Very First Time Doing "Studio" Portraits....

[chops]

These images and alot more were shot using my two little Vivitar 2000 flashes mounted on tripods triggered by optical slaves, and the Vivitar 2800 master flash mounted on my 10D.

Settings....
ISO: 400
Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec
Aperture: F7.1
Lens: Canon 17-40 L F4

Please, please give me some feedback on these images. I know I should use some diffused direct flash, but all I have are these small strobes and just bounced all three off the ceiling for even lighting.

http://chops.tzo.com/001.jpg



http://chops.tzo.com/003.jpg

[chops]

I can't believe that no one has anything to say about these shots. :confused:

[JohnEBongo]

I don't have the expertise to tell how to improve the lighting, although the shadows seem to be a little dark, especially in the faces. I am waiting on the delivery of my Alien Bees so I will have alot to figure out when they get here. One thing I would do is move your subjects farther away from the backdrop.

[jgbeam]

The ceiling bounce is creating the eye shadows. Even with the strobes you have you can do much better. Instead of bouncing off the ceiling, bounce off of white foamboard placed to each side of the subject. Experiment with placement of the boards. The on-camera flash can still be bounced off the ceiling.

Jim

[mr.photoguy]

From what I have been researching.
You have to watch your shadows.
There are shadows in/under there eyes' , they are pretty dark.

I figure there are 2 things that you could do..
1. Make your own soft box. The light would be a bit more natural, It would be evened out and diffused also. I like soft boxes for this effect. -- something to look into, you could custom one, or use a flood/spot lamp and diffuse the light with a pure white sheet.

2. Aim one of the flash's at them. You would have to view the light to see if you will like the effect. You may need to use a diffuse or something similar to soften the burst of light that will hit their faces, but it will definetly clear up all the shadows.

Hope it helps.

[chops]

Thanks for all the "DIY" tips.

I would have liked to have done the shooting with the on-camera flash facing at them, but even with the wide angle diffuser attatched, it was still too concentrated in the middle of the image. I knew I was going to run into the eye shadow problem, but this was all put on me at the last minute, so I didn't have time to try different methods of lighting.

As it is, the backdrop was way too small (not mine), and I had to Photoshop the hell out of it to fill the full frame from top to bottom and from left to right. It was a major pain lastnight screwing around with these on the computer, and now...... well, nevermind about what's going on now at work.

To make a long story short, I'm starting to get pissed over this whole thing and now I'm wishing I never agreed to doing it. Two hours taking the pictures, almost five hours of PITA post processing, and all of it for free!!...., and nothing but nit-picking and complaining today.

I'm sure you can only imagine how I feel right now. This will most likely be my first and last portrait shoot! I'll stick with my product photography.

OK, sorry, I'm done with my little rant.

[mr.photoguy]

To make a long explanation short, "this is why I won't do free work", unless it is to my benefit or something. At least that way you will get something out it. (money in your pocket).

All to often people, (especially family), look at it as, well B likes to take photo's .... Let's let him do them .. and we don't have to pay him...

Ask around though, you may be able to remove the shadows in photoshop.
Most of these guys know how to do it.
Or you can ask on www.fredmiranda.com in the people section, they would tell you how to photoshop that out. That is where I have learned so much about lighting and portrait work.

[chops]

To make a long explanation short, "this is why I won't do free work", unless it is to my benefit or something. At least that way you will get something out it. (money in your pocket).

All to often people, (especially family), look at it as, well B likes to take photo's .... Let's let him do them .. and we don't have to pay him...

Ask around though, you may be able to remove the shadows in photoshop.
Most of these guys know how to do it.
Or you can ask on www.fredmiranda.com (http://www.fredmiranda.com/) in the people section, they would tell you how to photoshop that out. That is where I have learned so much about lighting and portrait work.
Thanks again, but I'm not going to worry about it. I gave here a CD with all of the original images and the edited images and told her to do what she wants with them. I told her if she wasn't happy with them, then she could go somewhere and pay to have them done, and to not bother mewith it any more.

I can tell you right now, I'm not about to put up with that type of crap, especially from a non-paying person.

Oh well, you live and learn I guess. :confused:

[Jon, The Elder]

Hey CHOPS -

Ya' just got a $10,000.00 education and all it cost you was a few hours of your time and maybe some Rollaids.

Friends and Relatives are the "kiss-of-death" for a shooter.

a nice chunk of foamcore in front of you would soften the facial shadows.

Hang in there !!

[mackb]

I think you did a good job with the portraits, especially with little notice. I have been trying to do portraits myself and for me there is a lot going through my mind when it’s time to snap away. Composition/posing, lighting, camera settings, re-posing the kids, remembering to remove the lens cap.

I’m really excited to continue to improve my portraits

Again……...I think yours turned out good

[OneManArmy]

remembering to remove the lens cap.


:lol:

How true.

[jO3]

Thanks again, but I'm not going to worry about it. I gave here a CD with all of the original images and the edited images and told her to do what she wants with them. I told her if she wasn't happy with them, then she could go somewhere and pay to have them done, and to not bother mewith it any more.

I can tell you right now, I'm not about to put up with that type of crap, especially from a non-paying person.

Oh well, you live and learn I guess. :confused:
Yeah, you live and you learn. Regardless of whether it's your family or not, and whether you get paid or not, I learned the hard way that if you give someone your word to get the job done, then you do that job to the best of your abilities. Because you are still selling yourself, and your reputation. I'm sure most of you will agree with me, but when it comes to starting out in photography, your reputation is everything. Your pictures may be good, but if your attitude sucks, people won't recommend you. I've seen too many awesome photographers with talent waste their 4-year $60,000 education because they feel that it wasn't worth their time to do a free shoot.

Just be careful with what you say to your clients and how you portray yourself. Remember, this WAS your first portrait, and if it IS family, don't get irritated with what they have to say, take it and learn from it. Because your family will be the first ones to tell you the God honest truth about why they like or don't like the photo.

Good luck, and next time you have lights and a backdrop, invite a friend over to take some pictures, and explain to him/her that you just need your practice, and they could use the photos for their friendster or myspace page or whatever.