1st Maternity shoot

Back in December, I was asked by good friends of mine to do some maternity shots. As I've only started doing portraits and such in the last few months, this was a completely new setting for me. This was my first time using studio lights, and also my first time using a background.

I would appreciate any C&C you can give me. Yes, I know there are creases in the backdrop... My background set showed up later than expected and there wasn't enough time to get rid of them. I offered to reschedule the shoot, but they didn't care about the wrinkles and wanted the pictures taken that night. If anyone has any suggestions on how to effectively remove them in PP, I would be glad to hear them.

Settings: ISO 100, f/5.6-f/7.1, 1/125, EF-S 18-55 IS
Lighting: SP-Systems lights (one 1600, one 3200), silver umbrellas (one 45", one 36"), positioned behind me about 45 degrees to the subjects, and angled up to bounce some light off the ceiling and onto the background.
Processed in Lightroom2 and CS4 (Color Efex Pro)


1.

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#'s 1,2 and 3 a nice pictures, but don't really show the viewers that she's pregnant. I guess it's the fact that she's wearing black which really does hide things. The others a nice and show off her belly very well.

Your backgrounds showed up too late to remove wrinkles? Did they come 2 minutes before they got there? It takes like 10 minutes or less to steam a background to remove the wrinkles, and personally I rather have the couple WAIT ten minutes while I steam my background instead of sitting hours in front of the computer to remove them.The wrinkles DO make a big difference. They make them look totally amateur.

1 - Their pose is effectively hiding her belly although I think her face looks great. Wrinkles are a ruiner though. I'd remove them.

2 - Blacks are quite clipped, losing detail, and their skin tone seems a hair off too. Wrinkles.Pose is awkward to me, but I guess to those who like something this traditional, it's cute.

3 - Clipped blacks, you can't even tell she's pregnant. It is a cute portrait of the two of them though!

4 - The rocking chair makes zero sense in this shot. Why didn't you take it out? It just serves as a distraction. Ruins the shot IMO. Also.. wrinkles.

5 - Another traditional classic, pretty cute but blacks are clipped so her arm blends in with her body. Also, the shadows on their skin are rather orange.

6 - Not bad except for the clipped blacks so her hands look like they're floating.

auroraskye wrote in post #9563482
Your backgrounds showed up too late to remove wrinkles? Did they come 2 minutes before they got there? It takes like 10 minutes or less to steam a background to remove the wrinkles, and personally I rather have the couple WAIT ten minutes while I steam my background instead of sitting hours in front of the computer to remove them.The wrinkles DO make a big difference. They make them look totally amateur.

1 - Their pose is effectively hiding her belly although I think her face looks great. Wrinkles are a ruiner though. I'd remove them.

2 - Blacks are quite clipped, losing detail, and their skin tone seems a hair off too. Wrinkles.Pose is awkward to me, but I guess to those who like something this traditional, it's cute.

3 - Clipped blacks, you can't even tell she's pregnant. It is a cute portrait of the two of them though!

4 - The rocking chair makes zero sense in this shot. Why didn't you take it out? It just serves as a distraction. Ruins the shot IMO. Also.. wrinkles.

5 - Another traditional classic, pretty cute but blacks are clipped so her arm blends in with her body. Also, the shadows on their skin are rather orange.

6 - Not bad except for the clipped blacks so her hands look like they're floating.

I do appreciate your comments and criticism. When it comes to portrait photography, I am an amateur... this was only my third shoot. Fortunately, I've stuck with friends and family so far, those willing to forgive and endure my mistakes while I am learning what to do, and more importantly, what not to do. I have a long way to go...

As for the wrinkles... the background was literally taken from its packaging and hung up for this shoot... No excuses, I was unprepared to deal with the wrinkles at the time. I don't even own a device capable of steaming a background. Definitely something I need to acquire... I would appreciate some suggestions as to what you would recommend.

As for the rocking chair in #4, it was simply an oversight not to remove it. I'll have to be more careful next time.

Armageddonmonkey wrote in post #9563902
I don't even own a device capable of steaming a background. Definitely something I need to acquire... I would appreciate some suggestions as to what you would recommend.

I'm interested in seeing this answered, been wondering what would work best for this sort of stuff.

Well aces to you on your excellent attitude. I am sure you will learn quickly. Personally I just use my iron to steam it, but I have a great iron...it heats up in ten seconds. I haven't shot anything with a backdrop in well over a year, it's just not my style, but when I was.. I just used the iron, steam it, and tug and smooth with your hands and they will normally fall right out. Also, I suggest that you go ahead and wash and dry the backdrop to get rid of the major fold creases first.. but make sure you take it out of the dryer IMMEDIATELY or you will just get a bunch of nasty folds. I look forward to seeing what you do next time.

I think for you 1st time its great! Agree that 1,2, and 3 you can't really tell she is pregnant. 6 is my fav.

Wal-mart has decent steamers for around $30.