(Hurried) First Maternity Session Ever

Story: My friends wanted some maternity pictures before they moved out of town. Being that this was my first maternity session ever, I spent two weeks researching poses, ideas, buying props and planned what was going to be a great session. We scheduled about an hour and half for the session, but they weren't on time and the session turned into a 15 minute hurried session. A few things here and there that I would have loved to change as far as posing jewelry position angles, but I was crunch for time and did the best I could with what I was given.

Any advice for the future will be welcomed and greatly appreciated.

- Gerome

I'm no expert, but something about the post in the b/w doesn't look right. She's obviously beautiful in the color pic, but the b/w is not flattering. Did you do any post to the b/w besides turning it b/w? Her facial skin tone doesn't match the rest of her, it's a distraction. I would smooth out her bra as well, seems trivial, not as noticible in the color pic, I had to look for it. How does the b/w look in color? I really like the color one. Only thing I would do is crop in closer on top side, too much head room above his head. Good job, these shoots don't always go as planned, need to be able to change it up in a moments notice. Good luck.

ogerisg321 wrote in post #17384167
Story: My friends wanted some maternity pictures before they moved out of town. Being that this was my first maternity session ever, I spent two weeks researching poses, ideas, buying props and planned what was going to be a great session. We scheduled about an hour and half for the session, but they weren't on time and the session turned into a 15 minute hurried session. A few things here and there that I would have loved to change as far as posing jewelry position angles, but I was crunch for time and did the best I could with what I was given.

Any advice for the future will be welcomed and greatly appreciated.

- Gerome

My advise…find out how important the photo session is to your client (or friend). Sounds like you went out of your way to prepare for the session, you were likely ready to go, only to have them show up 1.25 hours late to a 1.5 hour photo shoot. Kind of a bummer!

As stated above, closer crop on the first one. If that was mine, I would be sure i don't leave greenery showing on the right side of the post if the post remained on the image. It allows the post to become a prominent object as it is framed by the greenery. I like their pose in the first image, very touching.

Grumpy_one wrote in post #17384376
I'm no expert, but something about the post in the b/w doesn't look right. She's obviously beautiful in the color pic, but the b/w is not flattering. Did you do any post to the b/w besides turning it b/w? Her facial skin tone doesn't match the rest of her, it's a distraction. I would smooth out her bra as well, seems trivial, not as noticible in the color pic, I had to look for it. How does the b/w look in color? I really like the color one. Only thing I would do is crop in closer on top side, too much head room above his head. Good job, these shoots don't always go as planned, need to be able to change it up in a moments notice. Good luck.

That will come with time because like I said this was the first time I shot a maternity session and planned it out so over it will get better hopefully. As far as the editing, I like it, but I was on the fence about the tone of her face and whether or not I should change it. I will play around with it for a better result hopefully. As for the color picture, I did not like it in color at all.

idsurfer wrote in post #17384541
My advise…find out how important the photo session is to your client (or friend). Sounds like you went out of your way to prepare for the session, you were likely ready to go, only to have them show up 1.25 hours late to a 1.5 hour photo shoot. Kind of a bummer!

They are close friends so I did not hold it against them. Plus they did not know the place we were shooting at had a closer time and they were in the middle of packing for the move so no sweat off my back.

CanonCameraFan wrote in post #17384564
As stated above, closer crop on the first one. If that was mine, I would be sure i don't leave greenery showing on the right side of the post if the post remained on the image. It allows the post to become a prominent object as it is framed by the greenery. I like their pose in the first image, very touching.

Noted!!!

I think the B&W looks odd because her skin tone looks drastically different between her arm/hands and her face. Also, the bright white (blown out?) background above her head is a distraction. I actually like the pose with the exception of her gaze. Awhile ago a local portrait/studio photographer suggested to pay attention to the "whites of the eyes", and try to have at least some "white" visible on each side of the iris.

For 15mins of shooting time, you should consider these results a total success. Does the couple like the images?

mannetti21 wrote in post #17387608
I think the B&W looks odd because her skin tone looks drastically different between her arm/hands and her face. Also, the bright white (blown out?) background above her head is a distraction. I actually like the pose with the exception of her gaze. Awhile ago a local portrait/studio photographer suggested to pay attention to the "whites of the eyes", and try to have at least some "white" visible on each side of the iris.

For 15mins of shooting time, you should consider these results a total success. Does the couple like the images?

Yes they love the pictures.
I realize what you and @Grumpy_one are saying about the skin tone difference between her face and arms. I'm using a MacBook Pro with Retina and the skin tone looks good on there, but this weekend I took a look at the images on a Non-Retina MB and I DEFINITELY see what is being stated.

Thanks for all the feed and input to all that provided.