My first real portrait shoot

My friend Anna who's a college senior asked for pictures. She needed two good shots for a scholarship application. It asked for two images from the mid region upwards. I have never done any portrait shots for anyone besides candid shots of my family. Some of different film edits i've tried from online tutorials. The rest are just RAW edits in CS4.

C&C Welcome.

Canon 40D and 50mm 1.4

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For a scholarship application, might want to be more formal. Images are not well composed and the angle of the subject in the photos (tilt) is not very pleasing. Use PP to level them and they might be more appealing. You need to be more cognizant of depth of field...might have helped. JMHO.

I like #2 and #3.

I agree with the above poster about the tilt in some of the images but I dont believe it is overdone...

I think she will be pleased.

I think you did a great job. I think the poses could use some work. That comes more with experience too. When posing women who are heavier, never have them lean on one arm. The other thing is you have a lot of limb chops. A limb chop here and there is fine esp when it's made for artist value but here I see it more as: chop chop chop chop KWIM?

Thanks everyone,

I'm nothing more than an amateur, I bought my first DSLR in March of last year and so its been just over a year of taking photos. I'm aware I have tons to learn.

I always get such conflicting information, I talk to some people from POTN (real life friends hehe) and they tell me straight framing is so boring, tilt the camera for a warmer effect. So out of the 300 photos I took I do have some that have non-tiled frames. I will edit those as well.

As for the chopped limbs, I tried haha. The application asked that the shots were waist up. I tried my best to make sure to use the rules I always hear on here "don't ever cut off a limb at the joint".

This wasn't paid and it wasn't serious, she loved the pictures and so I'm happy. I just know I have a lot of learning to do. Please keep the comments coming!

I like #2 the best. i agree, keep an eye on your DOF (keep it nice and shallow to separate your subject from the background) and go easy on the angles. great start!

Thanks,

All images were shot between f/1.4-f/2.2. Always learning more! Its probably the user here in this situation but I just can't seem to get sharp shots at 1.4 with this lens.

Too much tilt, but you are on the right track otherwise.

Thanks man, the tilt/no tilt seems objective. I can recompose some to be straight, but it seems when I present those Anna and my buddy whos our university photographer tells me they are boring. Is there such thing as a happy medium? ha

Taylor02GT wrote in post #12228231
Thanks man, the tilt/no tilt seems objective. I can recompose some to be straight, but it seems when I present those Anna and my buddy whos our university photographer tells me they are boring. Is there such thing as a happy medium? ha

I prefer to think of the tilt shots as spice. It can make a dish, but you wouldnt want a bowl of pepper. One tilted shot in a set is okay, but a full set of tilted shot seems like desperation.

gonzogolf wrote in post #12228256
I prefer to think of the tilt shots as spice. It can make a dish, but you wouldnt want a bowl of pepper. One tilted shot in a set is okay, but a full set of tilted shot seems like desperation.

Excellent way to think of it I'll keep that in mind

gonzogolf wrote in post #12228256
I prefer to think of the tilt shots as spice. It can make a dish, but you wouldnt want a bowl of pepper. One tilted shot in a set is okay, but a full set of tilted shot seems like desperation.

Lol, never heard that, but it works so well. I'll have to remember that one!

#2 for me is the best - nice work by the way!!