Please give me your comments

[walkien]

I try to take these portrait for my friend to put in her real estate office. Please give me your comment, suggestion, opinions, good or bad. How can I make it better? I'm still in the learning process. I did not do any post processing to the pictures, I know that I need to do some touch up on her face.

#1
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/HenryW/Misc/CRW_0001.jpg

#2
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/HenryW/Misc/CRW_0002.jpg

#3
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/HenryW/Misc/CRW_0003.jpg

[poke]

I think the railing on the stairs makes the background very busy. Maybe choose somewhere outdoors where you can use DOF to blur the bg.

[RockSlut]

I'd try and shoot from an elevated angle, with the subject's head tilted up slightly. Also, as previously state the background is a little busy. Maybe try a plain, but coloured background.

Otherwise, you're off to a good start.

[walkien]

Poke and RockSlut, thank you for your comments and suggestions. I agree with the rail of the stair, but my friend requested that, she wants to have the "home" feel to the pictures instead of the plain color background. Any suggestion?

[poke]

From the look of the photos you have done, I am guessing that you are trying to get a fairly formal / professional look... which is difficult to achieve along with the "home" feel. Maybe you could incorporate RockSluts suggestion of the elevation by having her seated in a lounge chair with her body facing 45 degrees away from the camera, as if she is talking to a client in a home, but have her face looking up at you.

The only other thing I would add is that the colour of the lounge chair will be important. I would steer clear of browns... as you can see in the staircase shot, the brown is a bit to similar to the skin colour of the subject, and draws your eyes away from what should be the focus.

Good luck... hope you get one your happy with.

[kawter2]

I don't think that the aspect ratio flaters the subject. Was there a reason to change from the out of camera ratio?

[rg-tom]

What camera / lens set up was you using? the eyes do not look very sharp at all! thats one thing that makes a good portrait stand out for me, how sharp the eyes are. Try focusing on her eyes next time.

Tom

[DCB]

I would probably...

1) Expose them a bit less. Maybe 1/2 a stop.

2) Add a little contrast.

3) Make the lighting more directional.

4) Either crop it tighter or make it more of a "fun" shot. Maybe have her talking, laughing, moving a little while you snap away and see what you get.

[walkien]

Thank you for all the suggestions, they are very helpful. I would love to see more.

I'm using Canon 10D, 50mm f1.8, 420ex flash.

[rg-tom]

using the 50mm F1.8 what aperture did you actually have it on? It gets razor sharp a couple of steps down ;)

[walkien]

I set the aperture at 4.5 on the first picture and 2.2 on the second and third.

[markubig]

IMHO . . . maybe a less formal-looking pose? one where she looks more comfortable and relaxed . . . try to say something funny right before you release the shutter to get the more genuine smile/laugh, as opposed to the standard, "say cheese." the more natural she looks, the move inviting she will appear to her customers . . .

[b@s]

Suggestion: Isolate the face in Photoshop, add a layer with out of focus photo (colours flattened) so not to distract from primary subject (face) as background. Subject in the secondary photo should be real estate.. the work your friend does. That way you can control the lighting on the face the way you want.