New to Portraits

[DCP]

Hi there, I'm brand new here and was looking for some feedback on this picture. I'm just getting into portrait photography and this was my first sitting. This was shot with a Canon 5D, ISO 400, with two Smith Victor hot lights. One as a flood and the other as a fill. Any feedback or suggestions would be great thanks!

[jiminyClickit]

DCP, Welcome

First thought was, "Is that backdrop homemade?" It attracts attention, which could be lessened by moving subjects away from it more. A more flattering light could be placed on left side to better mold facial planes. An overhead (or backlight) could help give life and definition to hair. Small tilt of model's head could eliminate or reduce glare in glasses.

Most of all, focussing on eyes and getting as much light and sharpness there would have made all of the above a little less important.

In kindness, I suggest that a portrait crop would be more flattering. The portrait is about honest depiction of a person; everyone has a "best side" and can be placed in their "best light." For a beginning, you are on the right track. Some small changes and practice, and feedback from your subjects, will take you further.

[Jory]

Are the edges of the backdrop suppose to be a black colour? I would suggest cropping the photo. I can't give any technical comments because I'm just an amateur. Overall I think you did a good job.

[kimspics]

the backdrop looks a bit dark. I am not a huge fan on studio pics taken w/ plain backdrops ( or studio pics in general) but then again it's what you as the photographer likes. I prefer natural settings, have you tried this ? one more thing if you go to the top of this page and click on the blog page, it is filled w/wonderful articles. There is one article on portrait photography that is awesome. I print all of them, read them , learn from them and then file them for future reference. Please find and read them. It's very exciting when your on fire about something and want to share it with the WORLD !!!! good luck and keep posting,

[peeperita]

i think that this is a very good first attempt at a studio type portrait.....

i can see you did a bit of research first with the placement of your lights, the three quarter pose, and your admirable attempt at reducing the glare on your subject's glasses.........but, i do have a few thoughts on this image....

try reducing your depth of field so that your background is a little more blurred and in this case of a female model, a tighter depth of field will also help soften the edges of her torso and hair.....

i feel like your fill light could have been backed off a little bit to add to that "modeling" of her features that jiminy commented on....

take a few more minutes of time for research into posing....specifically as it pertains to a more mature model....a little tilt of the chin can be more flattering to her neck area....

and lastly, bracket for exposure.....i know how awkward that first session can be, and trust me as you gain experience with this kind of shot, it will lessen,.....but, bracketing, although it will be asking your model to sit longer, will go a long way to getting the proper exposure....it's the eys that draw the focus so make sure they are as bright as they can be......

i have to ask this too.....i think i see you used a vignette....and i am a big fan of those......do you feel you have some skill with post processing?.....cuz, there are improvements awaiting your image there as well....

thanks for sharing and good luck with this kind of image....

peeper

[DCP]

Hey thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it. The backdrop I bought from Amvona dot com, it's not home made, but I see what you mean by it draws attention. Should be more out of focus and more focus on the subject right?

[DCP]

Thanks for the tip! I'll check out those articles. I actually prefer natural settings as well, but is there a way to accomplish this if they want in studio, or the weather does not permit on location shots?

[DCP]

Hey thank you for the feedback I really appreciate it. I have so much to learn. You mentioned that the fill light could have been backed off a little. Is there a way I could do this and high light the eyes to bring them out more as you suggested? As for bracketing, I'll have to do a little more research on that.

[peeperita]

positioning your lights at different configurations could help highlighting her eyes by placing catchlights within them.......choose a time when you have a model that will be patient with you while you do this.....go ahead and explain to her or him that they are helping you learn about light.....

the bracketing suggestion is about exposure....and your camera has a setting that will allow you to do so by either turning a dial or a builtin feature that will automatiacally do that within a continuous shooting mode....break out that manual and check for yourself.....bracketing will allow you to choose a shot with the best exposure suiting your needs...ie bringing your model's eyes out of the darkness.....

peeper

[jiminyClickit]

DCP,

Malls, churches, park gazebos, subject's place of work, are optional locations for unusual backgrounds and better lighting on a bad weather day. Or get an inexpensive canvas painter's tarp, cut into quarters, sponge paint a variety of soft backgrounds using OOF photos as guides. Use various muted colors, make two light in midtones, one very dark, one very light. That will give you plenty of easy-to-tack-up choices for whatever your model wears, or to set a light or very dark hair color against.