Approve the Cookies
This website uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies and our Privacy Policy.
OK
Forums  •   • New posts  •   • RTAT  •   • 'Best of'  •   • Gallery  •   • Gear
Guest
Forums  •   • New posts  •   • RTAT  •   • 'Best of'  •   • Gallery  •   • Gear
Register to forums    Log in

 
FORUMS Photo Sharing & Discussion Critique Corner 
Thread started 27 May 2016 (Friday) 09:12
Search threadPrev/next
sponsored links (only for non-logged)

First Event Portraiture - Prom

 
atsilverstein
Goldmember
Avatar
1,254 posts
Gallery: 46 photos
Likes: 1760
Joined Mar 2015
Location: NYC Metro
     
May 27, 2016 09:12 |  #1

My neighbor asked me earlier in the week to take pictures for her daughter's prom as a favor, so I rented a D810 and f2.8 70-200mm. I figured if I can get good images I can use them in my portfolio, which needs to be beefed up. I took a crash course on the D810 and posing people, and here are some of the results. FYI it was in a small backyard and I only just barely had enough space to fit them and me.

IMAGE: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/hostedphotos_lq/2016/05/4/LQ_795417.jpg
Image hosted by forum (795417) © atsilverstein [SHARE LINK]
THIS IS A LOW QUALITY PREVIEW. Please log in to see the good quality stuff.

IMAGE: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/hostedphotos_lq/2016/05/4/LQ_795418.jpg
Image hosted by forum (795418) © atsilverstein [SHARE LINK]
THIS IS A LOW QUALITY PREVIEW. Please log in to see the good quality stuff.

It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.
- William Ernest Henley

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
atsilverstein
THREAD ­ STARTER
Goldmember
Avatar
1,254 posts
Gallery: 46 photos
Likes: 1760
Joined Mar 2015
Location: NYC Metro
     
May 27, 2016 09:14 |  #2

I would've included the corner of her dress but there was a heavy grill that was in the way..

IMAGE: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/hostedphotos_lq/2016/05/4/LQ_795419.jpg
Image hosted by forum (795419) © atsilverstein [SHARE LINK]
THIS IS A LOW QUALITY PREVIEW. Please log in to see the good quality stuff.

IMAGE: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/hostedphotos_lq/2016/05/4/LQ_795420.jpg
Image hosted by forum (795420) © atsilverstein [SHARE LINK]
THIS IS A LOW QUALITY PREVIEW. Please log in to see the good quality stuff.

It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.
- William Ernest Henley

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
neacail
Goldmember
Avatar
1,188 posts
Gallery: 43 photos
Likes: 441
Joined Dec 2013
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
     
May 27, 2016 10:50 |  #3

I think you've done a really good job, especially with the space you had and the limited (quantity, not quality) equipment you were working with. As a result, my suggestions for possible improvement are mostly going to be really nitpicky. And, of course, what is relevant depends on who is getting the photos. I don't know which of the young ladies is the daughter of the neighbour who commissioned the photographs.

atsilverstein wrote in post #18020691 (external link)
Hosted photo: posted by atsilverstein in
./showthread.php?p=180​20691&i=i16622535
forum: Critique Corner

The above photo is the only one I'm actually concerned about as far as the capturing of the photograph went. Their faces look a bit soft to me, especially hers. It looks like it may be a bit back focussed, but I can't tell for sure. It may be something that happened when the photo was uploaded to the website, or when you created the jpg/png for upload.

As far as post processing goes, I'm inclined to suggest trying to brighten the exposure on her face just a touch (using whatever technique you're most comfortable with).

As far as the pose goes, he almost looks like he might be a bit hunched over and leaning forward.

atsilverstein wrote in post #18020691 (external link)
Hosted photo: posted by atsilverstein in
./showthread.php?p=180​20691&i=i49371124
forum: Critique Corner

She look's a touch stiff, but I think he steals the show in this one. I love his pose, and how comfortable, confident, and naturally happy he looks. He might be worth hunting down to try some senior portraits of, if you want to try your hand at those. I suspect he'd be fun to work with and a great subject.

The separation between the subjects and the background looks a touch artificial to me in this one: mostly around their hair and along the outer edge of her arm. It might just be trickery from the light, shadows, and the wide aperture, but if it is something that was done in post it might be possible to lesson the separation and make it look a little more natural if you're so inclined.

atsilverstein wrote in post #18020695 (external link)
Hosted photo: posted by atsilverstein in
./showthread.php?p=180​20695&i=i35380542
forum: Critique Corner

I don't think we need to see the corner of her dress. We know what it looks like, and our brains can fill in the blanks just fine. I really like that you put the young lady in the red dress in the middle. I love the attitude in this one. I think the pose it great.

For seriously nitpicky stuff, the young lady in the red dress appears to have an unnatural looking dark spot at about 10 o'clock from her elbow joint. If it is isn't a natural feature of her skin I might try to clean it up a bit.

Depending on how much work you want to do to the photos and what you're comfortable playing with, you might like to try smoothing out the skin on the arms of the young lady in the red dress and the young lady with the darkest skin tone. Particularly the latter.

atsilverstein wrote in post #18020691 (external link)
Hosted photo: posted by atsilverstein in
./showthread.php?p=180​20695&i=i122115968
forum: Critique Corner

What a lovely photograph. I'd suggest trying to smooth out the red bumps on the arm closest to the camera a touch, and maybe try to clean up the hair that looks like it might be caught in her eyelash.

For additional suggestions (gear you didn't mention using, and might be worth playing with to decide if you want to use it in the future), a circular polarizer might have helped in reducing the glare on the young gent's glasses. A reflector might have been handy (if you even had room for it, which you might not have) for getting just a little more light on their faces and lessening some shadows (which are already pretty minimal, where they exist).

Very nice set. I think this is a great first attempt.


Shelley
Image Editing Okay

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
DThriller
Goldmember
Avatar
2,057 posts
Gallery: 89 photos
Best ofs: 3
Likes: 3033
Joined Dec 2011
Location: Rhode Island
     
May 27, 2016 15:16 |  #4

Not bad

Idealy you would want to pull them back off the background so the bush would fall oof.

Good posing with the guy's hands in there pockets. A hand just hanging can look awkward. I would have had the first guy stand up a bit more straight. It would have been a bit more flattering to have the last girl pop her hand on her hip.

I shot a prom the other week. I set up a gallery to send to the student's parents to try to get some more scratch from extra print... None so far... Prints arn't what they use to be


IMAGE: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/hostedphotos_lq/2016/05/4/LQ_795479.jpg
Image hosted by forum (795479) © DThriller [SHARE LINK]
THIS IS A LOW QUALITY PREVIEW. Please log in to see the good quality stuff.

http://www.facebook.co​m/DPhillipsStudios (external link)
http://DPhillipsStudio​s.com (external link)
@DPhillipsStudios
YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.co​m …/UCgAZ5-OKdg1YXONAjGu91zQ (external link)

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
atsilverstein
THREAD ­ STARTER
Goldmember
Avatar
1,254 posts
Gallery: 46 photos
Likes: 1760
Joined Mar 2015
Location: NYC Metro
     
May 27, 2016 22:07 as a reply to  @ neacail's post |  #5

Thank you for your detailed analysis. I really appreciate it.

Yes the images are sharper in the jpegs before upload. I actually had to reduce it because originally I accidentally oversharpened since I already know how I usually do my edits with my D5100.


It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.
- William Ernest Henley

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
chauncey
Cream of the Crop
Avatar
9,696 posts
Gallery: 1 photo
Likes: 466
Joined Jun 2007
Location: MI/CO
     
May 29, 2016 13:09 |  #6

DThriller...I do wonder about your motivation in displaying your images in someone else's thread.
'Specially as the aren't anything to write home about.


The things you do for yourself die with you, the things you do for others live forever.
A man's worth should be judged, not when he basks in the sun, but how he faces the storm.

My stuff...http://1x.com/member/c​hauncey43 (external link)

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
DThriller
Goldmember
Avatar
2,057 posts
Gallery: 89 photos
Best ofs: 3
Likes: 3033
Joined Dec 2011
Location: Rhode Island
     
May 29, 2016 13:29 |  #7

Zing! Atsilver I can retract my image if it affends you.

I guess I just thought they were relavent. I told her some c and c then I wanted to show her what my c and c looks like bc thats how I pose. Then I thought it was interesting that kids dont care about prints anymore. I didnt think it was 'specially a big deal.


http://www.facebook.co​m/DPhillipsStudios (external link)
http://DPhillipsStudio​s.com (external link)
@DPhillipsStudios
YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.co​m …/UCgAZ5-OKdg1YXONAjGu91zQ (external link)

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
genesimmons
Goldmember
Avatar
1,984 posts
Gallery: 5 photos
Likes: 1181
Joined Aug 2013
Location: bc canada
     
May 29, 2016 21:25 |  #8

I didn't see any thing wrong with including a few examples of the hints and tips he was trying to explain. I certainly didnt find he was trying to hijack the thread


OLYMPUS EM1 M2. 12-100 F4 PRO.75mm f1.8,fisheye f1.8 pro. SONY A7 various manual lenses. FUJI X100
https://www.flickr.com​/photos/100085318@N08/ (external link)

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
genesimmons
Goldmember
Avatar
1,984 posts
Gallery: 5 photos
Likes: 1181
Joined Aug 2013
Location: bc canada
     
May 29, 2016 21:27 |  #9

Oh and to the original poster. Very nice job. Colours look great. Contrast is nice. Students look comfortable with u .nice job


OLYMPUS EM1 M2. 12-100 F4 PRO.75mm f1.8,fisheye f1.8 pro. SONY A7 various manual lenses. FUJI X100
https://www.flickr.com​/photos/100085318@N08/ (external link)

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
Hannya
Goldmember
Avatar
1,062 posts
Likes: 66
Joined Apr 2008
Location: UK
     
May 30, 2016 12:58 |  #10

Hi. Only thing I might suggest - you could have asked the couples outside to stand away from the hedge in the background, that would have made it drop out of focus and been less distracting. Nice work, though :-)


“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” ― Henri Cartier-Bresson

Sports Pics (external link)

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
atsilverstein
THREAD ­ STARTER
Goldmember
Avatar
1,254 posts
Gallery: 46 photos
Likes: 1760
Joined Mar 2015
Location: NYC Metro
     
May 30, 2016 13:09 as a reply to  @ Hannya's post |  #11

Thanks :-) I would have asked them to stand away from the hedge but it was a small space and I wouldn't have had enough room for full shots. Plus part of them would've been in the sunlight. I tried to work the best out of what I was given ;-)a

Interestingly, I clearly introduced myself at the beginning as the photographer, but still some of the parents were not respectful of me. Students became confused with parents redirecting instructions over mine. I also had parents step in front of me with their smart phone cameras (while I clearly wielded large professional gear). I had to put on my boss hat in order to get through the shoot with limited time.


It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.
- William Ernest Henley

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
Capn ­ Jack
Cream of the Crop
Avatar
9,179 posts
Gallery: 2961 photos
Likes: 27725
Joined Mar 2010
Location: NE USA
     
May 30, 2016 14:01 |  #12

atsilverstein wrote in post #18023802 (external link)
Thanks :-) I would have asked them to stand away from the hedge but it was a small space and I wouldn't have had enough room for full shots. Plus part of them would've been in the sunlight. I tried to work the best out of what I was given ;-)a

They look good to me, at least on my screen. You did what you could with what you had to work with.

atsilverstein wrote in post #18023802 (external link)
Interestingly, I clearly introduced myself at the beginning as the photographer, but still some of the parents were not respectful of me. Students became confused with parents redirecting instructions over mine. I also had parents step in front of me with their smart phone cameras (while I clearly wielded large professional gear). I had to put on my boss hat in order to get through the shoot with limited time.

Good for you, maybe next time, you could lay out the ground-rules in advance (if you didn't do so this time- I read that you introduced yourself, but I didn't see where you explained the shoot rules).

Depending on when they tried to jump over you with the cell phones, I'd consider it slightly flattering (and more annoying), that they like your posing.




  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
atsilverstein
THREAD ­ STARTER
Goldmember
Avatar
1,254 posts
Gallery: 46 photos
Likes: 1760
Joined Mar 2015
Location: NYC Metro
     
May 30, 2016 14:36 |  #13

Capn Jack wrote in post #18023858 (external link)
They look good to me, at least on my screen. You did what you could with what you had to work with.

Good for you, maybe next time, you could lay out the ground-rules in advance (if you didn't do so this time- I read that you introduced yourself, but I didn't see where you explained the shoot rules).

Depending on when they tried to jump over you with the cell phones, I'd consider it slightly flattering (and more annoying), that they like your posing.

Thanks :-)


LOL, that's a good way to look at it. This was my first event and I didn't realize I needed to set rules for the parents ;-)a But next time I will! :D


It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.
- William Ernest Henley

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
wallstreetoneil
Goldmember
Avatar
2,086 posts
Gallery: 14 photos
Likes: 1219
Joined Nov 2014
Location: Toronto Canada
     
May 30, 2016 14:45 |  #14

Very nice job

A comment that no one else mentioned, it is something small you may not see but it is one of those tiny things that longer term you will and it is always better when it is not there.

The man's hand on the women's waist. To quote a few different famous photogs - posing a women is about curves - posing a man is about shoulders and the V it creates. When a man, adoringly, places his hand right on the thinnest part of a women's waist it makes her look thicker and it also takes away the natural curve that we want to see - curves of the chest, the waist, the backside the hips - more equals better.

With the above in mind, both young men place their hand in the right spot in their mind, but in a 2D picture it would be better with it hidden behind the young ladies backs. You can further see this, in a different but similar way when you look at the lack of space between the young lady's arm and her own body in the first picture and then compare that to the second picture where there is space - second picture to the eye creates more curves - better. You can again see this with the girl in the red dress in the 3rd picture. She doesn't have a hand on her lower back therefore you see her curves - but her right arm behind the girl in the blue dress hides the blue dress curve in that area. Similarly in picture 4 - image if there was the slightest space between her right arm and back so you could see her shape - it is a nice picture it could have been even better with that little space.

I think you did a great job - colors and lighting all very good


Hockey and wedding photographer. Favourite camera / lens combos: a 1DX II with a Tamron 45 1.8 VC, an A7Rii with a Canon 24-70F2.8L II, and a 5DSR with a Tamron 85 1.8 VC. Every lens I own I strongly recommend [Canon (35Lii, 100L Macro, 24-70F2.8ii, 70-200F2.8ii, 100-400Lii), Tamron (45 1.8, 85 1.8), Sigma 24-105]. If there are better lenses out there let me know because I haven't found them.

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
atsilverstein
THREAD ­ STARTER
Goldmember
Avatar
1,254 posts
Gallery: 46 photos
Likes: 1760
Joined Mar 2015
Location: NYC Metro
     
Jun 02, 2016 11:04 |  #15

Thanks again for the feedback all. I've made adjustments and sent out the photos. The kids and especially the adults were very happy.

This was a great confidence booster for me, and I'm looking forward to more opportunities, maybe even from paying clients.

Here's one of the final edits.

IMAGE: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/hostedphotos_lq/2016/06/1/LQ_796599.jpg
Image hosted by forum (796599) © atsilverstein [SHARE LINK]
THIS IS A LOW QUALITY PREVIEW. Please log in to see the good quality stuff.

It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.
- William Ernest Henley

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
sponsored links (only for non-logged)

3,850 views & 9 likes for this thread, 8 members have posted to it and it is followed by 5 members.
First Event Portraiture - Prom
FORUMS Photo Sharing & Discussion Critique Corner 
AAA
x 1600
y 1600

Jump to forum...   •  Rules   •  Forums   •  New posts   •  RTAT   •  'Best of'   •  Gallery   •  Gear   •  Reviews   •  Member list   •  Polls   •  Image rules   •  Search   •  Password reset   •  Home

Not a member yet?
Register to forums
Registered members may log in to forums and access all the features: full search, image upload, follow forums, own gear list and ratings, likes, more forums, private messaging, thread follow, notifications, own gallery, all settings, view hosted photos, own reviews, see more and do more... and all is free. Don't be a stranger - register now and start posting!


COOKIES DISCLAIMER: This website uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies and to our privacy policy.
Privacy policy and cookie usage info.


POWERED BY AMASS forum software 2.58forum software
version 2.58 /
code and design
by Pekka Saarinen ©
for photography-on-the.net

Latest registered member is Niagara Wedding Photographer
1318 guests, 125 members online
Simultaneous users record so far is 15,144, that happened on Nov 22, 2018

Photography-on-the.net Digital Photography Forums is the website for photographers and all who love great photos, camera and post processing techniques, gear talk, discussion and sharing. Professionals, hobbyists, newbies and those who don't even own a camera -- all are welcome regardless of skill, favourite brand, gear, gender or age. Registering and usage is free.