Angela & Kristopher e-shoot

[ridderphotography]

I have been friends with this couple for many years and was honored when they asked me to take their engagement photos. I did not charge them as I need to build up my portfolio so I can break into the business. Let me know what you think. Lighting is off but idon't use flash I use natural lighting instead.
1.http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy157/ridderphoto/angie%20and%20kris/IMG_2086.png

2.http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy157/ridderphoto/angie%20and%20kris/IMG_2110.png

3.http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy157/ridderphoto/angie%20and%20kris/IMG_2119.png

4.http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy157/ridderphoto/angie%20and%20kris/IMG_2150.png

5.http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy157/ridderphoto/angie%20and%20kris/IMG_2166.png

6.http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy157/ridderphoto/angie%20and%20kris/option2.png

7.http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy157/ridderphoto/angie%20and%20kris/IMG_2151.png

8.http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy157/ridderphoto/angie%20and%20kris/IMG_2182.png

[Apollo11]

Love that last one----great job!

[yogibear]

I know some folks insist on using natural lighting, but what's the harm if it'll help improve a photo? The shadows in the first picture could have easily been avoided with a little bit of fill light.

[ridderphotography]

i used the fill flash command on my paint shop pro and it helped out a lot because the shadow was really harsh on the original..

thanks for your comments

[sunnydacat]

1. L:ove the composition although try cropping part of legs out. not so sure about the lighting. Fill Flash would have helped.

2. I like this shot, but the dog is an unneccessary distraction: but if that's what the client wants......

3. Nice picture, personally I don't like the colour popping.

4. Good composition again, but I suspect the focus is a little off. The heads look a little soft compared to her top.

5. Very Nice, consider a different angle, a little lower or even higher. I tend to work the angles on a set up like this......come away with a number of shots and pick the best one!

6. A nice shot. Don't like the PP, it doesn't add to the image in my eyes. I would taken a few steps backwards and used the railway tracks as lead in lines and then cloned out the posts on the left of the image. Also try a vignette....

7. Great shot, but what's coming out of the groom's hand: looks like little spikes where the blur hasn't been applied.

8.Pick of the bunch, an excellent shot

[ridderphotography]

thanks so much for the comments.

the clients were really happy with their pictures, Angela actually helped me pick the ones she wanted and helped me PP them

[nickbunyun]

these seemed shot with a P&S..
theres no depth of field..
except for the photoshopped images..

[ridderphotography]

they were shot with a canon power shot SX20 IS

[auroraskye]

I think as a whole, for a point and shoot, they are fine. It is a nice point and shoot but you cannot go into business with that camera. I am glad she's happy with the shots, that's good. Please don't use it as a come back to people's critique when you say 'let me know what you think'. Even if clients are happy with images, we should always aim to grow and improve.

I am a natural light purist as much as possible - however, you have to watch your light and know when to move on when it isn't right. The light in the first one is harsh with hot spots - you have to see that and say 'sorry guys, this spot doesn't work'.. Or you can have an assistant hold up a big diffuser if you happen to have those things handy.

The editing needs some work - it's a bit sloppy and the colors are off. Keep on practicing and having fun with the camera you have now. You can learn a lot about watching your light and your compositions with your current camera. If you DO want to go into business, you will need a camera with which you can control more aspects.

[ridderphotography]

i said that they liked it because someone mentioned the dog.. i know that i need to work on my lighting but just wanted everyone's feed back to see what else i need to do

[Fred Eric Norris]

i said that they liked it because someone mentioned the dog.. i know that i need to work on my lighting but just wanted everyone's feed back to see what else i need to do

You don't seem to be taking this critique very gracefully. These aren't bad, but there is a lot of room for improvement. There in my opinion isn't a whole lot that can be done to improve these pictures. The critique people are giving you in here is going to help you improve for the long run. Everyone was new at some point.. you don't have to feel bad about critiques.. First thing first.. go get a DSLR! you are certainly on your way though.. shoot, study, shoot

oh and GO BUCKS!!

[Point-n-shoot-n]

The dog has a very "special" look on his face....................LOL I do like the shots though!

[Karl Johnston]

I think as a whole, for a point and shoot, they are fine. It is a nice point and shoot but you cannot go into business with that camera. I am glad she's happy with the shots, that's good.If you DO want to go into business, you will need a camera with which you can control more aspects.

I disagree with the equipment issue, that's a fine working manual P&S camera, albeit a small resolution one in comparison to a DSLR does a good job of creating some good images, nobody would be able to tell the difference if it wasn't mentioned.

The real issue is the lighting - while the use of natural light is marginal...without light you may as well have a 1Ds mark III and a battery full of L lenses, it won't make much of a difference.

Photographer + light = photographs. Learn how to work with onlocation lighting and you can forget the camera; let the creativity take over. Often when you start out you're given the notion that you need new stuff, better stuff, latest stuff..or you won't get any business. This couldn't be further from the truth, in fact, if there were pros behind you doing great work with lesser systems or equipment then there's no doubt you can do the same...for a time, for learning, for starting out. DSLR will help you a lot, but just saying don't fall into the trap of needing fancier equipment right away.

The set looks a lot better than a few on here with limited experience.

#5 you need to reduce the redness in his face -turn down the red saturation a bit that may help, or create it into a black and white.

I also think you need to learn better post processing skills. It will give you much greater flexibility to recover and create amazing photographs...things like using the soft diffuse look - too dated, and the selective color - also too dated processing.

What you need is a copy of lightroom, this is also an essential tool for wedding people...go here: http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom3/ and download that. In time maybe you will want photoshop too.

I like the use of natural light, it's great light, unbeatable light...but where you can't use natural light a good softbox and speedlight + radiopoppers set (should run about $600 for everything or so) will really help you utilize your creativity, as you will be able to control the light a lot better.

Try reading here
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=476788

[auroraskye]

While I think it would be fine creating outdoor images - you still cannot manage the same amount of control (DOF, etc) and you SURE shouldn't be attempting to shooting a wedding in a dark church with one of those. I know, I have an older model myself. I think they're great cameras, and I piddled around with plenty of portraits when I first got it years ago.. but really.. you cannot advertise yourself as a professional photographer when you have nothing but a point and shoot. Seriously.

[jdhart73]

LMAO @ at that dogs face!!!!!

[Mastamarek]

well, the whole role of a photographer is to use the SLR cameras to his creative advantage. PnS camera will not do unless your satisfied with the pictures above. Some of them are over exposed a bit, I don't dig the fake DOF at all and so on. You have to know how to use camera settings to your creative advantage. Thats why PnS and pop with a camera or mom with a camera will never take good pics. Even the best camera in the world will not take good pics as it doesn't have a soul and it doesn't know what creativity is.

[ridderphotography]

thanks for everyone comments. im plannin on getting a slr here soon, also im going to be taking photography classes and a photoshop class for college, that should help me out

[sctbiggs]

whoa.. the photoshop blur... tone that down and fix some color issues. Also, happy SLR hunting. I notice you said you didn't charge because they were your friends... well, I wouldn't even think about charging anybody at for services until you upgrade your equipment.

[foeduck]

O-H
also i like the pictures, very nice

[Thru my eyes]

The dogs face in the kissing photo is priceless. I love it. It looks like they had so much fun at the shoot. I love the ease of all of their poses.

[Nicole Faith]

Aside what has already been mentioned, all skin tones seem on the yellow side.

When looking for feedback when only using a PnS camera, professionals can really only critique you on posing at most. This is because you can't get the same effects with a PnS (in camera or editing) that you will get with a higher end DSLR model - so trying to direct you on how to use proper fill flash or Lightroom techniques wouldn't help as the camera being used will create different outcomes.