Friends Daughter

[ericgtr]

I took this at the holiday BBQ yesterday, she was a great subject.

http://www.ericsmedia.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_steph_soft.jpg

[lostdoggy]

She is very pretty!!!

[Crimsonn]

Agreed, I see a lot of potential in her for making a great subject. There's a certain pleasant quality about her face and smile that I would personally love to shoot.


Crimsonn

[InskiP]

The image seems soft. She kinda reminds me of Daryl Hannah.

[ericgtr]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. This was my first attempt at softening in photoshop and I probably overdid it some but it's a good learning experience and I am beginning to realize the power of it.

[elbirth]

just playing devil's advocate here for you, in case you want some criticism (I'd like to shoot her myself)

the background is kinda distracting since it's on the corner of the house rather than on a solid wall- it changes from brick to paneling...
you said you softened it in Photoshop, so maybe that's the only main issue with that.. plus her smile there seems a little forced, to me... like she needs to loosen up some.

[ericgtr]

Critisism is welcomed, as I am new at this it will really benefit me, thanks for your opinion :) I also noticed that the smile seemed forced, she was sitting with her parents (dad said 'come here for this picture') and she wasn't too thrilled about it lol. I didn't really get to direct anyone I just sort of snapped some shots, here's one where the smile was a little less forced.

http://www.ericsmedia.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/4th012.jpg

[elbirth]

yeah, much better facial expression there, nice capture :)

she has cool hair as well (I like long hair)....

[wareseeker]

I like the last one. I don't see any problem with her smile. The color is beautiful but the background would be better if the car wasn't on it. It is my opinion...

[dkord]

The last one is a great candid: She has a natural smile. The car in the background is too strong and you might want to explore cropping above her wrist.
The first one was nice but I think the background with it's textures and lines were too strong for a soft shot.

[InskiP]

Yes, this one is a much better, cleareer image. I agree that you should crop above the wrist. And, maybe explor blurring the back ground in PS. For example, a gaussian blur layer then erase her so the original show through. Can get kinda tricky around the hair though. I'm sure there are other methods.

[Titus213]

Second is much better. She appears quite relaxed and natural. Shooting with a larger f-stop could have blurred the background in camera. She is a lovely girl with great facial features and a killer smile. She would be fun to photograph.

I am trying to learn too and I have found out that the background can kill an otherwise wonderful image.

[Bruce Hamilton]

I think I just found my next ex wife. ;)

[skade]

2nd one is fantastic! Nice and Natural!

[h46it]

2nd shot is so much better! Great shot! Looks like a Gap ad!

[T-Roc]

The first picture was too soft for me but I really like the 2nd one.... much better and very pretty girl.

[Croasdail]

both shots of her are wonderful - she is a beautiful subject and you captured her well. On the other hand - there always seems to be one doesn't there - the backgrounds are less then optimal. Sometimes it is what it is. I have seen some great work by others on the forum that have softened the background to resolve the issue. I personally don't have the patience to do that. The second one would be fine minus the silver car.

[ericgtr]

Thanks for all of the feedback. On the second one I tried to blur the background but it's kind of hard because of the hair and I can't get the edges to look right.

[Hellashot]

The first image is too soft/out of focus. She's not old enough to need a blurry image.