My first paying session

[jennhunter]

This is the first shoot I have done and been payed to do. I am still very new but wanted to share a few and get some c & c...

[midnight_rider]

Was that babies face stuck like that?

[jennhunter]

a few more

[midnight_rider]

Were you using the 50mm for most of these shots. When the babies face is turned to any degree you loose focus on the eyes. It looks like you may want to try stopping down a little more. Just enough to get both eyes in focus at least.
They are for the most part pretty well composed. I really like the second photo in b&W on your flicker. The version that you posted looks very cool, not like man that is cool but like you chose the wrong WB.
I think that you have some very nice photos on your flicker account and there were also more a lot of photos that were better than these 4. Were you looking for C&C on just these or is there a reason that you chose them?

[jennhunter]

Well honestly these were the ones I thought were on the better side, which ones on my flikr do you like better? Keep in mind, I am still learning learning learning....and have been very hesitant about posting photos on here, afraid of criticism from the pros :)

[jennhunter]

And yes I was using the 50mm, what stop would you have shot at? I think I was shooting at f/2 or so for most of these....

[midnight_rider]

One thing that I did notice is that the photos seem to have one thing in common. The person that is getting the little ones attention. They seem to be standing a ways off from you and to your right. Get them to stand directly beside you or for an even better shot, once you get down to eye level with the kid have them behind you. Try to get the kids eyes looking at your lens as much as possible.

[jennhunter]

I completely agree, and I figured that out after I went back and looked at the photos. I think my nerves got the best of me, it was an old friend, and my first real shoot. But I guess you learn from experience huh?

[cdrumeller]

These Are really cute but I agree with the other poster that you have much cuter ones on your flicker site

[lhughey]

that babies face makes me chuckle. Cute kid.

[jennhunter]

In your opinions, which photos on my flikr are better? I am just curious to get opinions.

[matonanjin]

You say you are very new and this is your first paid shoot? Isn't this a contradiction? I think you need to work on some basics and composition before you are qualified to charge for your work.

On your second post with the baby. the baby's direction is going camera right. That is where your empty space should be. Likewise, with dad holding the baby they should give the movement towards the empty space in front of them.

JMHO

[jennhunter]

umm, thanks, I guess

[ears]

You say you are very new and this is your first paid shoot? Isn't this a contradiction? I think you need to work on some basics and composition before you are qualified to charge for your work.

On your second post with the baby. the baby's direction is going camera right. That is where your empty space should be. Likewise, with dad holding the baby they should give the movement towards the empty space in front of them.

JMHO

And remember to cross your I's and dot your T's ;). There is always exceptions to the rules. Thats what potography is all about. It doesnt matter if you went out and got a disposable camera yesterday and started charging today. If the clients are happy and your making money then why wait till your "qualified" to do the work? At what point should I consider myself qualified? That being said. It all comes down to whether or not the client is happy (and yourself of course). Sorry if this is a little long winded but the response seemed a little blunt. Now off to finish off that qualification test.......

[jennhunter]

Amen! Thanks. Everyone has to start somewhere. And I can take criticism, but why be so harsh?

[cdrumeller]

In your opinions, which photos on my flikr are better? I am just curious to get opinions.

Here are my opinion on my favorites from your flicker site:

IMG_2735

IMG_2656

IMG_2757 1


my only critique is that some are odd sizes like IMG_2765 it looks very sinny? what size did you crop it to?

[jennhunter]

As I am pretty much self teaching myself photoshop, with the help of a few books, I didn't even realize I was doing that to my photos. I had it set on no restriction for the aspect ratio, so as I was cropping, it was shrinking.....duh. Guess I shall continue to learn from my mistakes :)

[Undispu7ed]

You say you are very new and this is your first paid shoot? Isn't this a contradiction? I think you need to work on some basics and composition before you are qualified to charge for your work.

On your second post with the baby. the baby's direction is going camera right. That is where your empty space should be. Likewise, with dad holding the baby they should give the movement towards the empty space in front of them.

JMHO

And remember to cross your I's and dot your T's ;). There is always exceptions to the rules. Thats what potography is all about. It doesnt matter if you went out and got a disposable camera yesterday and started charging today. If the clients are happy and your making money then why wait till your "qualified" to do the work? At what point should I consider myself qualified? That being said. It all comes down to whether or not the client is happy (and yourself of course). Sorry if this is a little long winded but the response seemed a little blunt. Now off to finish off that qualification test.......

I agree with this. What makes a person qualified? So because someone has been shooting for years, that would make them more qualified? Even if said photography newbie's pictures looks better?

[kajawhit]

You have some really cute shots :) I am not sure if it happened in PP or in camera, but the first image seems kind of contrasty and dark. The second eye looks almost black. You can fix it is photoshop. Just a couple of adjustments, and here is the difference.
~ Wanted to add that is one adorable baby :) and I think you did great. Keep clickin away!
Yours
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i309/kajawhit/original-baby-cute.jpg

Quick edit
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i309/kajawhit/baby-cute.jpg

[jennhunter]

Thank you so much! Would you be willing to explain how exactly you did that in photoshop?

[matonanjin]

And remember to cross your I's and dot your T's ;). There is always exceptions to the rules. Thats what potography is all about. It doesnt matter if you went out and got a disposable camera yesterday and started charging today. If the clients are happy and your making money then why wait till your "qualified" to do the work? At what point should I consider myself qualified? That being said. It all comes down to whether or not the client is happy (and yourself of course). Sorry if this is a little long winded but the response seemed a little blunt. Now off to finish off that qualification test.......

Amen! Thanks. Everyone has to start somewhere. And I can take criticism, but why be so harsh?

I agree with this. What makes a person qualified? So because someone has been shooting for years, that would make them more qualified? Even if said photography newbie's pictures looks better?

In hindsite, it was blunt and harsh. For that I apologize. I so often see people post crap on here and every one falls all over each other telling the poster how great it is. That, IMO, does little to help the poster.

That is absolutely not to say the OP's product is crap. I am a sports photog not a portrait one and therefor probably not qualified to criticize and shouldn't have. But even as such I saw some areas for improvement in these. Composition could be better and several on the Flickr site could use improvement in lighting. But I certainly could have worded it better.

Definitely, I know those that have been shooting for years that put out an inferior product to some that develop a passion for this discipline and are brilliant in as short as a year or less. But still as a general rule I believe that quality improves with time and experience.

There are many of us that have been doing this for years and making a living at it that are hypersensitive to the newbies with a digital rebel and a kit lens suddenly qualified to start charging. I remain convinced there should be a minimal level of knowledge before doing so not unlike an auto mechanic or plumber. But maybe if the client is satisfied that is the ultimate measure.

My criticism was directed at your images. If you took it personally I again apologize.

[jennhunter]

I accept your apology. I didn't take it THAT personally. I would like to feel welcomed to post photos on here and get constructive, reasonable, criticism. Isn't part of the point of these sites to help us "newbies" get advice from the more experienced? Wasn't there a point in your career where you were also considered a "newbie"? I really didn't charge these people to take photos of their daughter, it was offered to me, as I was pretty much taking it in as practice. But thanks for clearing things up.

[jennhunter]

Ok, I took this one and started from scratch. Not as good as Kajawhit's, but I gave it a whirl.

[Kimmy T]

I think you did a wonderful job. Everybody has their own style and if people are paying you, they must like what you are doing. Keep shooting!!I think you did a good job of your edit. I played a bit with your edit, if you don't like it I can take it down.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i117/yorkiekisses/Photo%20Editing/3935502670_db6ca6e919.jpg

[jennhunter]

Thank you that looks good, what exactly did you do to it to get those results? Thank you for your words of encouragement!

[Noelle8818]

Thank you that looks good, what exactly did you do to it to get those results? Thank you for your words of encouragement!
im very interested too in how those results were acheived? I really need to work on brightening eyes.

BTW I thought your shots were great. I do like the second edit of the first picture best, and I love t he second shot in your first post too. Great job!

[Kimmy T]

Thank you that looks good, what exactly did you do to it to get those results? Thank you for your words of encouragement!

I took your edit, adjusted the Hue/Sat (sat red -100, yellow -100), adjusted the brightness +50 painted back everything but the skin, burned the iris of the eyes. Hope this helps.

[michillebaker]

I definatly agree with you. Everyone has to start somewhere. To be truthful I think you did a great job for your first paid shoot. I truly am in love with your 2nd photo. Do you mind sharing what type of photo processing you did. I love these types of photos. I also checked your flickr and feel the other are good to. Great job! Amen! Thanks. Everyone has to start somewhere. And I can take criticism, but why be so harsh?

[Rhinotherunt]

That first one is adorable.