Few pinters please - 1st portrait

[princesswoo]

This is my daughter and try as i might i can never get her to sit long enough for a picture, even the proper proffesionals cant get a decent picture, the dummy is a whole other story.

Anyway i recieved some new studio lights and have managed to get her to allow me to take this.




Sony DSLR A200
ISO 400
Exposure 1/60
Shutter speed 1/60
f/5.6
Aperture f/5.6
Focal length 70mm


What do you think of it, i had to do a bit of processing photoshop as i didnt quite get the lighting right.

Any tips or comments good or bad are extremely welcome.

[LeeR]

I assume you are looking for photographic advice rather than parental advice though I am sorely tempted to give you both. You daughter is absolutely gorgeous and you have captured a wonderful expression on her face. However, your main light is a bit hot leaving the whites overexposed. If you adjust the levels enough to get some details in the whites you will also end up with some rather deep shadows on her neck. You said you got 'lights' as in more than one. If that is the case then you need to adjust your setup so for a better balance between highlights and shadows.

[princesswoo]

ha ha - no parenting advice needed, i will prize it off her one day.

Yes advice if very welcome. And thank you for your comments.

I have 3 x 180 lights with soft boxes and a black and white umbrella. Im just waiting for a hot shoe so i can sync them together as at present they get triggered by the onboard flash which i dont like. I also have a flash gun but im still trying to get it to work how i want it to.

I used a cotton bed sheet for the back drop which i believe isnt the best thing to use. But its all i had to hand.

All my lighting is set up in my kitchen as its the only room i have space for it, and my kitchen is quite dark, but i thought with the lighting set up that wouldnt matter.

For this shot i had 1 light to her left and one to her right at her height level, they were pretty close to her, because if i moved them further away the photo came out even darker.

I have some work experience with a local studio portrait photographer on tuesday, so i shall get some hands on advice there.

When my daughter saw it she said - aw mummy my picture is so nice. So i got a thumbs up there.

Im very new to photoshop - ive only been using it for 7 weeks. So im getting there slowly.

[mandyatm]

Try one light at a 45 degree angle to her and the other right behind you, a little farther away (or turned down). Also, if you have the ability to go to a larger aperture you will be able to increase your speed (it looks a little soft) and decrease you ISO. I think the sheet you used looks just fine.

[rengles]

cute portrait

Just from a viewer's perspective, I find the bright red pacifier distracts from her pretty blue eyes! Maybe if she liked this picture, you could get her to pose again without it

[princesswoo]

Thanks for the tips.

Its very much appreciated.