STICKY:  How to photograph a high school Senior

Not sure what you're talking about. I usually do full opacity on a new layer and then adjust.

sevillafox wrote in post #11889487
Not sure what you're talking about. I usually do full opacity on a new layer and then adjust.

Ok.. I'll fess up (no one throw rocks at me)
the other day I was playing around, and I had a dup layer that I just grabbed the whole under eyes are with the patch tool to remove the wrinkles. then of course I changed the opacity of the layer so that there were still some wrinkles, the were just less bold. I just wondered if you ever did this. (My boss saw me and FREAKED OUT... the funny thing is he had just finished approving a portrait that I had done the exact same way.. lol IDK)

jb, I do the same thing on my portraits that need it. why would your boss freak out?

Trying out more studio shots. She isn't a senior yet, but these are senior type portraits:

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

GerryDavid wrote in post #11889786
jb, I do the same thing on my portraits that need it. why would your boss freak out?

My boss owns the studio I work for. When he edits... he does it all on one layer.

one layer? I guess thats one way to save hd space. myself I like to duplicate the layer, cut off the parts around the eyes and fix the wrinkles and play with the opacity layer. more control this way.

but the fact that you cant post anything youve done while working for him does make sense, its his business and image.

GerryDavid wrote in post #11889972
but the fact that you cant post anything youve done while working for him does make sense, its his business and image.

I guess so, and I do respect that= it would just be nice to get some outside perspective on my work.

perhaps you can get some shoots of your own, and use that. plus it could be extra income.

sorry haven't posted in a while..

---------------

Madeline Senior ~ The Orange Hat

simple natural light for beautiful Madeline's senior portfolio

snowy ground makes for perfect lighting since it reflects light back upwards

CameraCanon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperturef/2.2
Focal Length85 mm
ISO Speed100
Exposure Bias0 EV
FlashOff, Did not fire

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/-phamster-/5468239884/

^^^^ saw this on FB last night. Beautiful shot Pham.

jb_browneyes wrote in post #11889731
Ok.. I'll fess up (no one throw rocks at me)
the other day I was playing around, and I had a dup layer that I just grabbed the whole under eyes are with the patch tool to remove the wrinkles. then of course I changed the opacity of the layer so that there were still some wrinkles, the were just less bold. I just wondered if you ever did this. (My boss saw me and FREAKED OUT... the funny thing is he had just finished approving a portrait that I had done the exact same way.. lol IDK)

I always do that.

sevillafox wrote in post #11884105
Ummmm...........:o

It was a compliment.

jb_browneyes wrote in post #11889731
Ok.. I'll fess up (no one throw rocks at me)
the other day I was playing around, and I had a dup layer that I just grabbed the whole under eyes are with the patch tool to remove the wrinkles. then of course I changed the opacity of the layer so that there were still some wrinkles, the were just less bold. I just wondered if you ever did this. (My boss saw me and FREAKED OUT... the funny thing is he had just finished approving a portrait that I had done the exact same way.. lol IDK)

Always do this too. haha.

phamster wrote in post #11890725
sorry haven't posted in a while..

---------------

Madeline Senior ~ The Orange Hat

simple natural light for beautiful Madeline's senior portfolio

snowy ground makes for perfect lighting since it reflects light back upwards

Great shot pham, saw this last night as well. Great work.

Ok....I got this PM and thought I'd answer publicly in case anyone else was wondering.

Not sure what my general techniques would be. I mainly try to short light when I do light and also try and get a little light on the hair to make it pop. I'm a lover of gorgeous head shots so I tend to get a lot of close images. With images further away I always try and remember to keep things bent if they have a joint and never whole hands in pockets....just a thumb gives you a great look without looking amputated.

[QUOTE]
What I'm most interested in is your opinions on using CTO filters on strobes (1/4, 1/2, Full). I've been reading that a lot of portrait location shooter like youself don't like to use them. Also what do find are the most generally accepted techniques for lighting the subject/model to get the styles that you commonly prefer and your customers like.[QUOTE/]

I don't have any CTO filters and actually had to google it. But, if it floats your boat, go for it!

Again, lighting I try and short light. I use a type of butterfly lighting with my headshots lots of times with that curved reflector. People have really liked those. I love some OCF outside and really aim to do more but I also get by pretty well with just a reflector. My new ringlight is turning out to be pretty popular and playing with gels in hair has been pretty fun too. The kids like anything with a little edge though parent's seem to prefer the more flat lit images.

My processing workflow is pretty simple.

LR....adjust WB to taste (usually 5214 in studio and whatever I like oustide). Bump clarity to +20. Export to PSD.

PS
Open. Dupe layer and use patch to get rid of blemishes, stray hairs, etc. Flatten. Dupe later. Use patch tool to soften any undereye issues, adnjust layer opacity. Flatten. Run the free mcpactions high definition sharpening action masking off skin and then also the eye doctor action and usually just the sharpening step on that action and sometimes a little iris lightening. Then I run portraiture on a new layer and mask off things everything but skin and adjust opacity.

for color pop I use a few different actions. I love beastly color and technicolor booster from phauntactions.com and sometimes I also use the mpcactions finger paint from her quickie set. And, sometimes I really crank it and use them all. I also use selective darkening (mcpactions has a free action for this) which can also help add some depth to my color.

Hope this helps! =D