First Senior Photo Shoot

Hey All,

First time ever doing senior photos. I'm still debating if I have the skill to do them (I'm my hardest critique), so please be honest and let me know what you think.

The first one is just about perfect.

I don't like the post-processing in the second one at all, if it looked more like the first photo it would look better. The third photo looks way overexposed and hurts my eyes a little.

The fourth one is very good. I wonder how she'd have looked if she was a little more central? Other than that, it's great.

The fifth one isn't too bad, but again I think you overdid the post-processing a little. Maybe if it was dialled back by about 10% or so?

The selective colour on the last one does nothing for me. I don't understand why some of the grass has colour and some doesn't.

Edit: Just looked again and the first one is superb. If you can process the rest to look like that you're onto a winner.

i think you have what it takes, but i dont think some of these is what parents want to have, more so the student...

The first one and the fourth one are my favorites. I agree that the first one is great.

See, post processing is my BIGGEST enemy. I never know what's to much and I never know whats not enough. I agree, out of all of them I like the first one the best. I hardly even had to touch it when I had it in lightroom.

As far as the last one, she was wearing those really bright shoes so I wanted the attention to be on them. I guess I'll look at what I did on the first one and try to copy the technique for the others.

Thanks again for the critique. I always appreciate honesty.

Edit:

Does this look better?

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I think they are all good. In general you want to stay away for sharp angles like elbows, knees, and shoulders being in the foreground or at the center of the photo. Most of the time avoid shooting flat or straight on as well. 1,2, and 4 are very good! A little less elbow maybe in #1 but you captured her emotion and smile. You did a good job shooting more than one angle during your session.

I really like the first but whilst the rest are very competent shots, the processing is a little too ott for my liking.

The last photo you posted looks much better...in general they're wonderful though! I'd be more than satisfied with those (speaking as a recent ex-senior.)

I'm no expert, but I think #1 and #4 are the best. In #1 you really capture detail in the lightest and darkest areas of the photo, and this is a classic, "wholesome" pose that parents will like. I really think you should try that one in B&W also.

I think #4 is definitely more contemporary, it looks like the cover of a music CD or something. The only thing I would have changed is the stray piece of grass directly in front of her right hand. Overall, though, that's a pic that I think every senior would love.

#5 seems too much like a snapshot (although it's a very clear one), it's not the same quality as 1 and 4. It'd make a good Facebook profile pic, but the others have a bigger "wow" factor. #6 is interesting, although I personally would not have centered the tree in the middle of the photo, and I think the selective color should be the shoes only, it looks like it kind of "spilled" around her shoes. Just a personal opinion though. You may want to try that one with a slight pose change: one knee lower than the other, and maybe an elbow propped on her knee, holding her chin (similar to "The Thinker" statue, but in a more reclined state). I also would have moved myself a little camera left, so it was more of a profile angle instead of head-on. I personally have no room to talk, I often catch myself staying in the same spot with a pose, when moving a few feet either way would make a noticeable improvement. Just something that looks a little more casual, she seems a little nervous or something in this shot.

Overall, though, you definitely have some keepers, and I would say you've got a great eye for portraits. Keep it up!