What drives you crazy in portraits?

I'm a very picky, detail oriented photographer, and there are many things that drive me insane, socks on newborn feet, bra straps that show, etc. I'd have to say that my number one "ARGGGH" moment is when I see portraits of girls who have long hair and there is a hair elastic on her wrist. I see this ALL the time, especially on teenage girls, and it makes me nuts. Clearly, I need to get a life, if this is such a problem for me, but I fail to understand why the photographer doesn't spot it before the shutter gets snapped.

How about y'all? Is there anything that you see in portraits that you always notice and wish had been fixed before the photo was taken?

if models face (main thing to me) captured good/interesting i dont care for details i havent noticed before capture.

cluttered unplanned backgrounds

suecassidy wrote in post #10418934
I'm a very picky, detail oriented photographer, and there are many things that drive me insane, socks on newborn feet, bra straps that show, etc. I'd have to say that my number one "ARGGGH" moment is when I see portraits of girls who have long hair and there is a hair elastic on her wrist. I see this ALL the time, especially on teenage girls, and it makes me nuts. Clearly, I need to get a life, if this is such a problem for me, but I fail to understand why the photographer doesn't spot it before the shutter gets snapped.

How about y'all? Is there anything that you see in portraits that you always notice and wish had been fixed before the photo was taken?

I think you've answered yourself here!

There are lots of things that have bothered me over the years but many of them can be fixed in post easily what bugs me is when people don't fix it in post either and then make a mental note for next time to check. For example distracting backgrounds, tilted horizons, stray hairs, etc.

I'll be honest. Most of the shots i see taken by people who post in forums drive me insane. I don't care much for images that are extremely sharp or have "attractive" girls with their stuff hanging out...Rather, it's the images content, expression, connection with the photographer, and sometimes the simplicity that produces are great image. People are getting too caught up in having the best gear but still don't know how to create a great image. A lot of the threads contain in focus, boring images with horrible retouching and people still comment them with "great image!" Don't even get me started on some "photographers" retouching techniques.

My typical time spent in a thread usually lasts 1/2 of a second

Although, I have been having a lot of luck viewing images in foreign countries forums (Italians, french, Brazilian..ect)

suecassidy wrote in post #10418934
I'm a very picky, detail oriented photographer, and there are many things that drive me insane, socks on newborn feet, bra straps that show, etc. I'd have to say that my number one "ARGGGH" moment is when I see portraits of girls who have long hair and there is a hair elastic on her wrist. I see this ALL the time, especially on teenage girls, and it makes me nuts. Clearly, I need to get a life, if this is such a problem for me, but I fail to understand why the photographer doesn't spot it before the shutter gets snapped.

How about y'all? Is there anything that you see in portraits that you always notice and wish had been fixed before the photo was taken?

Again, some of these little things you are picking out should not matter if you have an awesome image. Sure you should still remove them, but people are forgetting what photography is all about. Don't focus so much on getting everything perfect. Focus on capturing a special moment. If it bothers you stop viewing images from amateurs and pick up some magazines and study those images and learn how to shoot like some of the best.

athimbleofdan wrote in post #10419421
I'll be honest. Most of the shots i see taken by people who post in forums drive me insane. I don't care much for images that are extremely sharp or have "attractive" girls with their stuff hanging out...Rather, it's the images content, expression, connection with the photographer, and sometimes the simplicity that produces are great image. People are getting too caught up in having the best gear but still don't know how to create a great image. A lot of the threads contain in focus, boring images with horrible retouching and people still comment them with "great image!" Don't even get me started on some "photographers" retouching techniques.

My typical time spent in a thread usually lasts 1/2 of a second

Although, I have been having a lot of luck viewing images in foreign countries forums (Italians, french, Brazilian..ect)

Again, some of these little things you are picking out should not matter if you have an awesome image. Sure you should still remove them, but people are forgetting what photography is all about. Don't focus so much on getting everything perfect. Focus on capturing a special moment. If it bothers you stop viewing images from amateurs and pick up some magazines and study those images and learn how to shoot like some of the best.

You obviously type extremely quickly!

"A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. For this reason, in photography a portrait is generally not a snapshot, but a composed image of a person in a still position. A portrait often shows a person looking directly at the painter or photographer, in order to most successfully engage the subject with the viewer."

Looks to me like you're all correct. Keep posting your portraits however you want. It's your interpretation. Just have fun doing it.

athimbleofdan wrote in post #10419421
Although, I have been having a lot of luck viewing images in foreign countries forums (Italians, french, Brazilian..ect)

Would you share some links? I like to see different approaches to photography.

What drives me crazy is seeing negative comments rather than constructive criticism.

ratempa wrote in post #10421335
What drives me crazy is seeing negative comments rather than constructive criticism.

Whats worse is positive comments on rubbish pictures!

http://www.forumfotogr​afia.net/ and photo4u.it has some decent stuff. Check out some. Europe and South America have some good blogs too. Lemme see if i can dig stuff up.

It depends on the point of the portrait. If you are trying to capture "the real whoever" And she basicaly lives with a scrunchie on her wrist, then it belongs there. Because it is just not her without it. But I definatley know what you mean. It is a detail that should have not been missed. But I am guilty of missing it myself.

everyone has to start somewhere. if this forum bothers someone so much, then dont come here? alot of people here are just like me who have nobody else with whom to bounce ideas back and forth so i go to a community of enthusiasts online. there are very constructive and encouraging posts here which is greatly appreciated. otherwise you can go to some of the other areas in this site where someone is constantly complaining about the 7D focus without reading the manual or some wedding photographer complaining about uncle bob

Roy Mathers wrote in post #10419655
You obviously type extremely quickly!

Note he did say "Usually" I guess this was not one of those times LOL!!

JadedDjay wrote in post #10422153
where someone is constantly complaining about the 7D focus without reading the manual

That is my fave