First time shooting Portraits

I took my first portrait workshop last night .. these are my first attempts, very little PP except for WB adjustment.

Cool eyes

casteel wrote in post #8714842
Cool eyes

Yes, she had gorgeous eyes!

#2 is the only one in the series that has much 3-dimensionality.

The rest are all lighted in much the same way, and that is producing a very flat lighting, which does not help at all with trying to create the illusion of 3-dimensionality. Take a close look at the shadows being created on the face by the lighting. The shadows are more or less of equal tone on each side of the face. That suggests two strong light sources. Would you call that normal? Two lights, left/right, can be used but not if they are balanced to give flat lighting.

A single key light or modeling light positioned so as to create diagonal shadows will create the 3-dimensionl look and a little fill light to soften those shadows will prevent too extreme contrast.

In #2, I think the bright yellow background is a poor choice - a more subdued yellow could be tolerated.

*************Studio Portrait Lighting**************​*
Tutorial on Studio Portrait Lighting Using Two Lights, with Emphasis on Rembrandt Lighting:
http://www.zaffora.com​/W9DMK/PortraitLightin​g.htm
or the downloadable PDF version at:
http://www.zaffora.com​/W9DMK/PortraitLightin​g.pdf

Also see this helpful reference:
http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Rembrandt_light​ing

Robert_Lay wrote in post #8715792
#2 is the only one in the series that has much 3-dimensionality.

The rest are all lighted in much the same way, and that is producing a very flat lighting, which does not help at all with trying to create the illusion of 3-dimensionality. Take a close look at the shadows being created on the face by the lighting. The shadows are more or less of equal tone on each side of the face. That suggests two strong light sources. Would you call that normal? Two lights, left/right, can be used but not if they are balanced to give flat lighting.

A single key light or modeling light positioned so as to create diagonal shadows will create the 3-dimensionl look and a little fill light to soften those shadows will prevent too extreme contrast.

In #2, I think the bright yellow background is a poor choice - a more subdued yellow could be tolerated.

*************Studio Portrait Lighting**************​*
Tutorial on Studio Portrait Lighting Using Two Lights, with Emphasis on Rembrandt Lighting:
http://www.zaffora.com​/W9DMK/PortraitLightin​g.htm
or the downloadable PDF version at:
http://www.zaffora.com​/W9DMK/PortraitLightin​g.pdf

Also see this helpful reference:
http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Rembrandt_light​ing

Thank you for the C&C, Bob .. I understand your comments about the lighting and the background. Since I had no experience whatsoever with this type of photography, I trusted that the organizer of the workshop knew what he was doing with the lighting setup. He also chose the yellow background for that particular shot I'll definitely check out the links you provided, thanks! Carla

WOW!!!!! Carla!!!! You photographed a human! I'm so proud o' you, hun!!!!


And what a great start........

As to C&C, not much I can add, but just beware that sometimes, too much sharpness is not a good thing with people. And closeups are best with babies, IMO.

Hope to see a LOT more from you in this area!

Simon


EDIT: Just noticed you gave me my 3000th post! Cheers!

skygod44 wrote in post #8716039
WOW!!!!! Carla!!!! You photographed a human! I'm so proud o' you, hun!!!!


And what a great start........

As to C&C, not much I can add, but just beware that sometimes, too much sharpness is not a good thing with people. And closeups are best with babies, IMO.

Hope to see a LOT more from you in this area!

Simon


EDIT: Just noticed you gave me my 3000th post! Cheers!

Hey, Simon! Glad you approved, thanks!! LOL, yep... I figured it was about time I took a photo with a person in it! I knew that it was important to have the eyes nice and crisp, so that's what I was aiming for. I'm not sure how often I'll have the chance to do portrait work, but it was fun and I wasn't disappointed with my first attempts.

Wow -- 3,000 posts, they should at least have bells going off for that! Congrats!!

Take care.. Carla

Here are a couple more .. I think these are less flat?

Robert_Lay wrote in post #8715792
#2 is the only one in the series that has much 3-dimensionality.

The rest are all lighted in much the same way, and that is producing a very flat lighting, which does not help at all with trying to create the illusion of 3-dimensionality. Take a close look at the shadows being created on the face by the lighting. The shadows are more or less of equal tone on each side of the face. That suggests two strong light sources. Would you call that normal? Two lights, left/right, can be used but not if they are balanced to give flat lighting.

A single key light or modeling light positioned so as to create diagonal shadows will create the 3-dimensionl look and a little fill light to soften those shadows will prevent too extreme contrast.

In #2, I think the bright yellow background is a poor choice - a more subdued yellow could be tolerated.

*************Studio Portrait Lighting**************​*
Tutorial on Studio Portrait Lighting Using Two Lights, with Emphasis on Rembrandt Lighting:
http://www.zaffora.com​/W9DMK/PortraitLightin​g.htm
or the downloadable PDF version at:
http://www.zaffora.com​/W9DMK/PortraitLightin​g.pdf

Also see this helpful reference:
http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Rembrandt_light​ing

Agreed! Good info!

luvsadog2 wrote in post #8716134
Hey, Simon! Glad you approved, thanks!! LOL, yep... I figured it was about time I took a photo with a person in it! I knew that it was important to have the eyes nice and crisp, so that's what I was aiming for. I'm not sure how often I'll have the chance to do portrait work, but it was fun and I wasn't disappointed with my first attempts...Take care.. Carla

Good to hear you're going to "get into" people more. I find them the most challenging and simultaneously the most rewarding of all. If you want some ideas though, try some out of studio shots using natural light. If you build up a rapport first, and go somewhere to do with a theme, mutually chosen before hand, you can create some really special shots that the model/client will be amazed at.
Keep at it, and hope to hear/see more from you soon....

luvsadog2 wrote in post #8716146
Here are a couple more .. I think these are less flat?

These ones are really soft and OOF in the most.I also liked the photo with the poor choice of yellow BG....you caught her smile and good WB...

skygod44 wrote in post #8716295
Good to hear you're going to "get into" people more. I find them the most challenging and simultaneously the most rewarding of all. If you want some ideas though, try some out of studio shots using natural light. If you build up a rapport first, and go somewhere to do with a theme, mutually chosen before hand, you can create some really special shots that the model/client will be amazed at.
Keep at it, and hope to hear/see more from you soon....

I'm not sure how much I'll be dabbling in people, but at least I got my feet wet. I still have too much fun with urban photo walks .. if the opportunity arises to do more people stuff for fun, I'll give it a go.

Thanks for the support, Simon .. my best to you and the Mrs.

luvsadog2 wrote in post #8716532
I'm not sure how much I'll be dabbling in people, but at least I got my feet wet. I still have too much fun with urban photo walks .. if the opportunity arises to do more people stuff for fun, I'll give it a go.

Thanks for the support, Simon .. my best to you and the Mrs.

Thanks Carla, and for people I'd suggest you look at your own sig. and put one of those zooms, or the 100 f/2.8 onto your body for some long-range candids.

Excellent fun, and with enough distance between you and the subject, you can create some amazing images, with a "story" behind them.

Flo wrote in post #8716384
These ones are really soft and OOF in the most.I also liked the photo with the poor choice of yellow BG....you caught her smile and good WB...

Agreed. But to my eyes they all look lightly OOF. Also, I know you have done very little PP, but start with the magic heal tool and clean up her blemishes.

very pretty girl. she TOTALLY reminds me of Juliet from the tv show "Lost".