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rantercsr wrote in post #18472882
Portrait session today .. girl was great .. hard to find bad pics in this shoot

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Znr2​mG DSCF4811-Edit by Randall Herrera, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/ZrG9​TX DSCF4927-Edit by Randall Herrera, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Ckty​CN DSCF4912-Edit by Randall Herrera, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/YmPq​mh DSCF4870-Edit by Randall Herrera, on Flickr

Great shots! I see what you mean, definitely looks like a model that'd be hard to find "bad" shots of

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #18472900
Great shots! I see what you mean, definitely looks like a model that'd be hard to find "bad" shots of

Yeah seriously.. attractive, photogenic, and very comfortable in front of camera
I think 99 percent of the bad ones(which werent alot) were camera/photographer related

Thought I'd like to take some of the credit though.
But I won't take it just yet.
I did approach this session a little differently then normally.
Nothing special I just simplified things.
I made an effort to find a decent background but I didn't go crazy like I normally do trying to find something super dramatic .
Anyways I decided to focus more on the model and composition. Just making it more about the person being photographed and less about the background as it should be anyway.
Well I'll continue this approach for the next sessions as well and see if my success continues.
And by success I just mean keeper rates.

Having models that are comfortable in front of the camera makes your workflow smooth imo. If they are a little tense I keep talking to them and let their persona come out.

Out catching the start of Autumn today, in the rain, I guess 1/60 is a little slow to shoot with if you are walking fast to catch up!

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/ZoFK​kY

so ... retouching , how much do I want to do ?
I used frequency separation for this image, new to that .. , normally I would use healing brush .. but I found that I got some blotchiness if the models skin required a lot of work..

I don't want the perfect pebble skin look , I want to maintain a natural skin texture .. even if that means leaving in a few "imperfections" ..

trying to find a balance..

I think I possibly took this one a little too far. not so noticeable viewing on IG via phone .. but def. noticeable on computer screen

rantercsr wrote in post #18473089
Yeah seriously.. attractive, photogenic, and very comfortable in front of camera
I think 99 percent of the bad ones(which werent alot) were camera/photographer related

Thought I'd like to take some of the credit though.
But I won't take it just yet.
I did approach this session a little differently then normally.
Nothing special I just simplified things.
I made an effort to find a decent background but I didn't go crazy like I normally do trying to find something super dramatic .
Anyways I decided to focus more on the model and composition. Just making it more about the person being photographed and less about the background as it should be anyway.
Well I'll continue this approach for the next sessions as well and see if my success continues.
And by success I just mean keeper rates.

Looking forward to the set with Biannely if you two can get together. I chat with her on Snapchat, and I saw your comment on one of her Instagram post. Lovely looking girl.

PLLphotography wrote in post #18475037
Looking forward to the set with Biannely if you two can get together. I chat with her on Snapchat, and I saw your comment on one of her Instagram post. Lovely looking girl.

yes i'm looking forward to that as well , i'm going to try to arrange something before it gets too cold ..
my schedule at the moment is not easy to work with for most (mon/tues are my weekends )
but I'm sure I can figure something out within the next couple of weeks to make it happen .

Today I’ve had the fourth person (in the last 6 months) ask me if I shoot weddings.. *shudder*. Although I’m sure I would love the money, that just seems a bit too stressful, and I always manage to find an excuse as to why I am unavailable.

I like being able to plan everything out, and weddings just scream “chaos” to me lol.

Since I actually started using Instagram I’ve had a lot of local models start following me. Maybe I’ll get the courage to actually shoot some of them.....someday, lol.

PLLphotography wrote in post #18475106
I like being able to plan everything out, and weddings just scream “chaos” to me lol.

Orderly chaos, if that makes any sense. IOW the photographer--along with other vendors/professionals--is not getting emotional.
.

PLLphotography wrote in post #18475106
Today I’ve had the fourth person (in the last 6 months) ask me if I shoot weddings.. *shudder*. Although I’m sure I would love the money, that just seems a bit too stressful, and I always manage to find an excuse as to why I am unavailable.

I like being able to plan everything out, and weddings just scream “chaos” to me lol.

Since I actually started using Instagram I’ve had a lot of local models start following me. Maybe I’ll get the courage to actually shoot some of them.....someday, lol.

I had the same thought when I was first asked to shoot a wedding. I've only shot a few at this point, but they get less scary each time. You have to remember that in most areas the market is saturated with the kind of "photographers" most of us wouldn't pay for... so if someone is asking you to do their shoot specifically it's probably because they admire your work or you were recommended by someone they know.

Do the first one for as low as you could without feeling like you ripped yourself off and give it a shot. You won't know if you love it or hate it unless you try. I'll definitely be shooting more in the future, I actually have a lot of fun during wedding shoots.

Here's a couple shots from my brother's wedding. I wasn't their photographer (I was a groomsman), but both he and his wife told me they were super glad I was there because apparently they got what they paid for with the guy they hired...

X-Pro2 + Helios 44m4

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/XxdA​4L

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/YwmL​RS

Weddings usually follow a pattern, so you can plan out your shots if you think about it. Only you have to get it right there and then, no second tries. Shooting a wedding is a very personal thing, you are right there with the couple and the celebrant while the rest look on from a way back. You get to see all the little bits of communication the couple give each other, the littles smiles, the nervousness, the tears and the laughter as well as the pain when the ring doesn’t go on easily - it rarely does.

It can be a very long day and you'll need to allow for that in everything from comfy shoes and clothes to food and water. Personally I like to be very well dressed as you will no doubt get into some shots and who wants to be that jeans and t-shirt guy at the wedding.

If the couple want posed shots meet up with them and discuss what their expectations are and perhaps give them a few quick poses to try out so when the day comes you can just be quick and not have the guests waiting for a couple of hours for them to arrive.

Also bring spare stuff incase something stops working, no time to try to fix things there and then.

PLLphotography wrote in post #18475106
Today I’ve had the fourth person (in the last 6 months) ask me if I shoot weddings.. *shudder*. Although I’m sure I would love the money, that just seems a bit too stressful, and I always manage to find an excuse as to why I am unavailable.

I like being able to plan everything out, and weddings just scream “chaos” to me lol.

Since I actually started using Instagram I’ve had a lot of local models start following me. Maybe I’ll get the courage to actually shoot some of them.....someday, lol.

So far ive had nothing but good luck with the people ive found on instagram for photo sessions..
If anything the last one , was a bit awkward for me because her top was a bit flimsy and she had another top that she wanted to put on (that was even more flimsy/transparent ) but my gf assured her that the one she had on was fine .. my gf is a bit old fashioned/conservative , and so knowing her i knew id hear about it after the shoot ... oh and i did.lol. "what kind of girl meets a random man in a top like that without a brau on?! "
But the girl behaved perfectly fine .. thats just her comfort level.
So the session went fine.

Yes weddings, would love to do one some day. But yeah very intimidating for me..as im a bit of an introvert/shy as groups get bigger and it seems like the kind thing where youre making things happen (organizing/directing )

lol, your girlfriend must be like my wife...

In other words... "I don't mind if you shoot models... as long as I'm there."

But I am also shy, which seems to be more detrimental than anything to this hobby lol. That and the constant fear of failure looming.

I'm in my own personal Hell lol.

Donadea Forest park

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Zvet​io

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/ZtKS​2A

A couple of my friend's cats

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/XxTb​4T

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Yta1​9w