Newb with backdrop and new model!!

Ok. I have NEVER used a backdrop, or have attempted any type of 'structured' posing. My daughter; Kendra; was snowed in the other night, and played "dress up"; so I hi-jacked her, threw the 'backdrops' up on the curtain rods, and tried my hand...

The first is the original. Roxi decided she wanted to get into the picture, too!!!

Hi Jostel, Welcome to POTN!

You have everything you need to start taking portraits. A camera and a model. If you are going to use the back drop and not light it, you'll be fine just be aware that you'll see it as a backdrop and not cool well lit colors.

When using a backdrop you can go either way. The artistic folded cloth in the back ground, not lit or the well lit colored backdrop. You'll need to decide what look you are going for. Expose for your model and don't worry about it for now. If you aren't going to light up the back ground then all the drop is for is to block out whatever is behind it. That said, I would recomend securing it up higher so that there is ample room around your model.

The exposure looks pretty low to me, so I would suggest starting off with getting that right. Perfect background or not, if you don't get the exposure right you won't be happy with your picture.

Also, try moving her further away from the backdrop so that it isn't so noticeable. In a studio you have the ability to take your time and really set up the shot. Take advantage of that.

Experiemnt and keep posting

Solinger; thanks for your advice!!!
Like I said, this was a spur of the moment shoot, in the den!!! Not much room at all!! I just wanted to see/get a feel for a shoot... We are in the process of working on a better set-up in the guest room where there will be more space between the backdrop and the model. (my back drops are not real, of course, jsut big solid colored fleece blankets!!!)

As soon as this is done, I will shoot lots more, and post em up!!!! Kendras friend Kim wants to try her hand at the 'model' part, too!!!

And thank you for the welcome!!!!!!

Welcome! You will get some great advice on here so keep posting your results. And as mentioned you have a camera and a model so you have all you need to start! And a beautiful model at that! Good luck and keep at it!

butcha27 wrote in post #2897866
Welcome! You will get some great advice on here so keep posting your results. And as mentioned you have a camera and a model so you have all you need to start! And a beautiful model at that! Good luck and keep at it!

Thank you!! AND she loves posing for the camera!!!

Can't wait to get some more shots. There are lots of good photos on here, as well as tips, ideas, critiques, etc.
I am sure I can pick up something to get me along!!!!!!!!

Can't wait to see some more photos!! Great job!

Kiddo wrote in post #2898034
Can't wait to see some more photos!! Great job!

Thank you!!! Here are two more from Friday night--

1

All I can say is...

She is gorgeous!

south central PA? can I borrow her? I'm in Ship

You are off to a good start having an attractive model available and a good camera. I am not sure which version of Photoshop you are using, but you should invest in a book on how to use it. I have never found the “auto PP” to be very good. I highly recommend “THE PHOTOSHOP (insert your version of Photoshop here) BOOK FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS” by Scott Kelby. I would not attempt any post processing without this book in front of me. Take a look at it the next time you are at the book store—you will be impressed. As for the images, move her away from the background, use something to reflect some light back onto her to fill in the shadows a little, and keep shooting and posting. Most of all have fun!

Great start and beautiful model. We look forward to seeing alot more from you, and of her!

Thank you all for the nice comments!! She is fun to work with too, PLUS I can boss her around, if I need to!!!!!! LOL!!!

Yeah, I have Adobe PhotoShop Elements 5, and Adobe PS CS Book!!!! Doesn't quite do the trick!!! I need to get off my lazy arse and find that book!!!
I figured i would try that auto PP; but obviously, not the best, but will keep trying!!!!

Ship isn't too far away!!! In fact, one of her good friends goes to Ship College?? I think!!!!

Jostel wrote in post #2901704
Thank you all for the nice comments!! She is fun to work with too, PLUS I can boss her around, if I need to!!!!!! LOL!!!

Yeah, I have Adobe PhotoShop Elements 5, and Adobe PS CS Book!!!! Doesn't quite do the trick!!! I need to get off my lazy arse and find that book!!!
I figured i would try that auto PP; but obviously, not the best, but will keep trying!!!!

Ship isn't too far away!!! In fact, one of her good friends goes to Ship College?? I think!!!!

Hah that's cool. I'm waiting on an email to find out if I can shoot the high school playoffs they're hosting tonight.

If you want to get together sometime and shoot, let me know. I'm not sure where you're at but I've worked in Gettysburg before, and went to high school in Chambersburg.

I know that you said she was really tan, but the skin tones look way red to me. You should be able to adjust this pretty easily in Photoshop. As for lighting, just get yourself a floor lamp and a clip-on desk lamp to try out some different techniques. you would be amazed at how much your shots will be improved by not using the on-camera flash. Use the floor lamp to light your space in general, and then use the desk lamp to provide some light directly on the model. You could even add in a piece of white board for some fill light on the other side! Good luck, it looks like you are having fun!!!

AdamJT;
thanks for the tip on floor/studio-type lighting. I looked at lighting set-ups, and holy-toledo!!!!!!! the prices are up there!!!!!!

I am actually planning on getting a new floor lamp for the den, Ijust might get a duel-purpose floor lamp!!! hee-hee!! When no one is looking- it mysteriously wanders into the 'studio'!!!!!!!

Anyway, I played with colors again. I do really need to get a Photoshop Elements book. When I try to de-saturate the reds, I lose tone. when I try to balance the tone, it looks washed. But, this one might look a little better. but again as several folks have mentioned before, it WAS low light, and better lights will help me emensley, of that I am positive!!!!!!!

By the way, Photoshop sounds a heck of alot easier than it really is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also went into filters, distort, and liguify. I like the result..