Couple Photoshoot

Looking for C&C on a few pics from a photoshoot from last week. Feedback greatly appreciated.

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There's no connection between the couple in these two shots. I think he's a little too far from the girl in the first shot. In the second shot, I think he needs to be closer and to bring his head in the same plane as hers (over her shoulder). There's too much "distance" between them.

Rioni

this is all new to me so as you were so kind to work on one of my shots hope you don't mind a very knew digital photographer giving his opinion?

The first shot is a stunner! I love the complimentary colours they are wearing, the overall soft lighting is lovely. You have nailed the eyes just a nice catchlight, did you use some fill in flash?

The pose is super it says to me a couple but an independant woman strong and self reliant, the position of his hand screams I protect this lady! This shot works on so may levels.

The second one I dont like as much and as I say just a complete newbie here, but I find the vertical and horizontal lines distracting and the fact that the lovely shallow depth of field has put him out of focus while she is beautifully sharp.

Again her eyes jump, she looks stunning if he had leaned forward and maybe put his arms round her waist so they where more on the same plane then for me his eyes being sharp would have made it for me.

Oh and lose the horizontal bars in the background I find them distracting.

I keep going back to shot one it is a stunner!

Thanks for sharing

Paul

I agree with Heip. The first one has no connection, the second is better but the male isnt in focus. this type of image can work but he needs to be back further and looking at her, he needs to be part of the background, he isn't, he is too prominent and is fighting for attention, its almost like he's photobombing a portrait session.

couple portraits are about the subjects interacting with each other in some way, in every shot. in its simplest form they need to be touching or conveying closeness.

the first one would improve greatly if they were closer, the second, besides having him in focus, just put his left hand on her shoulder.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. This was one of my first couples shoots and I think I need to read up abit on poses @kings, the inside shots were bounce flash on camera and the outside shots were natural light. Here are a few more.

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LOVE the last shot. Seems a little red but overall awesome!

Last one is definitely the best one. Off camera flash, soft lighting, great interaction, caught in the moment...all the recipes for a good photo. I think it could have used a vertical orientation, but this works.

In your last series of three, the third one wins. Awesome. they are having fun and interacting. One little thing could have tied the other two together -- have them tilt their heads toward each other. (I probably read this technique here on POTN. If this was your idea that I am now using, please identify yourself for full credit.) When you have them in a pose like this, tell them to slowly tilt their heads toward each other. Tell them to keep going...keep going...keep going. Then, at some point, their heads will touch, they will laugh and move their heads slightly apart. THAT is the exact moment you want.

Keep working to get the great connections in the couples' shots.

Thanks for sharing your concepts and execution.

Technically very sound images. Unfortunately you didn't start the thread with your best; the guy could have been posed closer and he needed a bit of fill light.

Again, thanks for the feedback everyone. @cpam, I'll be trying that next time for sure, @source, I actually knocked the red channel down -10 and it's still coming out that way. If I lowered it any more, it started to alter skin tones in a negative way. @Hiep, that one was natural light.

Here are a few more I nixed the first time for various reasons that may work?

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What software are you using for your edits?

All were edited with Lightroom 5. Also, these were shot with a Nikon D600 using an old Nikkor 180 2.8ED prime, Sigma 35 and Nikon 85 1.8G.

A red channel adjustment in Lightroom is global so it will also affect elements of your photo you don't want to change. But in this case you need to be able to selectively adjust the reds (or add Cyan, the opposite of red on an additive color wheel). A tool like the Selective Color adjustment layer in Photoshop would work well here.

Thanks pixel, I'll have to look into that.

I'm no portrait expert, but in DSC_0494 they both have elements growing out of their heads. The first one that tree coming up behind him, to me at least is distracting...