Extremely disappointing portrait session - I need to learn how to be a photographer

A night like this makes me question whether I'm any good or not. I had a shoot with a couple who were neither easy nor difficult to work with, though they weren't very free or relaxed. The photos, I think, didn't come out that great. Furthermore, I think many of them are very similar and there isn't a great amount of variety overall.

I just feel like I should've been much more creative, more able to handle the tough shooting conditions, worked with more angles, saw more eye catching things...and also, made them more comfortable, came up with more interesting poses, and all of those important things.

What can I do to improve my photography skill dramatically?

Why don't you post some of the shots so people can comment on how you can improve?

edit: and btw this is in the wrong forum, it should be in Talk about photography.

Oh it should be talk about? my error.

I'm lightroom-ing them right now. I don't think it matters what people here think of the photos, because I know they are lacking in the important goodly aspects. I want to know...HOW to improve dramatically, period.

I feel the same about everything I've shot in the last two weeks. Don't let it get you down. And like Asz said post some shots and get some feedback.

Well without looking at the shots, just some general advise.

Make sure you learn about exposure obviously, how shutter speed/aperture and ISO interrelate.

Then learn the compositional rules such as rule of thirds, when to use them when to break them.

Posing techniques.

Whenever you take a shot, look at the background, does it work well with the subjects, is it to busy?

But most importantly relax and have fun, when your in that state of mind your pictures will show it.

Anyways im sure other people can elaborate on all this.

I think one of my issues tonight was the fact that within 5 minutes of taking an umbrella out, we were (I was) kicked out of the bellagio for using that equipment. My second issue was the 100 degree weather.

But beyond those issues....I just see that the photos were blah. I need to learn to make interesting compositions and poses. That's what I need..

seems like u know what u need to do and where to improve

There's a guy in Vegas - Bobby Deal. Does some fun stuff. He used to give classes. Might be worth checking out.

http://www.realdealpho​to.com

I know what I need to improve on, but I don't know how to improve on it. I feel so blind when I'm out there trying to do a good job.

Do this. Buy and look at a lot of magazines. Magazines that will likely have pictures of people in them that will be in similar scenarios as what you might shoot. When you see a pose or composition that you like, tear it out, or take a picture of it with your cell phone. Take these with you on your shoot and refer to them to give you ideas... even show them to your client(s) ahead of time to get an idea of what they might want to try and emulate. I did this with the last wedding reception I shot and the bride loved it. She told me which ones she liked and would look at them and then go and try and emulate it. It made things SO much easier. Much easier than trying to either come up with something on the spot, or even if you know what you want to do it's harder to explain it to the client than to show them what you have in mind. And there were even some poses I liked but when the bride saw the example she immediately said she did not like it so we did not waste any time trying to explain it, or try it only to have her not like it.

form wrote in post #5883790
I think one of my issues tonight was the fact that within 5 minutes of taking an umbrella out, we were (I was) kicked out of the bellagio for using that equipment. My second issue was the 100 degree weather.

But beyond those issues....I just see that the photos were blah. I need to learn to make interesting compositions and poses. That's what I need..

i wouldn't have taken out the umbrella, especially in a private place and especially in a casino. i barely want to take out my camera to have them think i'm spying on their stuff. i was in vegas over the weekend, at ceasar's palace, there were chicks dancing at the pussy cat tables, i really wanted to snap some shots but didn't want to get booted out.

about your shots, it takes time. how long have you been shooting? do you shoot manual, av, or preset settings? understanding shutter/aperature/iso balances really makes a difference. and to control lighting using those settings rather than having the light control your shots.

Yes well I've taken out the umbrella in certain places, but I'm getting used to the a##hole security in casinos and other Vegas establishments. Lots of people have dSLRs, some with hot shoe flashes, but few bring tripods or other camera gear.

Shooting dSLRs for about 3 years. All manual except occasionally eTTL on my 580EX. I understand just fine how ISO/aperture/shutter affect one another, though I have yet to learn when to overexpose or underexpose and why.

Photos from the shoot:

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More:

http://img79.imageshac​k.us/img79/3185/img161​2100ct6.jpg

http://img165.imagesha​ck.us/img165/4457/img1​642119mo5.jpg
http://img49.imageshac​k.us/img49/8512/img168​9152rv0.jpg

http://img395.imagesha​ck.us/img395/8551/img1​693156zm0.jpg
http://img185.imagesha​ck.us/img185/9741/img1​704165ii7.jpg

http://img185.imagesha​ck.us/img185/7073/img1​709170kl9.jpg

http://img187.imagesha​ck.us/img187/3489/img1​718178lr3.jpg

http://img140.imagesha​ck.us/img140/4425/img1​725182jd6.jpg

First, you might want to go to 8 images per thread -- them's the rules.

the first shot -- I have no idea what this one is doing with the tourist's rear in the background... but then you get going with the outside shots at the fountain that look good.

The outdoor night stuff looks good, too, but the walking ones are forgettable.

One thing I notice is that your focal lengths are all fairly long with many cut off at the thighs or shins and only a few full length.. maybe you need to mix in a wide angle and use the background more than always trying to blow it out. The masking on the guy's elbow where he is in front of the fountain is too obvious, as well.

Even with the fountains, it is hard to tell where they are. I wouldn't have necessarily said Vegas... more of the strip? more lights? Fremont? I know there are more iconic shots available than just in front of the fountains.

I don't think these photos are horrible. Your clients probably will be pretty happy with them even though you might not be. Maybe you should show us some of your shots that you find more acceptable by your standards. I find the ones with the tighter frames the most interesting. The first one to me does look kind of blah and snap-shot like. Plus the background is way to busy. #7 kind of feels the same way. Otherwise the photos are not bad. Maybe they need a little lighting help but I think these are pretty decent. Also you might want to try to mix up your shots a little more. Throw in some wide angle, short FL, long FL etc.