First Model and Car shoot

Hello all, been taking mostly automotive pics over the last 18 months and kinda thinking about getting models in some of the pics now. What are some things i need to improve on?

1:

Those are amazing shots. Maybe you can work on the first and second one to clone out the red fire extinguishers.
I know they are a part of a car garage, but they are so tiny that they look out of place in the picture for me.
It is not the picture on the first one, but maybe a little floor sweep to have it spotless.

Amazing shots.

thxs for the feedback

work on cropping differently
#! one should have been cropped at the front fender
#2 missing an elbow
#3 cut race suite
#4 should have had the whole wheel....

lighting was good except 3 needed to measure the outside light and her and shoot the difference or closed down the door part way still giving you back light....

I think 3 is your best composed shot of the model, despite blowing out the open garage door... the model's face really pops in that one, and the pose is natural. I could keep or leave the racing suit. maybe shoot it booth ways?

the first 2, (in addition to stans comments) have distracting things on the wall and floor, plus my eye wanders all over looking for something to lock on to. There just doesn't appear to be a 'point' to the picture, that I can find, and I'm trying. Also, you cut off part of your models eye, by the way she is posed.

#4, car is cut off in an awkward spot.

nothing really BAD here, just a lot of little details that will help make them start to pop.

I didn't see any cars....

I LOVE the 3rd picture!

Look into a concept called 'rule of thirds' it'll give you a an little perspective on how to compose a shot that's really appealing to the eye at first glance. Having a 60D helps alot, it has a grid for the thirds rule and the flip out screen. Take a little extra time and chimp to see if your shot is level, is the exposure good, is the subject framed right (rule of thirds), anything that shouldn't be there or an object that looks / feels out of place.

I know the urge to get setup and shoot ASAP is heavy because natural light is fleeting, but that extra 60 second can most the shot from really good to a GREAT shot.

BTW I love Bugs in the first shot, I'd almost crop to that If I could.

Nice job for a first try.
To add to what others have said, I'd like to see consistent skin tone in the first

thxs guys really appreciate the feedback.

Id figure cropping would be my biggest issue. Its hard to show of the entire car and still be close enough to show the detail in the model.

For these types of shoots do you normally crop this close? I tried to do some google image search to see how everyone else cropped and framed the pic but want to get yall thoughts.

Here are a few more from the set.

5:

Generally speaking, our eyes are drawn to the brightest area of a picture, so if the brightest area is not the subject then the lighting isn't balanced very well. Of the second set of photos, the last one has the best lighting on the subject (the model). The first is ok, but her back is brighter than her face.

This is going to sound terrible but they're great car pics... the model doesn't add anything to them though.

For the car...
-Watch your crop. We've got wheels cut off, bumpers cut off. Car photography is all about shape and line so your eyes are going to want to travel along those body lines fully with our eyes. When it stop or a tire/wheel is cut off, it's a composition problem.

For the model...
-Her eyes change color 3 times
-Her skin tone goes from tan to nuclear white (blown out)
-Watch stuff like bra straps (2nd pic is twisted). If you're not used to working with models have her bring a friend along to watch for stuff like that.
-Some of the poses are not flattering. (back fat, thick arms) This girl isn't heavy but in some of the poses she looks it.
-The lighting on the car is great but it doesn't look like you've lit the model at all. The last pic is the most evident (most of them are natural light) but you didn't give her any shadow or definition. Her face doesn't appear to have a jawline.

All in all great first session... don't take any of this too harshly, just trying to help you grow.

its cool ive been on various forums for awhile now and know how to take criticism. The only way to learn is be humble and listen and learn from others. I've learned to take pics, review, look for improvements and implement what i learned.

Wished i setup my strobes for the garage shots. I just had a 430ex with a gary fong light sphere and being that i didnt have umbrellas as diffusers i was afraid that the light would be too harsh.

I was also using my kit lens and wanted to shoot around f/7.1 and f/8 to keep everything sharp but doing so made me either shoot at a slow SS or high ISO.

shaftmaster wrote in post #14493212
Generally speaking, our eyes are drawn to the brightest area of a picture, so if the brightest area is not the subject then the lighting isn't balanced very well. Of the second set of photos, the last one has the best lighting on the subject (the model). The first is ok, but her back is brighter than her face.

Very good tip. Thanks for sharing it.

If you're shooting for the car owner, then take some shots with her behind the car.
If you're shooting for the model, then crop in on her more in most of the shots.

Shooting 8X10" film in a studio, we typically had models "hold" for 30 seconds or more. Even a beginning model should be able to hold for 1/2 second?
And besides what's already been said, you've made her look fat in #s 5 & 6? Don't be afraid to say, "Suck it in."