Outdoor golden hour (finally giving in to the low contrast look)

Critique away

Cute! I like them, but would prefer a bit less yellow in the skin tones.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #17600029
Cute! I like them, but would prefer a bit less yellow in the skin tones.

Agreed.

Definitely cute and would like to see how they look with the WB tweaked.

I'd also look into how you're cropping the lower half - seems awkward.

Cheers,

Jeff

Overall...I like em! Looks like a stain on her shirt in the lower one? yellowish spot in the middle of it. I would clone that out. I also agree with the skin tone and crop comment.

to even out the color balance, you might consider a gel for the shot with flash.

and just because you are taking a portrait, the camera doesn't have to be in portrait orientation. Especially because you seem to going for just the upper part of the body … you can put her in the rule of thirds area on one side of the frame and crop at the waist.

Thank you for all the comments. I was a bit reluctant to "instagram filter" one of my photos but her mother loves this style. I just need to get good enough at it to come up with a better result. I do think gels is something I'll have to figure out.

1/4 CTO (color temp orange)
or
1/4 CTS (color temp straw)

Is a good place to start.

Straw for just before golden hour and orange once it starts. You can layer them to have more color effect. But if the sun is not directly on the subject (as it is the second pic, her right side) a gel is usually not needed.

I would prefer more contrast. Just because everyone is doing the instagram looking crap doesn't mean you have to do it too.

Numenorean wrote in post #17605496
I would prefer more contrast. Just because everyone is doing the instagram looking crap doesn't mean you have to do it too.

I tend to agree and out of my library of >31,000 pictures these are the only two I've ever done this with. But it's what her mother specifically requested. And just because it's not my cup of tea doesn't mean I don't want this tool in my toolbox.

travisvwright wrote in post #17605550
I tend to agree and out of my library of >31,000 pictures these are the only two I've ever done this with. But it's what her mother specifically requested. And just because it's not my cup of tea doesn't mean I don't want this tool in my toolbox.

That just tells me you haven't found your style yet. Something to work on. I'm not going to change my style based on customer requests. Do you invite them in to watch you edit them so they can comment on things then too? People will come to you if your style matches what they are looking for.

Numenorean wrote in post #17605693
That just tells me you haven't found your style yet. Something to work on. I'm not going to change my style based on customer requests. Do you invite them in to watch you edit them so they can comment on things then too? People will come to you if your style matches what they are looking for.

Ah feanor, you are actually probably right, though in general I'm pretty consistent in what I want/style. I'm just not married to it. On the other hand so far black and white is completely absent from my style, but it is also another thing I'd like to add to the tool box...And yes we were both sitting on the couch side by side while I was editing.

[Looks like the joke didn't come across that this is my daughter and wife (I thought I had said it was my daughter in the OP, so the "her mother" was a play on the opinionated mom/persuasive wife trope).]

travisvwright wrote in post #17605842
[Looks like the joke didn't come across that this is my daughter and wife (I thought I had said it was my daughter in the OP, so the "her mother" was a play on the opinionated mom/persuasive wife trope).]

When Mama's happy...

I like them, I agree the skin is a tad yellow...other then that I think she is a doll and would be happy with the pics!

I agree we is off slightly but good set up nice rim lighting