Portraits

[Nuno Alexandre]

Hello,

I'd like to share some photos I took this weekend with a friend of mine, and to get some feedback about them.
This is my first time doing portraits and altough I've read some things about this type of photography, being it my first time - am sure there is plenty improvements to be done.

Am uncertain weather am using too much smoothing, or going over the edge with too much PP.

Let me know what you think and what your suggestions are for improvement, Thanks in advance.

other photos here:
http://eosphoto.eu/Portraits/Pernille-28112009/10474563_ciTaL#726733838_9CnBp

 

[Nigel Allan]

Hi Nuno

I think 'too much' is a matter of opinion. Too much for one person might be just right for another, so I guess it also depends on who or what they are for. I personally am not a fan of a heavy handed Photoshop approach to anything, but that's just me, but as fashion and model shots go, numbers 3 and 4 work best for me as the eyes are unnaturally blue in the first two - but that's just my opinion and someone else will love that aspect.

I think the skin looks clean but perhaps a touch over sterilised - but again for magazines or advertising this could work, although I think you are losing some of the character of her face.

I think they are nice shots and personally would like to just see them slightly less 'blown' and appearing slightly less overexposed, not by a lot, though...just a touch richer and deeper overall tones

As a fashion shot , if that is the goal, number 1 works best overall because it is showcasing the jumper and showing detail there. I personally like contrasty model shots but the other three might have just gone a little too far over the edge

Nice work otherwise...you're on the right path

 

[Jameson Smith]

For your first time doing portraits Nuno i think you've done very well! I agree with Nigel that opinions in fashion photography are just that and different photogs tend to like certain aspects. One thing that's obvious is you had a great model to work with! The first image appears that the vibrance has been turned way up in PPing as not only do her eyes look unnaturally bringht but the tones in her hair also look overexagerated relative to the other shots of her.

Shot number 3 is my favorite of the set but i could do without the color left in her eyes and would be just as happy with it as a straight B&W. I like her pose and expression best in this photo and find it the most captivating. As it is right now it almost a bit vampiric with the cool feel of B&W and slight color in the eyes.

 

[Nigel Allan]

For your first time doing portraits Nuno i think you've done very well! I agree with Nigel that opinions in fashion photography are just that and different photogs tend to like certain aspects. One thing that's obvious is you had a great model to work with! The first image appears that the vibrance has been turned way up in PPing as not only do her eyes look unnaturally bringht but the tones in her hair also look overexagerated relative to the other shots of her.

Shot number 3 is my favorite of the set but i could do without the color left in her eyes and would be just as happy with it as a straight B&W. I like her pose and expression best in this photo and find it the most captivating. As it is right now it almost a bit vampiric with the cool feel of B&W and slight color in the eyes.

I concur with Jameson on the black and white (in fact if you wanted it more vampiric you could try making the eyes red !!) - the only thing is I feel she blends into the white background a little too much (on her left arm - stage right) and a slight contrast with her environment would work for me - again we're talking very small amounts, nothing too major

 

[Asher Kelman]

Nuno,

You have everything going for you: passion, energy and a great model. You have done well in making fun and edgy pictures for her. One thing I try to do is to remove most of the changes I thought were perfect. Just think of that. What is the very minimum of a punishment you have to give to any part of your picture. So whatever you do, constantly be using that layer to a lesser extent than you thought was needed. Each step has to be done that way and in the end, blend back 1-3% or even 35% of the original.

Here your blue eyes, could be glass. Yes they're outstanding, but too much so. The hair should be off the sweater, if the clothes are part of the deal, unless that's the first picture in a series. Also the hair can be vampy but must bel it well and not degraded by increasing the contrast and loosing the fine structure.

Do you have a make up artist, MUA? That person is even more important than the model and maybe the photographer too, according to Frank Doorhof. Look him up!

 

[Nuno Alexandre]

Thanks a lot for taking time to ltook at the photos and give me this valuable feedback.
I agree with all of the suggestions and it gives me motivation to keep going and try to do better next time.
I will redo these photos with these suggestions in mind.

In the next 2 weekends I already have 2 more photo shoots with 2 of my other beautiful friends,
and will try to keep the rate up during the next few months. So I will be posting quit alot more, I hope you can take it.

I can also describe about the setup I used for these photos.

Light:
Natural light from a window, camera left
Speedlight on camera, bounced up to the right

Gear:
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8 L USM
Canon Ef 50mm f/1.4 USM

Shot agains a white wall.. the overexposure is intentional to blow out the background..
next time I will use 2 speedlights to solve this.

Thanks again!

 

[Nigel Allan]

Nuno I realise the overexposure is intentional and I like this look and feel for model shots. I just feel that is is easy to overdo it and getting the balance right is very tricky

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

Nuno I realise the overexposure is intentional and I like this look and feel for model shots. I just feel that is is easy to overdo it and getting the balance right is very tricky

Actually, getting the background at the right level is the easy part. Probably a separate exposure measurement on the white, and 'overexpose' by 3 and 1/3rd or 2/3rd stops will set it to just clipping (may vary a bit per camera model). Now adjust the level/distance of the other lights for a good exposure level of the foreground subject.

Cheers,
Bart

 

[Nuno Alexandre]

Ok, now its starts to get complicated
I'll have to search for some resource for further reading how to achieve this in a practical way.
Thanks for your reply.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Ok, now its starts to get complicated
I'll have to search for some resource for further reading how to achieve this in a practical way.
Thanks for your reply.

Not really,

You can simply point one light at an angle behind her to the white background. As long as the rim around her is bright white, the rest can easily be selected and brought up to the same intensity in photoshop in all of 30 seconds.

So you need one extra light, that's all.

Expose the front of the model as you wish.

Asher

 

[Nuno Alexandre]

Not really,

You can simply point one light at an angle behind her to the white background. As long as the rim around her is bright white, the rest can easily be selected and brought up to the same intensity in photoshop in all of 30 seconds.

So you need one extra light, that's all.

Expose the front of the model as you wish.

Asher

Oh right, that's what I thought doing with the 2 speedlights
Just got a bit confused with the other explanation about exposures.

Thanks alot.

 

[fahim mohammed]

Nuno, I cannot give you advice on lighting. I like #4 the best. Why? It seems I see more of her character
in this one. The other three, she seems to be aware of and playing to the camera a little too hard. I don't know if that makes sense.

In #4, you have the angle and the expressions of subdued elegance and just the right amount of attitude that appeals to me.

Wish I could even dare to attempt such photography.