figure out how to
post process studio shots. The original photos are not blown out at
all. I can't figure out a way to get a good finished product
without coming close to blowing out the highlights.
Click to expand...
Tigerland,

Are you shooting in RAW? If you are, use a development program like Silkypix, and you can prevent blown out highlights. However, if you are using a flash meter you should be able to prevent this in the camera by setting you lights correctly.

Chuck Gardner has some good tutorials on using a flash meter to set up your lighting. I don't have the link handy, but you can do a search here on his name.
--
http://www.blackcanyonsystems.com/Models/index.html

http://www.blackcanyonsystems.com/Photography/index.html



--
Lawrence
 
Thank you for your reply lawrence. I found Chuck Gardners site, those are some great tutorials. I think I figured out what is going on. I know I am not blowing out the highlights when I shoot the portrait, it becomes blown out after I try to pull the shadows up to the brightness that I want. The solution to this is to close the ratio gap. One of the other problems I am having is I shoot portraits on the ground and I can only get my strobes to go so low. I think this is why I am not getting enough light into the eye area. Does this make sense to you. or am I still not understanding this. Again, I appreciate your help.

Thanks
 
Well, this is just one person's opinion, but I think that I'd like this more if there was less background, coat, and leaves. I think that all of those things take up too much space in the photo, as compared to the lovely face. As for the lighting, I think I'd like to see her hair lit some, and finally, and again this is purely personal taste, I find that the gradation of light (dark at the top, and lighter as we go down) draws me to the leaves, rather than her face.

What effect were you after? Is she an "outdoors" person, or are you at least after a "fall portrait"? I can't quite figure out the setting, since the background indicates that it's not "outside", and yet she's surrounded by leaves. On the other hand, the leaves look like they are on a table, which is not a location I'd expect to find them. I guess this is my awkward way of suggesting that the photo "confuses" me, and this, too, distracts me from thinking about her face.

--
Forrest Milder
http://forrestmilder.com
 
lighting is decent, but everything else breaks down from there. Jacket is WAY TOO BIG to have her laying down. Look at the hump behind her shoulders. Big WIDE OPEN sleeves. Uggg

Red gel in the b/g, yellow leaves up front? Makes no sense. Does it look good to you? For an image to look good, it takes more than a nice "ratio" of lighting.

--
Regards, Phillip @ Keepsake,

I've never carried bags for anyone, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night ;)
 
Hey guys

Thanks for the advice. The only thing is, I have never done any people portraits in a studio setting before, this was the first time as I just got my strobes less than a week ago. I had actually just finished shooting a dog portrait and then my wife walked in the door. Since I hadn't had a chance to shoot any people portraits yet and I was very anxious to do so, I asked her to lay down on the leaves for a few minutes. I am just trying to learn how to light and post process portraits first and then take it from there. I guess I should have been more specific about what I was asking instead of asking for a cc on a portrait. Either way though I appreciate your comments.

Thanks
 
well then that explains alot as to why it looks like it does..

Thanks

--
Regards, Phillip @ Keepsake,

I've never carried bags for anyone, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night ;)
 
hey Pfiltz

I didn't mean to come off the wrong way at all. I greatly admire your work and I really want your advice. I am just a beginner when it comes to studio work and I need advice on lighting and the basics, I am trying to learn from the ground up. Again I didn't mean to come off the wrong way and I really do appreciate your advice.

Thanks
 
I understand what was really behind the shot, and how it came about, which is why I usually don't comment on work here, unless it's very clearly described what they were wanting to achieve. ;)

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Regards, Phillip @ Keepsake,

I've never carried bags for anyone, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night ;)
 
I was wondering if you could answer a question for me regarding your workflow PDF. On # 5 it says to "Create mask, and brush in facial areas especially eyes with brush set to 50% opacity or so". Do I go to layers> layer mask> reveal all. Or am I in the wrong area. Like I said, I am a real beginner when it comes to this stuff. I normally shoot things that only require basic saturation, levels, and contrast type settings.

Thanks
 
Good try, if you crop it real tight it should help. I also think the skin is a bit too red, adjust your color temp to be more pink/yellow.

Mark
 
Your model has a twin here in Western Mass. I don't have a photo of her but met someone the other day that could easily be her twin.

I like the pictures as well.
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Pat from Western Mass. USA
 
She is actually my model/wife. I can't tell you how many times she has been told that she looks exactly like someone else. I would definetely like to see how close they look alike though.
 
Unfortunitly the women was a customer and may be a little freaked out if I ask to take her picture. They always say you have a twin somewhere. Sound like your wife may have more then one.
:)

--
Pat from Western Mass. USA
 
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