Senior Portrait - First Time

Took a stab at doing some senior portraits for a friend of mine whose daughter was not happy with the professional ones that she had done. This was a first time for me doing anything like this and I am really just a hobbyist. The light was a little harsh and I probably did not use the reflector correctly (gold vs. Silver, where to aim, etc.) but she was happy with the pictures and I now have much more to think about next time I do anything like this. I would appreciate more C&C so I can continue to learn.

Nice shots ... an attractive kid too.

Great job overall. I think you've done the first and most important step when doing portrait photography, which is to gain trust from your subject and make them feel comfortable. She clearly looks comfortable in front of you, and it shows through the pictures.

On the first shot, it could probably look a little bit better if she were leaning on the post, instead of having her hands rest on it. #2, and 5 look great

Josh Young wrote in post #16904719
Great job overall. I think you've done the first and most important step when doing portrait photography, which is to gain trust from your subject and make them feel comfortable. She clearly looks comfortable in front of you, and it shows through the pictures.

On the first shot, it could probably look a little bit better if she were leaning on the post, instead of having her hands rest on it. #2, and 5 look great

Thanks. I agree wholeheartedly regarding the importance of her being comfortable. When I asked her what she didn't like about the "professional" senior pictures she already had taken she said that the poses felt awkward and uncomfortable and although the photographer ensured both mom and daughter that it would not come across in the pictures, it did and was the main reason they didn't like them and wanted different pictures. No doubt a valuable lesson that has very little to do with your ability to take a high quality picture and operate equipment.

She was a joy to photograph. My wife made some small suggestions on poses but she just kind of did her thing and I did my best to capture it. It was fun!

I believe the focus is off on the last two photos, being on the branches in front of her which is why the 4th photo looks so soft, lacking detail. Is that a crop of the 5th photo?

The last photo she looks... well... stiff. That's not the kind of chair I'd want to sit like that in with her back against the wood edge of the arm chair. That uncomfortable position in that chair makes her look rather stiff because she had to be stiff if she didn't want to really hurt her back leaning against that arm!

I thought the last shot looks fine. It's a casual pose. Could it be refined a little to give it more elegance? Sure. A little of arching of the back, as well as the neck could add a little more pizzaz. A bit of hair movement as she did on the 2nd shot could add a little more fashion flair to it. But as is such, it's a wonderful shot and captures her personality well. She appears more down to earth type, as opposed to the sexy model variety.

All of these that I posted are "tack sharp" in the originals. I constantly struggle with uploaded pictures on here looking soft. I gave up trying to figure out how to get them to post "sharp". You will have to take my word that the focus is good.