What am I doing wrong?

[oldwolf]

Originally Posted by sarahgirl777

Yes, a fast lens is nice, but I don't think that alone will get you to where these photos are at. I think a lot of it is lighting and focus. Perfect focus on the eyes, well lit with great light and then yes some PP to bring out the eyes and smooth the skin. I can achieve that look even without using my prime lens so it's definately more than that. Do you have another example of your work we can see that doesn't have a texture over it. That automatically makes it look less "crisp" to me. Oh and you said you were using 1/30 shutter speed which could allow some camera or person movement keeping the photo from being as crisp too. Hope this helps.

Sarah got it on the nose for that shutter speed. your exif states that your focal length was 105mm. At 1/30 shutter speed, that is way too slow to hand hold IMO. You should try to keep your shutter speed at 1/focal length. So at 105mm focal length, I personally wouldn't shoot faster than 1/125 and that's if i haven't had any caffeine and I'm not shaking from freezing my butt off hehe.

The lens is going to play some part in your picture as well as the lighting. Remember, you're taking a picture of the light. Look at your subject and see where the light and shadows fall. Do the shadows give accent the subject the way you want them to? If not then have them move or add a reflector or some type of light modifier.

Last but not least, learn all you can about post processing. It's not cheating. It's the equivalent of the darkroom of the old days where they had to dodge and burn manually. You just don't have any of the developer or fixer getting you high.

[whereisjohnwilson]

Originally Posted by nathanbarlow

cant help with your request, but would like to say that the 'tweak' someone did above, looks worse IMO. The dark background is good. and the yellowish tinge is better than the blueish tinge the PP gave. Having said that the yellow isnt great, just better than blue.

Agreed. I like the original better.

[elkidogz]

I use adobe lightroom to work on the pictures brightness and tones. I think that it's a few adjustments in the tones section and the lighting settings that you are wanting to try. possibly use a difused light source. which will produce a softer lighting.

[dblayn]

I noticed when I opened the original example adobe bridge that the iso is 2000. Just curious why it was taken at such a high iso. I am in a place where I try to do as little post processing as possible and to get smooth skin I conciously shoot at a much lower iso. In general, I liked your shot very much.

[natek313]

Originally Posted by cphoniball

What's probably the most important is the lens you're using. Most portrait photographers will use a fast prime in the 50-100mm range (I don't know about Nikon, but Canon makes a mean 85mm 1.8 that is great for portraits).

Nikon does make an 85mm f/1.8 lens that is supposed to be quite good as well. One of my friends that shoots Nikon was oogling over my Canon 85mm f/1.8 while wishing he had one for his D200. Haha.

[Raoul Isidro]

It's not what you are doing wrong.
It's what they are overdoing... ummm to make it "right".
YouTube - Model Evolution With Makeup And Photoshop

[LeeR]

Call me a contrarian, but I am going to disagree with just about everyone who has gone before me: your lighting is too flat. The reason you like the photographer whose link you posted is because she has developed an eye for good portrait lighting. This does not come easy, but once you learn to see it your images will improve dramatically.
It is hard to put into writing the kind of light that works best but I have an idea that may help. Many area malls have an "atrium" area. This is an area with a large open skylight and high walls that produce a wonderful light. Once you see the light I am talking about, and get some great images, you should be able to find that light in other places as well.

[katezack]

First of all you are not doing anything wrong. The photos on that site are touched up.
Your portrait of the girl is absolutely beautiful. But most photographers use some kind of software to slightly re-touch and eliminate the little imperfections that you see on everyone's faces.
You just need to find the correct software and you too will be able to do this.
The great thing about software of this kind is that you can add as little of an effect or as much as you like.
I sometimes use Topaz Labs for some of my photos. It is especially nice for portraits of my grandson, who already is beautiful but I just smooth out his skin tones a little.

Kate

Also the portraits on the site were probably either done in soft-over cast light, but most portraits need a little help