1st Time Portrait session... ever

[4Bucks]

Hope I was paying attention the past week I have been here. I have no photog background (got my camera about a month ago). After taking 55 pictures during this set with my kids. The goal was to get a picture with grandpa's tractor (it is the one that his dad used before passing on the family farm). The other goal was a good picture for our family Christmas card. I saw a few issues after getting home and seeing them on the computer. But, overall... happy with them. I have learned alot just taking this set. C/C appreciated... but, be gentle, I'm new :D.

edit: in my own defense... the pictures on my PC and photobucket are much clearer than what downloaded here... ?

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/IRCutman/Kids%20photo%20shoot%201/IMG_0954.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/IRCutman/Kids%20photo%20shoot%201/IMG_0992-1.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/IRCutman/Kids%20photo%20shoot%201/IMG_1001.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/IRCutman/Kids%20photo%20shoot%201/IMG_0977.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/IRCutman/Kids%20photo%20shoot%201/IMG_0973.jpg

[christyjo2]

nice try for your first time. The main things i notice in these pictures are they look pretty OOF. I dont know if they are oof or if they are blurring during hosting and resizing or what. They all need some color pop to them. Try boosting them up in the curves/contrast dept and maybe even a bit of a saturation boost.

[4Bucks]

Same picture as the first without going through photobucket...
Seem in focus this way ??? I will be getting a light reflector to cut the shadows down.
321390

[Kristy]

Your poses are cute, and the kids seem happy enough. You can pop these in post processing.. just bump up the curves some and the saturation.. that's about all they need IMO. :)

Here's a quick example maybe a little too much but you get the idea. .... hope you don't mind.

[4Bucks]

Thanks for the input. It was about 38 dgrees so they were happy... for about the first 15 min of the 20 we were shooting. Since I just bought all my gear I am broke and depending on free edit software. I have downloaded Picasa2 and recently Gimp for processing. I am trying to figure them out. I will try to find "saturation" in Gimp to see what I can do. I agee... what you did does add "pop" to the picture.
Thanks agian.

[4Bucks]

Fumbled around in Gimp for an hour. Taking the input you guys have given and tried to put it to use.

What do you think now?
321452

321453

[bobbyz]

The second to last looks lot better to me.

[Kristy]

Beautiful! :) NIce job.

[James Salenger]

The edits improve the images.

[4Bucks]

Roo-Hoo! Thanks alot gang... you guys are helping me through the learning curve.
Yippee... I'm taking pictures!!!