Headshot of wife

[cbknight]

Ok..was busy shooting my son at his birthday party at a local go-kart track and miniature golf course when my wife said, hey look at that fountain. So I turned and she was giving me a pretty good pose daring me. Took me a few adjustments while chimping and ended up with this. I know it is on-camera flash (580ex II) but would like critiques on the shot and post processing.


Thanks in advance.

http://4k-photography.smugmug.com/Other/Headshots/T-1/788423604_MfEx2-L.jpg

[BlueTreePhoto]

wow, I think it is a great shot!

[Free2BeMePhotography]

well I can't help you out with any advice (lol) but I can tell you that your wife is very beautiful! Just had to share that!!! :)

[thebeatnut]

Nice candid.

My only point here is regarding PP. I'm not going to accuse you of whitening your wifes teeth as you Americans always have lovely gnashers ;)

However, her eyes look a little over brightened. If you used the layer mask technique, then I would suggest dropping the opacity of the brightening layer a touch. Maybe to 75% just to retain some of the detail in the eye.

If i've totally missed the mark and you've not touched them then please put me straight!

[cbknight]

Nice candid.

My only point here is regarding PP. I'm not going to accuse you of whitening your wifes teeth as you Americans always have lovely gnashers ;)

However, her eyes look a little over brightened. If you used the layer mask technique, then I would suggest dropping the opacity of the brightening layer a touch. Maybe to 75% just to retain some of the detail in the eye.

If i've totally missed the mark and you've not touched them then please put me straight!

You are spot on. I did whiten the teeth with an opacity of 40% and eyes at 50%. Maybe I shouldnt have whitened at all as they are both pretty white to begin with. My pp technique was sent to me by a pro from the POTN and I usually follow it to the -t- but that doesnt mean I dont over do it from time to time.

Thanks for the advise, those are easy fixes.

[cbknight]

well I can't help you out with any advice (lol) but I can tell you that your wife is very beautiful! Just had to share that!!! :)

Thanks Brandy. You will get there. In a short time you will be saying, what were you thinking????

[cbknight]

wow, I think it is a great shot!

Thanks...Getting better....but long way to go.

[thebeatnut]

I used to follow the same steps, letter by letter, but I was coming out with the same results. Sometimes (in your wifes case certainly) her teeth and eyes are just fine!

[cbknight]

I used to follow the same steps, letter by letter, but I was coming out with the same results. Sometimes (in your wifes case certainly) her teeth and eyes are just fine!

Thanks for the compliment on my wife. She is a willing subject as long as I do her justice. Thanks for the advice. When I went back and lowered the opacity to virtually nothing, I come out with pretty much the same thing. She was standing over my shoulder and said she wanted a little teeth whitening, so we left it at 20%. My old eyes cant hardly tell the difference between the two shots. I did leave her lipstick color as original in the following. Eyes are natural in this edit.

Thanks again

http://4k-photography.smugmug.com/Other/Headshots/T-2/789834791_pSxiW-L.jpg

[thebeatnut]

The difference is certainly there to see. If you look carefully the eyes seem to have a little more grey in them, but this is natural. As for the teeth? I think i'd whiten mine 20% if i could! hehe.

[cbknight]

The difference is certainly there to see. If you look carefully the eyes seem to have a little more grey in them, but this is natural. As for the teeth? I think i'd whiten mine 20% if i could! hehe.

I am using LR3 Beta which doesnt have the liquify tool. If I was going to edit myself 20%, I would start with it. As for my teeth, mine are perfectly white, because they never see the light of day...I dont smile. I grin, but dont smile. As for my wife, she is always smiling so in photos of us, it is a big contrast between us. :rolleyes:

Thanks for the help. Will keep her reduced down lower and not "cookie cutter" edit all her shots.

[deathcake]

Good portrait, lovely wife. I agree that the processing looks better in the second edit you posted, more natural. You should stop being modest, your work is great =)

[cbknight]

Good portrait, lovely wife. I agree that the processing looks better in the second edit you posted, more natural. You should stop being modest, your work is great =)

Live in a rural area where there are a couple photographers. They are good and rarely hear a complaint on them. They are very "traditional" or outdated, in my opinion. I set out to get better than they are before I introduce myself. I am doing a senior shoot this weekend. She is willing to indulge me in the experimenting stage. We will see where I fair then. I am going for a more current style so I can offer the kiddos something different. I have locations to offer that the others don't. With Ashleys (the senior this weekend) recommendation (if I earn it), I think I will do well amongst the senior student crowd in our area and surrounding areas. I have been preparing a while, but its time to see what I've got to offer.

Thanks for the at-a-boy.

[deathcake]

I am going for a more current style so I can offer the kiddos something different. I have locations to offer that the others don't. With Ashleys (the senior this weekend) recommendation (if I earn it), I think I will do well amongst the senior student crowd in our area and surrounding areas. I have been preparing a while, but its time to see what I've got to offer.


Sounds like a good plan, with senior's portraits especially... I think it's best to give them an opportunity to enjoy the experience, try something new and be themselves, they are going to love you for it and you'd get better and more interesting results than with cliché practised poses. Best of luck with the upcoming shoot!

[Robjohn53]

I like the second one better, looks great.

[recrisp]

Really pretty lady, that's for sure! :)

I see something that as someone that is thinking of doing seniors, you may consider what you are doing with the flash.
The flash, as you can see under her chin and hair, is leaving a harsh shadow, if you can fix that, and dial the flash down a little bit, it'll look pretty good.
I know you mentioned the "on-flash", but I am just saying in case it helps.
Personally, I feel the skin's PP is a little overdone, it's not bad, but it's at the point of being too much, that is a personal taste thing though, I realize.
Most people will want their teeth a lot whiter than what they are, we all want to think we look our best, so the teeth look good to me.
The eyes do too actually, but since both have been hit by a flash that was on-board, it will be that way, so more of your shots would have to be seen to really make a judgment.
Honestly, this shot, although good, looks more like a good snapshot, not a portrait, if that makes sense, and I mean that with respect.

Like you said, you have access to places that others don't, but it would really help you out a lot if you posted a few shots that you do of your wife, a teen, or anyone else, then we could possibly help you out before you actually start shooting for real.
You know the saying, Measure twice, cut once!", that kind'a applies here, then again, it doesn't... heheh

Randy

[cbknight]

Really pretty lady, that's for sure! :)

I see something that as someone that is thinking of doing seniors, you may consider what you are doing with the flash. You actually read the thread. I am impressed.
The flash, as you can see under her chin and hair, is leaving a harsh shadow, if you can fix that, and dial the flash down a little bit, it'll look pretty good. Message received. 0 for 1
I know you mentioned the "on-flash", but I am just saying in case it helps. Ok..got ya. 0 for 2
Personally, I feel the skin's PP is a little overdone, it's not bad, but it's at the point of being too much, that is a personal taste thing though, I realize. My PP is a work in progress. I will dial it down and see if she will still let me post her 37 year old self. Damn... 0 for 3
Most people will want their teeth a lot whiter than what they are, we all want to think we look our best, so the teeth look good to me. Batting average is up to .250
The eyes do too actually, but since both have been hit by a flash that was on-board, it will be that way, so more of your shots would have to be seen to really make a judgment. Up to .400
Honestly, this shot, although good, looks more like a good snapshot, not a portrait, if that makes sense, and I mean that with respect. I will take that as a swing and a miss, strike three. It was a candid shot. But developed into a portrait in PP. Uh, oh. .333

Like you said, you have access to places that others don't, but it would really help you out a lot if you posted a few shots that you do of your wife, a teen, or anyone else, then we could possibly help you out before you actually start shooting for real. This weekend my senior rep is going to let me do my thing. We blocked out two days to hit the locations we both selected and see if I am ready or not. Whether I am or not will be left up to the forums (sorda). Will post the shoot if it takes three threads to get them all in there. I will have to hit better than .333 to be satisfied.
You know the saying, Measure twice, cut once!", that kind'a applies here, then again, it doesn't... heheh
Thanks for the strong critiques and advice. It has been received and recorded in the few brain cells I have remaining.
Randy


Thanks to all for commenting.

[recrisp]

Will post the shoot if it takes three threads to get them all in there.
I'm glad that you are going to post how that goes, I would sure be interested.
Honestly, this shot, although good, looks more like a good snapshot, not a portrait
I do want to say, now that I 'really' see it, I shouldn't have, you definitely said it was a snapshot, sorry, I didn't catch that really, for some reason. :)

Good luck on your first big shoot, that sounds really exciting, and I'm 'batting for you on this, I am sure you'll do well.

(Also, thanks for understanding what, and how I meant stuff)

Randy