June Engagement Session PP C&C

[prodigiousfool]

If you look below, I've got the originals and the retouched together. I'm hoping for some C&C both on the composition and the PP from anyone.

#1
http://danewarrenhenry.com/Temp/001.jpg

#2
http://danewarrenhenry.com/Temp/002.jpg

[prodigiousfool]

#3
http://danewarrenhenry.com/Temp/003.jpg

#4
http://danewarrenhenry.com/Temp/004.jpg

Thanks for looking!

[tim]

1, 2, and 4 are minor improvements, but I think you'd have been better off if you'd exposed them correctly to start with. Fill flash and correct white balance would've almost eliminated the need for post processing, and would've helped reduce the shadows under the eyes.

[mcmadkat]

Little comment on the composition, their faces are rather centred in some of the pics.

Cheers,

Sam

[Teri]

Well, from a newbie, I reallt love the pose in #1. I have a hard time with wb as well and just now almost always using fill flash. It sure has made a difference with my photos. All in all I`m sure they will be pleased as they aren`t aware of the same things we are when we pick our pictures apart. LOL LOL. When are u doing their wedding.....oh to be that young and in love.....

Blessings
Teri in Canada

[Kathy H]

Watch where you crop at. You should not crop at joints. Don't cut off hands, feet, fingers, etc. The PP ones are better than the originals. I would have really liked the B&W one except they have no feet! Keep trying!

[MrsOpie]

the pp are a must have for these but I think you can take it further.

[prodigiousfool]

1, 2, and 4 are minor improvements, but I think you'd have been better off if you'd exposed them correctly to start with. Fill flash and correct white balance would've almost eliminated the need for post processing, and would've helped reduce the shadows under the eyes.

Thanks for the suggestions. I completely agree, and I know I have a lot of room to improve on flash usage. I was nervous about using it because I tend to over do it or under-do it, but I will definitely try it the next time. I have another engagement coming up in the next month or so, same location actually, so it'll give me a chance to improve.

Little comment on the composition, their faces are rather centred in some of the pics.

Do you see that as a good thing or a bad thing?

Well, from a newbie, I reallt love the pose in #1. I have a hard time with wb as well and just now almost always using fill flash. It sure has made a difference with my photos. All in all I`m sure they will be pleased as they aren`t aware of the same things we are when we pick our pictures apart. LOL LOL. When are u doing their wedding.....oh to be that young and in love.....

(In reference to the pose)It was a little weird because the both of them have been my friends since elementary school, so it's a kinda weird to see them to be getting married, but even more so for me to be asking them to get into specific poses. It was a good first engagement session though becuase I felt really comfortable telling them what i wanted and what i was thinking, and they were comfortable having known me for so long. I'm actually not shooting their wedding, their wedding was June 16th, i was the best man, so i couldn't do it. They just asked for some shots that they could print up and have at the ceremony. And well i'd say i agree with you about being young and in love, except that my day is next June, so i'm technically right where they are. :D

Watch where you crop at. You should not crop at joints. Don't cut off hands, feet, fingers, etc. The PP ones are better than the originals. I would have really liked the B&W one except they have no feet! Keep trying!

Great suggestion, i will definitely have to work on that. I'll have to go back through and see if there were any that i didn't do that on in some of the similiar poses. Thanks for the tips!

the pp are a must have for these but I think you can take it further.

Anything in particular you are referencing? I'm trying to suck as much data and learning from this as i possibly can. I know i'm green, but your all's posts have been God sends, not just in my thread but the whole forum.

Thanks everyone for the comments, keep them coming please, I need to hear it.

[Anke]

Just one thing that stood out for me was the consistency of colour saturation across all the retouched shots, in particular look at the red dots in her blouse and the stripes in his shirt.

[LisaLayne]

Important to do a clothing consultation prior to the sitting. What bothered me the most was the clash of stripes and wiggly stripes w/ flowers or something on the bottom. Suggest solid colors and long sleeves.
As for the "no feet" in the B&W... just crop it way closer!

Good luck!