1st time strobist family shots

Did a group of shots for some very dear friends of mine last weekend. They graciously let me use their children to practice some of my lighting and PP work on. They look pretty good to me but I don't have the "trained eye" yet. I would appreciate any and all criticism and comments on any and all parts of the pics and processing. I know the background is wrinkled and looks like doo-doo in a couple of them but I have a fix for this problem which I will implement in the next shoot. Thanks for looking!
#1

I like the lighting in all of them, but I don't like the posing in any of them. #4 would be the winner of the set for me, but his eyes need catchlights. Don't like the fake backgrounds at all. Good effort and a Great way to learn.

I didn't like the wrinkled background, so I did probably get a little carried away with the gradients. #4 is probably my favorite as well. Probably should have lowered the brolly a bit to get the catchlights for the floor shots. All I did in #1 was clone out a few creases, so the BG is basically as it was shot. Thanks for the input!

The eyes seem a touch soft in almost all of the shots. This is especially evident in #4. His hair is tack sharp, but his eyes lose this focus, just a touch. Just enough to be distracting.

710 Studio wrote in post #6401648
The eyes seem a touch soft in almost all of the shots. This is especially evident in #4. His hair is tack sharp, but his eyes lose this focus, just a touch. Just enough to be distracting.

I noticed this as well. I figure it was from front focusing although I was always using center focus and putting it on the eyes at half click and then re-centering while holding. These were shot with a lens I just purchased from a forum brother and maybe I just need to get used to it a bit. All being hand held I may be moving a bit while re-centering too. I guess I will have to get the tripod out and try some that way. Thanks for the input!

What was your lighting setup?

Those gradient backgrounds have got to go.

You can steam those wrinkles out.

Not bad for a 1st attempt though...keep at it.

pretzelhead wrote in post #6405124
What was your lighting setup?

I had a Canon 430ex shooting through an umbrella as my main light (camera left) at 45 deg. and slightly above and a sunpak pz40x shooting into an umbrella at 1/4 power slightly behind the subjects and to camera right to help with the fill and background lighting. I fired everything with the cheap Ebay triggers and they performed flawlessly! Only misfires were attributed to the flash not being ready or dip-switches being bumped while moving or re-postioning the lights. I tried shooting the fill light through the background, from behind it, but without a good reflector on hand, the fill was weak and the facial shadows were harsh. Next time I am going to try a halogen light behind the BG in conjunction with the other lights. Maybe even use a gel to change the BG color to get away from the PP backgrounds. Thanks for asking!

nw85887 wrote in post #6405259
Those gradient backgrounds have got to go.

You can steam those wrinkles out.

Not bad for a 1st attempt though...keep at it.

Right you are......we just didn't have the time as we had to finish before the game started. I am going to try to pull the BG tighter next time and apply more light to it in an effort to hide the nasties. Thanks!

#2 would be nice if you'd gotten even just one of them a little more square on...I don't like that you can barely see the woman's face.

There are some great links on posing and composition on here if you do a search...you'll find some fabulous resources to help you really get going.

DoodleBunz wrote in post #6405313
#2 would be nice if you'd gotten even just one of them a little more square on...I don't like that you can barely see the woman's face.

There are some great links on posing and composition on here if you do a search...you'll find some fabulous resources to help you really get going.

I really wasn't having them pose when I took #2.....just saw an opportunity and seized it. You are right though...I would have been better more straight on. Learning how to pose people is definately one of my weaker abilities. I have been searching and trying to learn as much as I can but there is so much going on in my brain at once it is hard to remember all of it! Thanks again!! What kind of grip are you using and do you really like it better with it on the camera?

Not real big on the wrinkles in the backdrop. And not crazy about the posing. the lighting is pretty decent though.

I also like #4. When I opened it for pp there were slight catchlights there so I dodged them, maybe to much. I always struggle with conversions and look for a chance to practice any time I can get so I played with this one. I hope you dont mind! Im sure most anyone could do better pp on it though.

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melissaandkris wrote in post #6406040
I also like #4. When I opened it for pp there were slight catchlights there so I dodged them, maybe to much. I always struggle with conversions and look for a chance to practice any time I can get so I played with this one. I hope you dont mind! Im sure most anyone could do better pp on it though.

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And I have to say....Roll Tide lol! (I noticed they were wearing bulldog stuff)

I don't mind at all.....I encourage folks to show me what is possible. I like your B&W conversion and the enhancements. I have never been able to get a good conversion with Elements 5.0. Which pp program did you use?

Im glad you liked it. I use paint shop pro x2. I think I did a level and curves adjustment, USM the eyes, dodged the catchlights and burned the lashes some, bumped contrast, upped blacks and then coverted and played with it until I thought it looked ok. Im still trying to learn all this so there is probably an easier way.