Glamour Photos

[bob_modelsportfolio]

Ok, I know it's not a great photo, but I'd welcome people's opinions and advice on how to improve the photo, how to improve the lighting, skin colour (not through Photoshop), etc...

http://www.modelsportfolio.co.uk/124.jpg

There are more photos at the following address:

http://www.modelsportfolio.co.uk

[Leighow]

BOB

I scanned your portfolio. All shots looked well executed, but, as I am not an indoor photographer, I can not help too much with set-up.

But from a pure business & entrepreneur's pointi of view, I refleted more on what your "mission & vision" might be -- given these deliverables.

On close, I decided that that you should have a formal statement of your goals, vision, competition, strengths & weaknesses, and targetted market niche (i.e. look, feel, audience, etc.). That I beleive will drive your shots and comments would quickly follow.

As it is your shots seem to be tough, urban, a bit limited in variation, and they probably do not maximize the models or the medium.

HOWIE

[bob_modelsportfolio]

Hi Howie,

So.. basically.. you didn't like them. It's a fair point hehe. I totally agree about them being very samey, I'm working on new locations and props for photos, and will probably give outdoor photography more of a go. The problem that I've found there is that it's very difficult to get good lighting at times.. anyone got any advice on outdoor glamour photography?

I'm actually going to be expanding my website very soon with a lot of new features, offering for example website space to both photographers and models, sale of photoset, that kind of thing. So the aim of the website should become more apparent once I have all of that in place.

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.
Bob

[Leighow]

BOB

I did not say that I didn’t like them. I tried to say that I needed your vision/mission statement to comment intelligently about your work. You see, I have never give a professional minute to the subject. Top of mind questions that might serve a mission statement, include:

What is glamour photography (and I have seen odds & ends in photography books)?
How does it differ from boudoir photography?
What is the particular taste or impact that is intended ?
... Wholesome but beautiful ?
... Rough and tough?
Who is the target audience?
What display is intended and what is its "shelf-life" ?
Is indoors a constraint?

Your shots are all well composed, well exposed and sharp. But I ask you ..." Are they extra-extra-special..?"

But who am I to talk ! I do not have a vision statement for "landscape photography". And if I did it could not be too ambitious because I do not have the time or talent to plan, track, wait and take super shots (or that at least is my cover). But, I have been scanning bookstores in search of the dream landscape color photographer. He/she must not over polish nature, must not over-emphasize close-ups. Rather she/he must see color, light, sky, etc, etc. When I find one, I will see if the "G2 !" and some planning can get a few extra-extra-special shots. And it will have to happen in the next 4 weeks as the “steam” rises off the solar-heated cottage lake…or this "color season" -- because winter is just around the corner. Or something like that !

Bring on the beauties.

HOWIE

[eland]

Hi Bob

I just had a look at your glamour photo.
In view of your desire to improve your techinque
I think I can offer a few suggestions.

The basic weakness in this image, in my opinion, is the
background, not so much the lighting.

A very common mistake with relatively inexperienced
photographers is to look at the subject and to ignore the background.
The model is lovely, but the heavy cross piece on the
bedhead makes her look like a Texas Longhorn.

Also the bed cover in blue and white and one pillow
white and the other in shadow and looking grey/green
and the wooden head board all give the picture
a very amateurish appearance.

For an image to look professional the background must
be given as much attention as the subject.
Keep it simple and uncluttered.

The lighting is basically not too bad. Watch shadows.
eg as stated, the pillow on the right. Also on the right breast and right eye.

Also note that the girl's right arm is much nearer to the
key light and is thus over-exposed.

Skin colour. Not bad, and as you don't want to use
an editing program you can lower the colour temperature
by using an 81c filter on the lens.
For very white skinned models, give them an instant tan
by using an 81d or e filter.

The Pose. Well, it's provocative and if that is your intention,
then it's worked.
As with backgrounds, watch details.

The model's hair looks untidy, dull and lifeless.
Proper make-up is essential for models to look professional

At first glance I thought the girl was nude.

The lower part of her garment doesn't show as such and, well, I thought she was
nude, and not tastefully so.

.You mentioned that you might try Outdoor glamour.

Try if you like, but you'll have more trouble there, most
likely, than indoors where you have control over lights
background etc.

Outdoor glamour shots are far more difficult and are
often unsuccessful because of light and backgrounds.

I hope these comments help you

Regards

eland

[bob_modelsportfolio]

You made some excellent points! I'm going to look to see what filters I can buy right now :-) And I agree re the background. Everybody tells me they love my bed - it's huge, very thick, ornate wood - but the camera certainly doesn't, hehe.

One photographer (not on this forum) advised that I should get a soft box, and anyone advise on how that would help, or whether he was right or wrong?

Thanks for any help.

[eland]

Hi Bob

I'm pleased that you found the comments helpful.
Your bed does indeed look splendid, but as you say,
as a background to a photo, perhaps not ideal.

The advice about a softbox is good.
A softbox is simply a diffuser over the light source...
usually a flash of some sort.

If the money is available, you can buy one ....not expensive,
or you can make one.

A simple frame that will hold a diffusing material in front of the light source. If the flash is a strong one, you can
use a piece of plastic shower curtain. Any white thin
plastic will do. I've even used a double supermarket
shoppping bag taped in front of a 2 litre ice-cream carton
Then you cut a hole in the base of the carton that fits
snugly over the head of the flash gun.

Basically the soft box breaks up the light rays and gives
a softer shadowless (or almost shadowless) light.
There will be no hard shadows like the ones I mentioned
on the girl's face and breast.

The soft box is intended to give a diffused light as one
would obtain from diffused light coming through a window.

So yes, Bob. Buy or make a couple of soft boxes.......
and be very critical when judging your pictures.

Use what my students call the "Bruce SLR."
SLR here does not refer to a camera but to ..........

S.. Subject Placement, pose, tidiness make-up etc

L... Light. Diffused, Harsh, Direction, Fill

R...Rubbish.. What is in the picture that does not
contribute to the composition ? EG Power-lines,
street signs, too much sky or foreground........
maybe bed heads. :-)))

Kind regards

eland
(Hal Bruce)

[Rudi]

leighow wrote:
And it will have to happen in the next 4 weeks as the “steam” rises off the solar-heated cottage lake…or this "color season" -- because winter is just around the corner. Or something like that !

Bring on the beauties.

HOWIE


Yeah! I miss summer! I just posted a photo I took last summer here in Oz. Can't wait for it to roll around again... :)

[Kevin Connery]

I'm coming in late, so bear with me.

The issues that bothered me most about this image--and the handful I looked at on your site were background, skintones, and lighting.

Background has been discussed, but I didn't notice any emphasis on a reduced depth of field. If you used a larger aperture, the background, even while remaining as 'busy' as it is, wouldn't have as much negative effect.

Skintones can be corrected/warmed by using a different setting in your camera, using an 81 series filter, or a warming gel on the lights. I usually use that last approach, but any or all can be used in combination.

The lighting bothered me more than most of the other respondents. The one image posted here has multiple shadows on the model's face from her nose, and that suggests to me that you're using an umbrella from too far away. Move it in closer, use a larger umbrella, or switch to a softbox/diffusion panel. All of those will avoid the double-shadow effect. An inexpensive 6x6' (2m x 2m) diffusion panel set about 30-45 degrees to the side works well to cover a wide area with flattering light and minimal critical placement of the subject. Good for this kind of thing. (Or children...)

[bob_modelsportfolio]

Wow, some great advice here already :-) .. ok, confession time I guess..

I don't -yet- actually have a Canon camera, so I feel a bit like an imposter on this forum.. though I am now planning on getting a G2 sometime in the next month.

I've been using a Kodak DX3900.. not, by any means, a great camera for glamour photography. The biggest problem I have with the camera is that there's no way to trigger remote flashes without using the built-in flash.... and also, it's not great with studio flashes anyway.. I have to set them to the minimum setting and place them at a fair distance, otherwise the image taken just burns out completely.

So anyway, I think I've got a bit of shopping to do :-)

[bob_modelsportfolio]

On another note, does anyone know where I can buy one of those "changing screens"? You know, basically 3 or 4 panelled screens, hinged together, which were used to discreetly get changed behind? I've looked everywhere and can't find them - I've wanted to use one in some photos for a long time..

And also, anyone know where to buy good cheap fabric, to be placed over sofas/beds? I particularly want nice chinese effect patterned fabrics..

[eland]

Bob

Try the local hospital for screens.
They use them all the time. Probably not wooden ones
though, if you were planning to use one as a prop.

If they can't sell you an old one, ask where they buy them.... or try second hand furniture shops.... or make one. Some 3"x 1.5", a few hinges, material
and there you are.

eland

[bob_modelsportfolio]

Thanks for that, I'd wanted screens that could be used as a prop though. For example, like the ones in the image below.. not very functional as a screen I guess, hehe, but looks pretty good I think...

http://www.hosting4escorts.co.uk/carmen/images/car46.jpg