first portrait shoot - 2

Be gentle now (smiles).

I took this image around 11am under a somewhat cloudy sky that

allowed the sun to break through every now and again. My A350 and

Minolta 80-200 f2.8 was handheld and as I am new to this genre (in

digital mode) I have yet to buy reflectors/umbrellas and the like.

 

So how did I do? What could I do better next time?

Appreciate your input - thanks.

there's not much I'd change - great pose and natural expression - I would like to see a bit more light reflected into those beautiful eyes, and the shadow eliminated on her right cheek - both easily accomplished in Photoshop - nice work!
sam

Love the shot, already mentioned is the shadow on the face, and those beautiful eyes would just pop in photoshop.

Hi Sam, Ian...... thanks for your input. I've had a go at making the eyes "pop" and have made a difference. But for the life of me I cannot find how to correct the shadows on the left of her face. I have elements 6 and a brilliant book by Scott Kelby but I'm battling.......... onwards and upwards, I will get there.

Thanks for visiting and helping out.

Regards 

 

Grayham,

There's no question that she's a cutie with a beautiful smile. I love the light on her hair. It really separates her well from the dark background. The background is nicely out of focus and quite neutral in tone. You have focused well on her eyes and she has good eye contact with the camera (viewer). Her skin tone is very good.

I would turn her a bit so that the sun is coming from directly behind her. You would still get the halo lighting on her hair, but wouldn't get any spill onto her face. That would eliminate any harsh shadows on her face. You also would get the hot spot (bright highlight) at the top of her forehead.

You have one shoulder lower than the other which is suppose to be a good thing -- not as static looking. I think you have overdone it a bit. You don't want her left shoulder that much lower than her right. It looks a little odd.

Do not pose your subject straight on to the camera. This is not a very feminine pose. Showing your subject’s widest areas (shoulder to shoulder or hip to hip) makes those areas appear wide. Your subject will appear thinner and more feminine, graceful and elegant if turned at an angle to the camera. The lines you see from an angle have more apparent motion, interest and grace. You usually do not want to have your subject turned 90 degrees to the camera. This can make the head look unsupported. Generally, it looks best to angle your subject somewhere around 45 degrees.

You want to compositionally balance the left and right sides of the photograph. The compositional "rule" for this suggests that you position the tip of the subject's nose in the vertical center of the photograph. By positioning the tip of her nose in the vertical center of the photograph you not only have her facing into the picture, but you have good left and right compositional balance. This little rule almost always works well. At least it gives you a good starting point from which to subtly adjust your composition to make it visually balanced.

You could increase your exposure a bit. The overall image, and she in particular, is a little dark. She could also use a little light bounced back into her eyes to lighten them and give them nice catchlights to give life to her eyes.

I tried to lighten the image a little and give it better compositional balance.

Nice shot,

Mark

I think what is remarkable about this is despite all the "flaws" it feels like a natural born beautiful moment. (well captured)

 hi Mark...... Thank you so much for your incisive comments. I have taken on board your advice for my next shoot. Your lighting adjustment does make a remarkable difference.

Yes, to have had a reflector to bounce light would have been nice, but this was just a few shots of a pretty girl with what was at hand.... me, the camera and the girl..... not to forget a cloudy sky with occasional sunbursts.

Thank you once again for your  indepth input, and for your time. Much appreciated.

Regards

Hi Michael...... thank you for your visit and kind comment. This young lady was a complete stranger, yet had a natural confidence about her that seems to come through in the images. Certainly not camera shy. A pleasure to photograph.

All the "flaws" were definately of my making (smiles).

Thanks again.

Regards

really nice

She is just lovely Grayham.  I think you did a very fine job considering you took advantage of a 'candid' moment, with no big plans of a 'model shoot'. I'd find it very difficult for anyone to pass this beauty by, without at least trying to capture her image. Such a lovely smile too!  Well done, 'keep klick'in'....tnks for sharing! Best regards, Gail

Hi Gail..... thanks for your visit and comments. Yes, I'd love to "keep klickin" but I've always been too embarrassed to walk up to a pretty face and ask....... must work harder on it.

Regards

Thanks Asher.

Regards

Re the shadows on the left side, I don't know if you've discovered the "clone" tool in Photoshop Elements, but that's what you can use. Set a transparency of at least 10% but probably no more than 50%; then set your clone origin on a spot closest to but not in the shadow area. (use the PS menu if this is not clear). Start working the clone tool slowly over the shadow, so that it is not a noticeable change, but rather gradual, blending into the proper color. This is a rather bumbling way of explaining it, but if you just begin with it, I hope you'll see what to do. It's not really difficult. Just look up "cloning".

Hi D.L....... thanks for your visit and imput...... I'll have a go, although I'm not too hot with Elements.

Appreciate your time.

Regards

Great dof and lovely model, With all that nature in your aria you have a lot of great environment, I hope you take her out and shoot a session It would be great.

Best regards Tore

I like this photo a lot. I like the smile, the pose and the light. Very nicely separated from background.

........... Tore, my apologies for not noticing your kind comments earlier. Unfortunately this young lady is a "one off"........ no idea who she is or where she is from......... I just had a few magical moments with her for 1/2 dozen shots before Mum dragged her away (chaperone).

Stromoulis....... thank you for your visit and kind words. To have such a winner on ones first portrait outing is quite a challenge to emulate, let alone beat. Still working on my portraiture though.

Regards

When people cite "rules" in photography, I am often intrigued by who wrote them and where they can be found. It always brings to mind a quotation by Ansel Adams .. "there are no rules in photography, only good photos" ... : -)

Nevertheless, it is always interesting to read.

For me portraiture is essentially about capturing personality and charm, it can be light or dark with an ear missing or not, does it really matter, and most certainly you have accomplished that beautifully here, bravo.  

Grayham, now you inspire me to go back to my available light roots :)

Great looking model (Tore had the right idea), too bad she's just a one-off opportunity ... I would have loved to shoot her with you that day.

You did a great job using the light, great background and what else can be said of the Sony/Minolta "look". I favour my Sony/Minolta gear.

How embarassing..... to have missed your lovely comment for all this time. I am truly sorry............ but appreciate your kind words. From you I have learned that portraiture is about capturing the personality/essence of the model, but I appreciate your enforcement of that belief in this image.

She is a lovely girl and I still mentally kick myself for not having taken down her details for future shoots............. oh well!!

Best regards

Thanks for your time spent on this image........ your comments indicate that you at least read some of the pre-amble above which is always encouraging when reading your comments..............

What i learned from this shoot was that 11.00am in the morning is not the best of times..... and I subsequently limit my portrait activities to early mornings or late afternoon/early evening...... the light is more managable

Regarding the model, I always hope I will bump into her one day!

Thanks again for your visit and comments............ a lovely model for a first time outing.........

Regards