Sonia

Here is a portrait of my first model in my own home made studio.

What do you think of the lightning and posture.

 

Thanks for your comments.

I know it is just an optical illusion but something about the way she is leaning leaves me with the feeling that the whole picture is tilted to the right within the black frame you have placed around it. I think your name in the bottom right adds to that sensation. Wierd.

The lighting is not half bad.. what did you put togeather?

If you take a look at my portfolio... all of the older studio shots where done with a home made softbox as well.

I was using a 42" umbrella with a 52" disc reflector on her right. On the background I was using a Nikon SB-600 with a red gel on a black muslim. I just bought a 24" x 32" softbox and I am only using Nikon Speedlight so far so I do not have lots of light available... Are you using monolights?

 

I do like your portraits a lot, your lightning is incredible and the way you smooth the skin is something I am looking for. Is it just Gausian blur?

Thanks for your comments Isaac.

Its really a combination of these tools,

 

Clone stamp, Gausian blur, Dodge, Blur or sharpen and burn.

You just have to use the right ones in the right place.

Pay close attention to your flow rate of each tool.

I use a few layers during my post prossesing.

The Gausian blur is the most critical and should be (IMO) done with a seperate layer and with a small brush and a very... VERY low flow rate.

Sometimes depending on what color I want the skin tones, I will also mess with the hues, colors and saturation.

Something to keep in mind is, by the time you are done with all the post prossesing you may have a very high contrast image, it never hurts to desaturate it a little. I think it adds a bit of a "professional" quality to the final image.

Good luck! hope that helps and please feel free to write me with any further questions.

 

Isaac