My wife paid out for a professional and I'm not impressed

[ArvThePie]

Hi all,
We had our pictures ready to view at or local photographer.
Im no Critique but what limited experience i have, I used to give my view on what pictures of our boys we should buy.

Let me first explain this was not cheap (£850) for a series of B&W and colour portraits, my wife knows the guy so a reduction in price was made.

However,

When my wife brought them home and had them all set up nicely for me to see in the living room, I found i was lost for words, as they all seemed overexposed and with a brilliant white background that was almost whiteout.
now i could be wrong and its just my lack of experience here, but if i would of known the outcome i would never of paid out that money (reduction or not).
Trouble is my wife and boys think there great, so im very reluctant to give my view, and feel i need to just keep quiet!.
I would love to show them here, but not sure how to without losing the original contrast/exposure etc.

My dilemma: keep shtum or fess up and upset her?:(

Oops forgot to add, there are a series of colour full lengh and close up shots for each boy, but it it almost looks like the colour full lenght picture was cut out and stuck on the background , it just looks wrong!

[sandpiper]

When my wife brought them home and had them all set up nicely for me to see in the living room, I found i was lost for words, as they all seemed overexposed and with a brilliant white background that was almost whiteout.
now i could be wrong and its just my lack of experience here, but if i would of known the outcome i would never of paid out that money (reduction or not).


Sounds like they were shot as high key images, which are very popular with some people. That could well be this photographers style.

Did you view a selection of his work, and discuss style of images you were after, before the shoot? If so, what style of images did you ask for?

[TheHoff]

If so, what style of images did you ask for?

I think it is more of a question of what did his wife ask for, and is she happy with them? If so, I think the photographer filled his end of the bargain. Whether you can pick them apart technically or not, we won't know unless you post a sample. Since you've paid for them I suppose you can do that if you wish.

That does seem a dear sum for a few prints and 2 or 3 hours of studio time. Maybe the prints are large and he took a lot of time with them, but I don't know.

[ArvThePie]

Sounds like they were shot as high key images, which are very popular with some people. That could well be this photographers style.

Did you view a selection of his work, and discuss style of images you were after, before the shoot? If so, what style of images did you ask for?
Hi Key, if so not for me..

Unfortunately I was at work, and all i got to see was an A4 sheet with all images that were chosen.

There were no lrg images.

If i can legally show a picture i will take a photo of one in the next day or so (when i get my new 100 f/2.8 macro).

[Michael_Lambert]

I don't think posting a shot of them sitting on your mantel would break any laws.

[ArvThePie]

I think it is more of a question of what did his wife ask for, and is she happy with them? If so, I think the photographer filled his end of the bargain. Whether you can pick them apart technically or not, we won't know unless you post a sample. Since you've paid for them I suppose you can do that if you wish.

That does seem a dear sum for a few prints and 2 or 3 hours of studio time. Maybe the prints are large and he took a lot of time with them, but I don't know.
Yup, I agree, maybe its me!
Maybe I expected more for my money.

[TheHoff]

Service professionals in any field will charge what they think the client will pay. To determine whether it was a very high rate or not, maybe you could specify how many prints you received, what size, and how many hours they spent in the studio. It is possible it is a fair rate but that is impossible to know without more details.

[Roy Mathers]

I don't think anyone can comment in any detail without at least seeing some examples of the shots.

[ArvThePie]

I don't think anyone can comment in any detail without at least seeing some examples of the shots.
Hi Roy, I will seek to take a picture sometime soon.

and will also find out sizes etc.;)

[Roy Mathers]

Hi Roy, I will seek to take a picture sometime soon.

and will also find out sizes etc.;)


That's good Arv - I expect the gurus on this forum will then give you some excellent advice.

[Scott-JL]

Hi all,
We had our pictures ready to view at or local photographer.
Im no Critique but what limited experience i have, I used to give my view on what pictures of our boys we should buy.

Let me first explain this was not cheap (£850) for a series of B&W and colour portraits, my wife knows the guy so a reduction in price was made.

However,

When my wife brought them home and had them all set up nicely for me to see in the living room, I found i was lost for words, as they all seemed overexposed and with a brilliant white background that was almost whiteout.
now i could be wrong and its just my lack of experience here, but if i would of known the outcome i would never of paid out that money (reduction or not).
Trouble is my wife and boys think there great, so im very reluctant to give my view, and feel i need to just keep quiet!.
I would love to show them here, but not sure how to without losing the original contrast/exposure etc.

My dilemma: keep shtum or fess up and upset her?:(

Oops forgot to add, there are a series of colour full lengh and close up shots for each boy, but it it almost looks like the colour full lenght picture was cut out and stuck on the background , it just looks wrong!

I presume by the 'white-out' look, you are referring to the look that Venture slap on every photo (apparently it's 'New Generation Portraits')...

http://www.thisisventure.co.uk/images.aspx?cat=4

A lot of people love this effect, and for me, I think it has a place. However, it does irk me that they do the same thing to every photo. Fair play to them though, it's their style, and they obviously make a fair amount of money out of it. It's not what I'd do, but...erm... back on topic... Sounds like the photographer you got to do these shots was going down the same route - white background, blown out, high contrast shots.

The cutout thing.... well... I did a full length high-key shoot a little while back. Now the problem is, that you need about 4 flash heads to light the backdrop properly - if you use two you get fall-off. Even if you light with four, it's likely that in order to make the backdrop white around the subject, you suffer light spill from your backdrop lighting onto your subject. Sounds like your photographer probably didn't get the backdrop white enough around the top or bottom, so they did a bit of post processing to whiten it up. If you don't do it carefully/properly, then you can give something a cut-out look.

Anyway, all the above is speculation. For £850, I'd expect some good quality content - obviously that's mainly subjective, the only thing you can really define is image quality, as people's opinions will vary on the style, pose, etc. The money's flown the nest now, so I wouldn't kick up a fuss. It's highly unlikely you'll get anything out of doing so, other than grief/black eye from the wife. ;) If she likes it, and the boys like it, then let them enjoy the work. Remember, photography is like food - not everyone will like the same style.

[cdifoto]

Showing the images won't do any good, because all it'll do is open up the floodgates of opinion on a particular style.

Your wife obviously received exactly what she wanted and paid for. The photographer did his job. END OF STORY.

If you were so concerned where your money was going, you should have joined the photographer search.

[Jeff81]

Well, your wife and boys are happy. Normally, I'm all for telling people what you really think, but in this situation I don't think it will accomplish anything. You're not getting your money back and your wife and kids like the photos. I'd just keep quiet and shoot some better photos of them to replace the shots you don't like. ;)

[CreedThoughts]

Happy wife, happy life.

[robertn]

Happy wife, happy life.

Amen to that!

[Andrushka]

Happy wife, happy life.

more truth couldn't be spoken... :lol:

[Hinson]

...Trouble is my wife and boys think there great,...
My dilemma: keep shtum or fess up and upset her?:(

When momma's happy, everybody is happy. When momma's upset....

[yap'in]

post up a few

let us critique

[ArvThePie]

I presume by the 'white-out' look, you are referring to the look that Venture slap on every photo (apparently it's 'New Generation Portraits')...

http://www.thisisventure.co.uk/images.aspx?cat=4

A lot of people love this effect, and for me, I think it has a place. However, it does irk me that they do the same thing to every photo. Fair play to them though, it's their style, and they obviously make a fair amount of money out of it. It's not what I'd do, but...erm... back on topic... Sounds like the photographer you got to do these shots was going down the same route - white background, blown out, high contrast shots.

The cutout thing.... well... I did a full length high-key shoot a little while back. Now the problem is, that you need about 4 flash heads to light the backdrop properly - if you use two you get fall-off. Even if you light with four, it's likely that in order to make the backdrop white around the subject, you suffer light spill from your backdrop lighting onto your subject. Sounds like your photographer probably didn't get the backdrop white enough around the top or bottom, so they did a bit of post processing to whiten it up. If you don't do it carefully/properly, then you can give something a cut-out look.

Anyway, all the above is speculation. For £850, I'd expect some good quality content - obviously that's mainly subjective, the only thing you can really define is image quality, as people's opinions will vary on the style, pose, etc. The money's flown the nest now, so I wouldn't kick up a fuss. It's highly unlikely you'll get anything out of doing so, other than grief/black eye from the wife. ;) If she likes it, and the boys like it, then let them enjoy the work. Remember, photography is like food - not everyone will like the same style.
Bang on the money!

[ArvThePie]

post up a few

let us critique
Hmm im not sure now!

[TeeTee]

Hmm im not sure now!

Just do it!

Also curious what do you do in St Albans? I'm up there pretty often ;)

[ArvThePie]

Best if i dont really, esp now wifey reads from this site..;)

Here you go! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verulamium);)

[TeeTee]

Best if i dont really, esp now wifey reads from this site..;)

Here you go! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verulamium);)


Fair enough, as others have said as long as she and the boys are happy.

I've got to get down there and shoot sometime. Always love inspiring locations.