STICKY:  How to photograph a high school Senior

Ive seen Lisa's before and after shots. There a quite a few on her blog and on her facebook page. Granted, the colors arent what they are in her after shots, but the before shots arent garbage by any means. The young boy with the pumpkin shot is a great example. The WB isnt pleasant to me in the original, but the after doesnt look crazily changed aside from the colors. I dont think you can start with a poorly lit shot and end up with magic.

LisaJH wrote in post #13528096
Ha! Tiffany...I totally brought I giant glass vase full of candy canes but she refused to get naked and jump in...not sure why? :P

Sheesh.....it would have been totally safe...I mean, I'm sure you would have wrapped her in a blanket and bought an expensive vase. Some people wouldn't recognize the sacrifice that good art must make. Take risks people, put people in dangerous situations....it's ok because it's art and no one has been hurt yet!

sevillafox wrote in post #13529297
Sheesh.....it would have been totally safe...I mean, I'm sure you would have wrapped her in a blanket and bought an expensive vase. Some people wouldn't recognize the sacrifice that good art must make. Take risks people, put people in dangerous situations....it's ok because it's art and no one has been hurt yet!

Okay - so the current trend is to put your subject in an expensive vase, suspended from a tree, hanging over a presumed unused train track... Lets get on this people!

Since we're talking a little bit about PP, I thought I'd share this before/after of Alanna. Her mom pretty much insisted on shooting on white...I reluctantly agreed knowing it would be fairly easy to shift the background in Photoshop.

All told, 17 layers (15 adjustment layers, 2 skin layers). LOTS of skin work - seeing it at 800px doesn't show the half of it - plus a little kiss from the liquify tool. Original lighting was an Einstein bounced into a 64" white PLM.

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charro callado wrote in post #13533628
Since we're talking a little bit about PP, I thought I'd share this before/after of Alanna. Her mom pretty much insisted on shooting on white...I reluctantly agreed knowing it would be fairly easy to shift the background in Photoshop.

All told, 17 layers (15 adjustment layers, 2 skin layers). LOTS of skin work - seeing it at 800px doesn't show the half of it - plus a little kiss from the liquify tool. Original lighting was an Einstein bounced into a 64" white PLM.

joe

Really superb work here. Nice job.

aaron.dunlap wrote in post #13534450
Really superb work here. Nice job.

Agree, nice ones. Gives ideas to folks like me to see what is possible.

OK

So I'm trying to be cute here but making a point at the same time

2 layers. Went to lightroom and made basic adjustments. sent to photoshop to remove a few blems and sharpened eyes with MCP eye doctor. Lighting is a big part of the equation in the studio. I think outside post processing comes way more into play. B
ut not always true.

charro callado wrote in post #13533628
Since we're talking a little bit about PP, I thought I'd share this before/after of Alanna. Her mom pretty much insisted on shooting on white...I reluctantly agreed knowing it would be fairly easy to shift the background in Photoshop.

All told, 17 layers (15 adjustment layers, 2 skin layers). LOTS of skin work - seeing it at 800px doesn't show the half of it - plus a little kiss from the liquify tool. Original lighting was an Einstein bounced into a 64" white PLM.

umphotography wrote in post #13537374
OK

So I'm trying to be cute here but making a point at the same time

2 layers. Went to lightroom and made basic adjustments. sent to photoshop to remove a few blems and sharpened eyes with MCP eye doctor. Lighting is a big part of the equation in the studio. I think outside post processing comes way more into play. B
ut not always true.

3 layers. Straight off the camera. sharpened and color boost in lightroom with the adjustment brush. Sent to photoshop for blem removal and skin smoothing and eye sharpening. ND filters used on this shot to get shallow depth on a 70-200. I prefer this over the 85mm at times because you can pull the background closer to the subject. That curve in the tracks was actually about 30-40 yards behind her. So it really depends on what your trying to accomplish or you can get lucky and get the look by accident. Learn from your accidents and try to duplicate again. You suddenly look like you know what your doing like i did on the second shot. Now i duplicate this 2nd look all the time.

Ok...so here is my take on both of these scenarios. Joe and Mike both have great looking images. Both were lit properly and were nice images SOOC, I am sure of it.

Mike's 2 layers produce a completely saleable image that any parent would be proud to have. I have done several like that. However, Joe's 17 layers produced a more artistic image, that is more appealing to the younger generation.

Mike is right about lighting being a big part of the equation to get a nice image. I think the PP is a big part of the equation in means of developing that artistic look or style that you want to achieve as a individual portrait artist.

Great job to both guys, but I really love the look of Joe's 17 layers!!

Really like that 2nd one Mike! Great shot!

Jay I agree 100% with what you said. I could have boosted the colors and contrast,smoothed and sharpened and done a few more things to make the shot really pop in photoshop. I just liked the natural look so i left it alone. Get the lighting right and go play in photoshop and get a look that you like. your clients will love it. I really love what lisa does ad what Tiff does with the young ladies to get that look. Would love to get some insight to Lisas recipe....Maybe a PM. Tiff and i help each other out and exchange information as well as other stuff.

Here are a few before and afters from my last senior. I never have any problem sharing these...if anyone ever wants to see a specific photo, just let me know

This one was a simple, clean edit (thankfully, Juleigh has gorgeous skin and I didn't have to spend much time at all on that)...

Good stuff, Lisa.

Nice job Mike. What are you using for a hair light on that first one?

phamster wrote in post #13528039
guys i have to say it is more PP than the reflector..

but as i always have stated:

Ways to take a photograph has been beaten over and over, and there are only so many ways to light up a subject and all iterations have been exhausted. So it leaves innovations in Post processing......

umphotography wrote in post #13528071
.....Once you learn how to light, post processing is the trick. And it has gone very artistic in the last few years. Much like what lisa has posted. Really nice work......

Just my opinion.... But I think Lisa's before and after pictures above show that while the post processing is solid... her images would have been nice even without the post processing.

Just when you think you can credit PS for all the difference you find out that the Photographer did a great job in just getting the initial image. No tricks necessary, just good photography.

Lisa thanks for sharing the before and afters...

John

Dave Jr wrote in post #13538000
Good stuff, Lisa.

Nice job Mike. What are you using for a hair light on that first one?

Dave

#10 or #20 Grids on an AB800 for the top, strip boxes AB400's for kickers

umphotography wrote in post #13538904
Dave

#10 or #20 Grids on an AB800 for the top, strip boxes AB400's for kickers

Thanks, so is that a five light setup? It would be cool to see a BTS shot sometime, if you have one. I've been working on hair and accent lighting lately, and could use some ideas.