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My first studio shoot ... harsh C&C accepted

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EdgarsOlavs

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Hello!

I'm here for quite a while, but I'm still new to photography. Not gonna get into my history, but rather will show you some pics I've had a chance to take. This lady was not an easy subject. If you take in consideration that this is my first shoot for money I hope you can cut me some slack ... at any rate I'm just learning and I really want to know my mistakes and learn from them. Here are some pics that I've took and I'd like for you to give me some pointers.

I have to say that this lady was really up tight and very conservative in what she wants to get.

Pictures that I've posted are final results and are the final pictures that she has received. Let me know how bad/reasonable/acceptable (???) they are.
Don't hold back because criticism is some thing I can take...

as it is my frist shoot, i was trying out my background lighting...
1htfk5.jpg



2ch6w7k.jpg


2a4tpfl.jpg












Please give me some suggestions how to improve the ligting ... thanks in advance.
 
I'm no pro but I will give you my humble opinion.

The first photo the light looks flat and the hair light is a little too hot. Was that additional light down low?

The second photo is nice just a little hot that her upper collar jacket is blown out.

The third the pose and crop does not look right. Also the wb is off here.

The fourth and fifth I like with the grey back ground. Good lighting here.

The sixth bw photo it too hot and too much contrast. Her black top has no detail and the pose makes her look like she only has one arm.

The next head on photo the lighting is too hard.

The last photo I l also like good lighting.
--
Canon 5D II, 7D & Nikon D7000
 
First 3 have a rather bad facial expression. Really bad luck because #1 and #3 otherwise were quite good.

4 and 8 needs more pp.
5 is nice

6 is my fav !!! I absolutely like this style !!!!

7 is nice (maybe the centered catchlights look unusual)

I'd say not bad at all. You are on the right track.
Do care more about a proper pp. Some look a bit sloppy.

thanks for sharing
 
Good first attempt but..............

No 1 - untidy- grey background floor needs some work - models hands not good, looking away doesnt work if flipped position and looking back to light would work better.

No 2 - is ok but doesnt wow me

No3 - like this with the stark contrast and models expression - but watch the positioning your model left arm looks amputated!!!

No4 - passport shot - dificult to pull off this style as not very flattering.

No 5 - models expression looks bored- better then no 1 lighting wise but the red chair is too powerful. remember your subject is the model. if you do want your model close to the background get them to lean against with shoulders or bum otherwise keep them 7-10 feet away.

I know you asked about lighting but the above are equally important.

Lighting wise they are not too bad - think scullpting with the light rather than iluminating - vary the positioning and experiment, start with one light and build up. but most of all enjoy and get the interaction flowing with your subject thats way more important in my opinion.

well done
Neal

--
http://www.nealshaw.co.uk
 
Hello again and thank you for your honest reply's. I'll be working on all your comments to improve. I pretty much knew these things that were mentioned, it's just weird that I didn't see all these flaws in the studio, but rather when I uploaded the pictures to the computer...

The shoot was very hard for me. For one this was my very first shoot and the second is that the girl doesn't like having her pictures taken, although she does want to have very pretty pictures. It's hard to explain, but when ever I asked her to do some thing she kept making weird face expressions like I'm trying to make her do things she doesn't want. And when I asked her what are the pictures she'd like to have she never gave me a clear answer, so I had to try just lots of things ... in this case more wasn't better.

All I can say is it was hard getting her out of the shell although I tried to entertain her with some jokes, and telling her what kind of effect I'm trying to get as well as asking her if she would be interested in one style or another... I'll need to work on my communication skills.
 
lighting is the easy bit - communication to get your model to relax, enjoy, act call it what you will is the hard bit and will come easier with time and experience.

Although dont expect this too happen with everyone - sometimes its the chemistry between model and photographer just isnt there.

When youve got more skills with the lighting and it becomes second nature you will be more relaxed and confident yourself. But just remember keep talking to your model - no silences!!!!

Music helps in the studio too

Neal
--
http://www.nealshaw.co.uk
 
A good start. One piece of advice you won't often hear on this forum, but here it is: "Lighting techniques" are not restricted to the studio. There is much you can do with lighting in post -- and in some cases, only in post. As you develop your studio skills, develop your Photoshop skills as well.



--
~ Peano
http://www.radiantpics.com
 
Many of the replies have mentions in the negative the lady's expression and lack of friendliness or ease. I disagree as the portraits show a character that is who she is at this time. I see nothing to criticise about it. The lighting seems well balanced and well done. IMO
Will
 
Peano said:
A good start. One piece of advice you won't often hear on this forum, but here it is: "Lighting techniques" are not restricted to the studio. There is much you can do with lighting in post -- and in some cases, only in post. As you develop your studio skills, develop your Photoshop skills as well.
Click to expand...
Totally agree !!! Thanks for saying it.

Not to forget, some photo studios are simply not equipped that great to realize all the cool lighting effects. And if you are not a very experienced photog to set up the lights that great better do it in pp than not having it at all.
 
Shawry said:
Absolutley - but you will no doubt agree that the ultimate way is getting the shot as right as possible in camera and not relying on photoshop?

Neal :-)
Click to expand...
Of course it's desirable to get the shot as right as possible (=practical) in the studio. I certainly don't agree with the idea that you can shoot carelessly and "fix" your errors in Photoshop.

But forget about "not relying on Photoshop." To get the best results, you're going to have to rely on Photoshop. The only question is, How much? The answer depends partly on your skills in the studio and partly on your skills in Photoshop.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen commercial photographers think one of their shots was "right" as shot, and then express amazement at how much better it looked after some editing in Photoshop.
--
~ Peano
http://www.radiantpics.com
 
I don't see any reason for argument here. IMO you have to know both, so for me it's still a long journey.

Photographers that are good at both have a very big advantage, because photoshop gives amazing flexibility in creativity. In terms of lighting in most cases you'll save lots of time in the photoshop (it works the other way around - if you have a complex scenario, it could be faster and cheaper to create in photoshop)... at any rate I'm moving off point.

The thing is that photoshop has set up a new standard for photography... a much higher one than in most cases you can achieve by simply having a camera and a light - unless you really know what you're doing and you have all the right gear to make it happen. I guess in this little argument every one's right ... I need to work on both things, light and photoshop ...

In regards to comments on her face expressions - I have to agree, the pictures pretty much show who she is, the question is does she want to see herself like that? The answer is yes and no. I talked to her after the shoot, once she received the pictures, and she said the pictures showed her as she imagines herself and she likes them, but she's not too selfconfident and she doesn't like the way she looks. So like I said, yes and no. She's sending her friend over for this Saturday for a shoot which is going to be a birthday present for that girl. She's younger, and she will want some thing different.

My studio is pretty young, only a month or so and accessory wise I'm very poor ... any of you guys have some creative (budget) ideas for a 25 year old, blonde, birthday girl?
 
I'll try to experiment some tomorrow, I think I caught a flue and it's kind of hard sitting at a computer today ... but thanks, I was wondering whether you were using the mask or some more advanced techniques for selection.
Once I have some thing I'll post it here, would like some feedback.
 
You ask for criticism and some folks will give it, even when none is required! All of the exposures seem fine, your lighting rocks. My only hesitation, and it is MY TASTE only, is I don't like having the model as close to the background as she is in the last couple of shots. Just my thing. But for your fist studio shoot, I'd say you hit one out of the park! Actually several! The white infinity background is not as easy as some folks think... you have to be careful not to over-light the white background, resulting in flare. You did it rather well! Kudos!
--

Holding a camera, any camera, reduces my blood pressure, calms my nerves, and gives me a sense of opportunity!
 
1 - I can't figure out her expression here, and that kind of kills it for me. It's kind of a smirk, kind of a frown.
2 - Light looks pretty good, nice ratio. Pose is good, maybe a bit stiff.
3 - Light looks good. Hmm, there's that expression again.

4 - Not too fond of the broad lighting on her face here, and the bkg/floor needs a lot of work if you're going to show it.
5 - Cute concept and execution, well done!
6 - Can't see it.
7 - My fave. Love the big light source and the symmetry, very well done.

8 - Pick up the shadows a touch on the cam L side of her face and this would work better.

--



http://www.pbase.com/jfinite
 
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