Few portraits from last sunday

A woman from work had seen my work and had me do some shots of her and her partner last weekend. It was a new experience for me as I'd never shot people that I didn't already know really well before, but it came together alright in the end.

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I think you did a great job!

Great color and contrast! this is awesome work!

When I am asked to take portraits of people, i get nervous and I fail. I have to learn how to get ready, look at my surround light and location, review my camera setting, and do it!

good work...

like your use in color variations

Thanks alot guys.

Jackie - Something I learned from this set most of all, is how much easier it makes everything if you do your prep work ahead of time. When I shoot my friends, it's usually semi spontaneous and a case of "ok well, let's go here" or "ok, let me just try setting up the strobes in a manner I'll come up with as I go". This time because I was so worried about screwing it up I actually went to my locations ahead of time and looked at angles, the way the light fell, everything. I actually even focused on about the spot I would have them standing so I could see how the background would blur before I took the photos. A bit overdoing it? Maybe so, but nonetheless when it was time to do the shoot it was so easy as I didn't really have to focus on anything other than putting them in the right place and taking the photos. Everything else was already settled which was so helpful because it took all the scrambling and pressure out of shooting. I knew everything would work out, so there was no need to worry

I like the natural poses, there is also great detail in them. Sometimes portraits are so polished and so posed they don't show much about the subjects. These pictures sure show that these are two real and genuine people with humor and love for each other. I love how you shot these...very cool.
-Randy

Great contrast and color

I really love the radial blurr on the last one.. how did you manage to do this while having the couples outlines perfectly straight.. specially her hair....

Love that background in the last 2 pics.

That's actually the location itself and not a photoshop effect

It was shot in a Toronto landmark known as the skywalk. There is a photo of it taken from almost the exact same vantage point here
http://www.featurepics​.com …b62-aee4-34171e3e6e8f.jpg

The 4th and 5th photos are taken a few steps down from the 6th and 7th photo which also gives a very different effect. With the 4th and 5th alot less light was reaching the subjects letting me get that blown background, when we went up the stairs there was alot more light and hence the different background effect. I was actually pretty pleased with how I managed to get completely different feels from almost the exact same location.

Thanks Phocus, I try and keep things a little bit more informal and let my subjects shine through as best I can. I think with my processing and approach I try and present a very "real" picture of my subjects rather than classical portraiture which doesn't appeal to me as much. It seems to really work for some people, not so much for others though

Hi, Twitch. I saw some of these on PBNation. I love the ones from your "skywalk".

a great series, what makes it good imho is the fact you did something different - the kissing shot tells the story so very well - great stuff

At first I thought it was a radial blur as well. But then realized it's just a bit too perfect. I think that is what I like about these photos...they present two people in a very natural way. I don't look at these and say wow, lots of photoshop. I see them and I am impressed by the photographer's skill in the shot. It's nice to see work like this that is natural and uses real settings. Also the faces and skin tones/textures are so natural too...A lot of photographers seem to use lots of techniques to smooth out skin and blur it, but in your shots this just would not have worked. Thanks for sharing...u've inspired me to try less photoshop and work more on shots right from the camera. I think the danger of digital is it sucks me in to more photoshop work and less thinking about what my camera can do for me. Good stuff.

Wonderful.. i absolutely love these. Your PP techniques have always been some my favs. Job well done!!

My favorite is #6. I like couple portraits showing emotion. I have done some of female couples in my studio and have done several commitment ceremonies too.