collage Critique

[Q-bert]

Honestly, I don't know what to do with the background. ???

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-4/148376/collage1.jpg

[Livinthalife]

Collage looks good, but the poses on the bottom seem too repetitive. I know they are different, but not by much. Maybe just put 3 pics at the bottom? Maybe even flip horizontally so you don't always have the same patter of red and green.

[FullStop Photography]

Very creative and festive, I like it a lot. Can you tell me what your lighting setup was?

[Q-bert]

Collage looks good, but the poses on the bottom seem too repetitive. I know they are different, but not by much. Maybe just put 3 pics at the bottom? Maybe even flip horizontally so you don't always have the same patter of red and green.

I think reducing it down to three may be my best bet. Those poses weren't coached at all. The girls just started goofing off and started taking pictures.


Very creative and festive, I like it a lot. Can you tell me what your lighting setup was?

AB800 with large softbox camera right
AB800 with reflective silver umbrella camera left
2 AB800 with 40 degree grids and barn doors on background.

Thanks for commenting. ;)

[reneethomas]

Those girls have attitude!! What great models! Are they your daughters?

Great shots by the way!!

[Q-bert]

Those girls have attitude!! What great models! Are they your daughters?

Great shots by the way!!

Thanks. Yes they do have attitude. I got an email from the mom saying that her girls can sometimes be handfuls, but she thought I did real well with them. That made me feel good. :)

They are actually nieces of this guy.
http://jpottsphotography.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p245021263-11.jpg

I've actually known his sister longer than I've known him but he's become a closer friend. I did a maternity shoot for him as a gift. His sister liked the picture enough to bring her girls out to me.

[Q-bert]

Here's a second try.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-4/148376/collage.jpg

I worked up the chair shots as stand alone pictures and didn't really want to use them, but I think they may work out better.

[Q-bert]

Tried a different background.
http://jpottsphotography.zenfolio.com/img/v6/p511861999-4.jpg

[Livinthalife]

I like the second try the most. The various poses is better. The darker BG on the third kinda takes away the Christmas feel (Ooops can't say Christmas right, gotta say holidays JK :) ) Very nice though. Looks like the girls had a lot of fun during the shoot. I get a lot of :( faces, or no eye contact...I always gotta act like Im 6 to get them to relax. haha!

[Kristy]

I think the second one is adorable.... The BG's are working for me though... :( (sorry)

What if you try to photograph a bowl full of green and red christmas tree balls... and then put a white overlay on top of it to soften it some... That might be festive and less busy...?

Or.... I did this holiday card for a client... a simple winter sort of background might be nice... see this gallery....http://ksnyderphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/4326924_PbQAb#428293709_oo99K-XL-LB

[Q-bert]

Thanks for the input.

I would love to be able to take a shot like you suggested, but unfortunately, I am camraless at the moment. I'm waiting delivery of the 5D II and last weekend my XTi laid down on me and is on it's way back to Canon. :(

I think I'll try something like what you did in the link. ;)

[Q-bert]

I like the second try the most. The various poses is better. The darker BG on the third kinda takes away the Christmas feel (Ooops can't say Christmas right, gotta say holidays JK :) ) Very nice though. Looks like the girls had a lot of fun during the shoot. I get a lot of :( faces, or no eye contact...I always gotta act like Im 6 to get them to relax. haha!

I'm pretty good at acting like a 6 year old, it comes pretty natural. What really bugs my wife is when I ask to ride in the cart at the grocery store.:lol:

But really, the shoot I did after this one, was a couple of tired, stuborn little girls and it was not as easy.

[Livinthalife]

Riding in the grocery cart haha! I push my daughter in the cart, and I jump on the back, not much difference lol

Congrats on ordering the 5D II. That is going to rock!

[CheetaPita]

i love the photos but im not a fan of this type of collage. its just a style preference. for the type of collage that it is, i think the 2nd one works the best.

[sunnygirl]

Good job Qbert, I actually agree with the masses and prefer the 2nd choice. I find the background compliments the colours well and I don't find it too busy, I think it adds depth.

You and me still waiting for that MKII, hard when everyone else has us drooling, Oh Well:)

PS I also have a misbehaving 400D which I am waiting to send to Canon when new one arrives.

[Q-bert]

Good job Qbert, I actually agree with the masses and prefer the 2nd choice. I find the background compliments the colours well and I don't find it too busy, I think it adds depth.

You and me still waiting for that MKII, hard when everyone else has us drooling, Oh Well:)

PS I also have a misbehaving 400D which I am waiting to send to Canon when new one arrives.

Thanks SunnyG

I'm going to have to start wearing a bib if that 5D doesn't come in soon.:D

What's your 400 doing, or not doing?
Just started locking up. I would press the shutter down and the mirror would lock open. Then I could hit it again and it would close and the screen would show a correctly exposed picture. Weird. :confused: