What’s Your Preference?

RoyaltyFreeStock · #1 (**permalink**) 07-07-2010, 10:13 PM

A little background:
I just bought my first DSLR about 2 months ago. Since then I have been submitting stock to iStockphoto, Shutterstock, and 4 or 5 other stock sites. I got approved at iStockphoto and Shutterstock with mostly textures. These were photos and drawn in Photoshop.

I would very much like to get better at portraiture for stock and because my brother has asked me to photograph his wedding in 6 months! I'm so scared because I truly know very little about portraiture...especially lighting.

The photo above of the baby (my daughter) is a good example of where I am at. It was accepted at a few of the less popular stock sites but not at iStock or Shutterstock. These are the 2 sites I would like to get people shots accepted at.

This is the 1 portrait I used in my test submission to iStockphoto:

Helpful resources?

Experience?

Lightwriter · #2 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010, 02:28 PM

I've never submitted to stock sites but I'll try to help you out anyway.
The greens in the photo of your daughter are overwhelming. I think a vertical crop could dramatically improve this shot.
Overall the lighting is flat.
To me the little girl has an odd look on her face. Please don't take this the wrong way. I know she's your daughter (and she IS very cute) but to me her expression is just off. I'm confused as to what emotion I should be picking up from this shot.
Is the shot of the man yours, too? If so you seem to really like that pose. Your daughter is in almost the same position. However, the man is better positioned in the frame and his expression make more sense.
I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. Keep shooting

EDIT: I hope you don't mind. I took a crack at editing you photo. I cropped it. Added contrast with the Brightness/Contrast tool and some color with the Channel Mixer.

Laurenbiz · #3 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010, 07:49 PM

I do agree with the odd expression!

My biggest concern is the built-in flash. I can see it very prevalent here. The stock photo websites will, presumably, want professional lighting (umbrellas and soft boxes, all that jazz,) in photos - and I can tell that this is definitely a pop-up flash because of that harsh shadow underneath her chin.

I don't know what your EXIF data is for the photo here? Depending on your ISO, you should be able to pull off a very nice, well-lit, outdoor photo without depending on flash. Since the subject here has a tendency to move quickly, I would suggest an ISO of 200 or 400, with a very wide open aperture. A long shutter speed will let in light without flash - but that's probably not a good choice to use with a toddler! You'll just get blur with a long shutter :-)

I hope that helps!

Lightwriter · #4 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurenbiz

My biggest concern is the built-in flash. I can see it very prevalent here. The stock photo websites will, presumably, want professional lighting (umbrellas and soft boxes, all that jazz,) in photos - and I can tell that this is definitely a pop-up flash because of that harsh shadow underneath her chin.

I knew I forgot to mention something! When I was editing the shot I saw red eye, too. Was there a reason why you used such direct flash?

untitled99 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010, 10:12 PM

if you are into portraits, you should really read the posts by Elizabeth Halford and/or visit her blog, Where do you want to go? » Elizabeth Halford Photography. i know nothing about lighting except that i hate using my camera's flash- but there are good ways to post-process to fix a lot of that. what are you using now?

also, the crop by Lightwriter helped the pic out a lot. decreasing your DOF will help to center the attention on the subject and tends to give a nice background, especially if you are somewhere bright and sunny. best advice is to just keep practicing on that cute little girl and any other kids, family, friends, strangers that will let you!

RoyaltyFreeStock · #6 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010, 06:59 AM

Thanks you guys. Like I said...I know very little about lighting. I've never used umbrellas or softboxes etc. The man (was edited out by moderator due to more than 1 photo) was taken by me as well. I do tend to like more space in my composition. I feel that your crop was pretty good but i would in the end settle on something in-between what I did and what you did. I guess as far as lighting goes I will just start reading tutorials and so forth. I'm starting back to school in the fall as well and will be a photography major.

Nevervoid · #7 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lightwriter

I've never submitted to stock sites but I'll try to help you out anyway.
The greens in the photo of your daughter are overwhelming. I think a vertical crop could dramatically improve this shot.
Overall the lighting is flat.
To me the little girl has an odd look on her face. Please don't take this the wrong way. I know she's your daughter (and she IS very cute) but to me her expression is just off. I'm confused as to what emotion I should be picking up from this shot.
Is the shot of the man yours, too? If so you seem to really like that pose. Your daughter is in almost the same position. However, the man is better positioned in the frame and his expression make more sense.
I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. Keep shooting

EDIT: I hope you don't mind. I took a crack at editing you photo. I cropped it. Added contrast with the Brightness/Contrast tool and some color with the Channel Mixer.

Nice processing, Lightwriter!