My first paying customer. C&C please.

[sonia dada]

I am very inexperienced, but have a great mentor. I have only had my 20D for about 6 weeks, but I’m working really hard... going to seminars, watching DVD’s, and reading a lot.
I have taken pictures of a few friends, trying to get a body of work together to show potential clients.
I was getting my plates renewed at the BMV, when I saw a very beautiful young girl... Let’s face it, pretty people make for an easy time getting pretty pictures. I approached this perfect stranger and asked her if she would model for me for a free 8X10. I explained that they would be "senior style pictures" and "I’m not just some perv with a camera." I asked her to bring someone along. I’m sure she assumed it was to make her feel safe, but I actually just needed someone to hold a reflector lol.
She brought her mom, and they purchased 5X7's & a sheet of wallets as well as the free 8X10. Now, I know this is a very modest purchase, but remember... they were not looking for a photographer, I was looking for a model ;-)
These are the images they bought. They are not perfect, but I’m curious if you guys will pick up on the same things as me, or if you will show me things I can do better that I haven’t thought of. Thanks for your input.
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n234/soniadada/IMG_8009_1-8X10.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n234/soniadada/IMG_7982a.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n234/soniadada/IMG_8005wallets.jpg

[Jubilee32]

The bestcomment was - they bought some! I would be afraid they would run away screaming if I tried that approach. I do like the shots and processing

[christyjo2]

Thats awesome that they bought some of your pictures. They turned out quiet well!! That is definately a plus..and your right..they were not looking for a photographer, you were looking for a model...job well done!

[laimis.s]

i like nr2 and nr3 :) you could have avoided the shade on the right side of the nose though (pic3). loving the skin tones.

[zacker]

good job, not crazy for the BG on #1 though... its just not me.. love the outside shot #2... very nice. good job and way to go!

[jra]

Very nice....the last one really stands out!

[MagicallyDelicious]

Cool shots.

She is a very pretty model :)

[ccheever]

I like #2 the best, very pretty girl. You sure do have some courage to just ask a stranger. I need to do that sometime.

BTW, what city is that in the background?

[tuggnet]

I really like #2.

[glane606]

Great going chap, cahunahs of steel to ask the lady.

Love #2, not crazy about #1, think its the sloped angle at the bottom not sure though.

Still you are selling to somebody that hadnt even thought about buying, and my rule is if somebody buys a picture from you, then its a good one!! Good ones = money makers.

[ayotnoms]

Nice job and congrats on the good fortune of finding a willing model.
I really like the second one.

From you sig can I assume you're a female?

I wonder if a male would have such luck right outta the shute.

:)

[sonia dada]

Thanks everyone for the complements and critiques.
It took me a long time to get the courage up to ask her. I didn’t want to come off as some creep with an adult website. ;-)
Luckily, the BMV has the slowest service in town! :-) They gave me plenty of time to get my courage up.
You should recognize that city ccheever... That is Indianapolis in the background of #2. We took all of these at the canal.

[sonia dada]

Nice job and congrats on the good fortune of finding a willing model.
I really like the second one.

From you sig can I assume you're a female?

I wonder if a male would have such luck right outta the shute.

:)

No, I'm a guy.
Sonia Dada is my favorite band.
I guess I should have thought about it sounding like a girl before I used it as my screen name.

[switchblade5984]

very nice!

[KROHN27]

very good pictures love #2

[Billginthekeys]

great shots. love the second and third. the first is good too. although i would like to see it not so centered. keep it up. and yes, you have some guts for asking a random girl like that...

i need to get better at that lol .

[g-money]

Man, I wish I had your guts, I just had a beautiful young lady leave my office that I thought would make a lovely model. But alas she walked out the same door she came in with me only saying thanks after she dropped off her payment. I have had the same thoughts as you...They would probably think I was some sort of perv....so I never bring it up. Kinda like in my younger days wanting to ask a girl to dance but knew I was way to scared :oops:

[mommymartin]

Ok well aperantly I don't have the same taste as every one else here..lol...I love the first one and the third....I dont like the background on the second

[strmrdr]

First: like it a lot.. lighting could be better. the 2 tone arm looks blah to me. love the pose and the background/theme.

Second: nice but the cut off point on the arm looks kinda blah to me. A full lenth shot would have rocked.

third: shadows kinda wreck it for me.

[DucoNihilum]

Number 3 is my favorite.

[Stevie@JC]

Fantastic pics of a really beautiful girl

[OneTime]

Great pictures. Number 2 is nice.

[sonia dada]

First: like it a lot.. lighting could be better. the 2 tone arm looks blah to me. love the pose and the background/theme.

Second: nice but the cut off point on the arm looks kinda blah to me. A full lenth shot would have rocked.

third: shadows kinda wreck it for me.

Thanks.
Funny you love the pose on the first one. That’s one of the flaws in my opinion... I don’t particularly like how her right hand is. It doesn’t look elegant to me. I wish I had noticed at the time I shot it, but that’ll come with experience I guess.
The 2 tone arm sticks out more in the second one to me, but I don’t really know the best way to fix it. Any suggestions? I actually have a full length version of that shot, but this is the one they chose.
On the 3rd... Do you just think the shadows are too harsh, or would have you preferred flat lighting?

[PEACHMAN]

The second and third are nothing short of super! They must have loved these!

[ccheever]

Thanks everyone for the complements and critiques.
It took me a long time to get the courage up to ask her. I didn’t want to come off as some creep with an adult website. ;-)
Luckily, the BMV has the slowest service in town! :-) They gave me plenty of time to get my courage up.
You should recognize that city ccheever... That is Indianapolis in the background of #2. We took all of these at the canal.

I thought so, just didnt want to act like i knew what i was talking about and it turn out to be something like atlanta or something. haha. Glad to see another Hoosier here.

[strmrdr]

Thanks.
Funny you love the pose on the first one. That’s one of the flaws in my opinion... I don’t particularly like how her right hand is. It doesn’t look elegant to me. I wish I had noticed at the time I shot it, but that’ll come with experience I guess.
The 2 tone arm sticks out more in the second one to me, but I don’t really know the best way to fix it. Any suggestions? I actually have a full length version of that shot, but this is the one they chose.
On the 3rd... Do you just think the shadows are too harsh, or would have you preferred flat lighting?

The first one just works for her.... body language makes the shot.
I see why they picked it.
The right lower arm is too dark compared to the upper arm.
Some soft lighting from that side would have helped.

2nd one: the arms look fine, natural shadows.

3rd: as you look at the photo the left side of her face looks over exposed and the right under, if the left wasnt as far over the right would be fine. Its the contrast between the 2 im not liking.
Either the left darker or the right lighter would have made it for me.

[jporter12]

great shots. love the second and third. the first is good too. although i would like to see it not so centered. keep it up. and yes, you have some guts for asking a random girl like that...

i need to get better at that lol .

Pretty much sums up my thoughts! The pose is fine int he first one, although she didn't look all so comfortable in the shot. Was it early in the shoot?

Nothing to say on the second one! I just like it!

The third one, yes, I see the shadows, and the over-exposed side, btu I think that's what I like about it!


If only I had the guts to ask a random girl like that to pose for me, well, maybe I wouldn't be single, either! LOL

[Mike Reynolds]

attitude , personality and personaverance are just as important tp master as well as your camera equipment. you seem to have both. good job

[ABrownPhoto]

Dude you were NOT lying about her being pretty! The shots are good bro! I like #2 the best. #1 doesn't really do it for me (BKG is too.....)

I love the fact that they bought some and this was your "First paying Customer" because i am in the same boat as you, trying to get together a bigger portfolio of models. I have a few people lined up to shoot, but they won't be buying any of the pics, just allowing me to photograph them to gain expreience and to give them some shots for MySpace or something like that!

Keep it up bro!!!

--Quick Question for you: How did you give them prints? Do them yourself? go to a shop? Send them over the internet and having then delivered? <-- i am curious because i don't know how i should go about making prints for future clients!)

[sonia dada]

The pose is fine int he first one, although she didn't look all so comfortable in the shot. Was it early in the shoot?



No, it was very close to the end of the shoot... same with #3. #2 was in the middle of the shoot. The whole session only lasted about 30 to 40 minutes though, because they were a late getting there.

[sonia dada]

--Quick Question for you: How did you give them prints? Do them yourself? go to a shop? Send them over the internet and having then delivered? <-- i am curious because i don't know how i should go about making prints for future clients!)

I used the ROES download at http://nettlecreekcolor.com/
They are semi-local for me and they came over & gave me a 2 hour tutorial on how to use it. You might be able to figure it out yourself just by playing around with it though, since you’re in Ca. I got my prints in 2 days & they look great.

[JimCapaldi]

Congratulations on your success with these great photos. I like all three, especially number 1.

[jdilldesigns]

might want to tell her to get her eyebrows re-waxed

[Mathiau]

picture #2 by far us the best, vibrant, picture number 1 is too dull, too much brown and the light shadow off her nose in #3 makes the picture seem unbalanced.

[davidfig]

great pictures, you know why? They wanted more. I love #2, she just springs off the background. Good job.

[disneydork06]

nice job. good photos. btw, how old is the girl? I would have been too afraid to approach cause she looks so young. but she is a cute girl and the photos show it.

[Yella Fella]

this all done by available light or you using some studio set up?

This also meaning that you will be getting your car serviced more ;)

[ltickett]

great work- i get asked quite a bit when i'm taking photos in clubs if i do model stuff but as yet haven't had the time! i really like the idea of using the model for some portfolio type work and then offering a free print with any subsequent prints being chargeable

you mentioned having her mother holding a reflector... was that for ambient light or were you using a flash?

[sonia dada]

nice job. good photos. btw, how old is the girl? I would have been too afraid to approach cause she looks so young. but she is a cute girl and the photos show it.

Thanks. She ended up being 18 and signed her own model release. I actually thought she was younger... In the back of my mind I thought "if I do a really good job, maybe I can do her actual senior pictures." I think I’m more afraid of asking girls after reading this thread... Maybe I was just too naive to chicken out. ;-)

[sonia dada]

this all done by available light or you using some studio set up?

you mentioned having her mother holding a reflector... was that for ambient light or were you using a flash?
No flash... Just put her in shade on a bright sunny day & had her mom bounce back light with a silver reflector. I explained briefly to "use the edge of the light & not blast her so hard that she looks like a cop was shining his spotlight on her." I said, "just look for her to look pretty, not squinty."
All shot on Manual at 1/400 at f/5.6, ISO 100. 85mm. Custom white balance using a digital target.

[fi20100]

Great shots! #2 and #3 are my favorites.

[jtalaiver]

great images and good job on not getting maced!! :) haha... that approach would have definitely gotten me som heat... the girl has very very pretty eyes

[klmigut]

Wow, a fellow Hoosier! Me too. What semianrs have you been attending? I would love to know. Also shoot me an email if you ever need someone to go shoot around with. I find my self wishing I had someone to shoot with as my husand is not so interested in my hobby!

[sonia dada]

e-mail to Kim... check. :)

[Billie]

I think for 6 weeks into the camera, you are doing a TERRIFIC job. Your homework is paying off.

Billie (here in Indy also:))

[LBaldwin]

i like nr2 and nr3 :) you could have avoided the shade on the right side of the nose though (pic3). loving the skin tones.

I agree, your lighting has the shadow falling into the eye at an upward angle. Not very flattering. If you are trying to light fromt he side then have the shadow fall into the labial fold between the cheek and nose. This techique works very well with those clients that have a deep or multiple layer fold.

Keep trying,

Les Baldwin

[sonia dada]

Thanks. Your explanation of the problem is very easy to understand but I don’t know exactly what "the labial fold between the cheek and nose" is. :oops:

[jcost]

good job, What did you charge?? Just wondering.

[LBaldwin]

Hi Sonia it is the fold of skin that runs from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth. Your subject seems to have fairly deep ones so using a flater light may be more pleasing. Along with that she has deep eyesockets so you need to study the face to determine the best way to place your lights, reflectors etc.

Thanks

Les Baldwin

[JMHPhotography]

It's funny because I'm going through this now. There's a girl who works at the local supermarket who I would REALLY love to add to my photograph(she really resembles Adriana Lima). I know she's young and probably in high school so I've not asked her yet in fear of looking like a real perv. I'm a 38 year old man. I thought I might try to get my wife to approach her instead but then thought that would be too much like grade school and look very un-professional. I think I may just take your approach and explain to her that I just want some new faces in my portfolio and would be giving stuff away... and that she would be more than welcome to bring someone along.

Great work on getting the sale. Never downplay a sale. I turned a $5.00 sale of kids with Santa pictures into a shoot which I made a couple hundred dollars, AND I was booked to do the Santa/kids photos a week after last year's event.

[sonia dada]

Thanks for the great advise LBaldwin. I think what you are saying is flatter (not totally flat) light would have been better for this particular girl, & the light was too low for any person. Let me know if I read you wrong.

jcost... I charged them $15.00 per sheet. I think I will charge $20.00 per sheet as soon as I feel confident that I can consistently get great results. My confidence is getting better, but I might still charge $15.00 under these circumstances (where I am asking stranger to take their time to help me out). I might not do that anymore though, you guys have kinda put the fear in me. :)

[sonia dada]

Forkball... maybe just have your wife there with you, but you do the asking?

[WilliamL]

these are very good.. i only wish i had your nerve to ask like that...

[radloser]

good idea for #1, however im digging #2 and 3

[LBaldwin]

Hey Sonia,

One other thing to look out for is the Tricep muscle on the back of her arm.Eventually (unless you shoot a bodybuilder) you will get a comment similier to :my arms look fat".

When you pose the model allow them to put their arms down like that but not to put any weight on the arm. That will alllow the tricep to relax and make the arm look fit and slim. Also if you show the arm below the elbow show the hand too.

Les

[sonia dada]

Hey Sonia,

One other thing to look out for is the Tricep muscle on the back of her arm.Eventually (unless you shoot a bodybuilder) you will get a comment similier to :my arms look fat".

When you pose the model allow them to put their arms down like that but not to put any weight on the arm. That will alllow the tricep to relax and make the arm look fit and slim. Also if you show the arm below the elbow show the hand too.

Les

Thanks again.
I, too, noticed the tricep. I tried to liquify it (#2), but the straight line of the building behind her prevented me from doing so. I guess if I learn to pose them right, I won’t have to fix so much later huh. ;-)
Thanks for the hand advice too. I think someone else already mentioned that... Lot’s of mental notes to take here.

[jackies35]

I love this pictures!! I was wondering what camera & lens did you use on# 2??

Good work!!:lol:

[sonia dada]

I love this pictures!! I was wondering what camera & lens did you use on# 2??

Good work!!:lol:

Thanks. :)
20D, 17-85mm EFS & a silver reflector as my light source.

[Knowledge023]

Nice PIctures are those her real Eyes ? Nice post