First Studio shoot

[ddr]

First studio shoot I did:



If you guys can give me some pointers that'd be great. Specifically, the client it happy with it but the model thinks the editing makes her hair 'multi-colored'. Did I use too much fill light? On my TN panel, it looks that way. However, on my IPS panel, it looks the way I want it to look. Do I have to go get a spyder now ... The most important thing is for the colors to look similar to the colors on a print. Do I calibrate it using a standard profile amongst print shops?

It's hard enough to explain to the model how every monitor looks different, but this is not the first time she's done a shoot so I'm assuming her previous photos look fine. Then the problem is on my end ...

it was around f/11, iso100, 1/125 i think so the ambient would've been killed. strictly the studio strobes only. hence i didn't understand on some comments about how it had mixed color temp. sources. maybe the main light and the background lights were different colored? the main light was just a single big light in a huge octabox. also, some ppl think it's too cool in color temperature. could my monitor be too warm? it looks fine to me.

I now realize that shadow gives more detail. for some strange reason i kept on thinking how to get rid of the shadows. the main light wasn't at a sufficient angle i guess. and i should crop closer to her head to not maker her seem short. i keep trying to align one of the crosses (of the 1/3s) on her eye (not this particular photo). and I think i should have included her right hand.

this shoot was for a jewelry company. the jewelry is actually very cheap and it did't any are actual gemstones. still, the metal should be less flat. throughout the entire shoot i had to keep reminding myself that this is not a model-centric shoot, as i wasted time re-doing shots which did not showcase the jewelry well enough.


TIA

[scootermcq]

I can't comment on the hair because never having seen the model in person, it's impossible. What I do see for improvement is the lighting. Most notable is the lack of catch lights in the eyes. Without those, the model looks like she has dead eyes. Second thing you already commented on is the lack of shadow to sculpt and create a three dimensional face by creating a wrap from highlight to shadow. Usually you will prefer "short lighting" where the shadow falls on the side of the face facing the camera.

Exposure looks good on my I pad, but you could not really increase the main light without over exposing, so reducing fill would create some wrap. Alternatively you could go with no fill and use a reflector to Bounce some light back into the shadows. If you have a flash meter, it can really help with the set up of the strobes until you can do it by feel.

[WooD]

I agree about the lack of catch lights. If you were using strobes, how did you keep from getting them?

You shot it at 1/160, and on my monitor her hair doesn't look right as far as color. Seems a bit on the cool side too.

If I were shooting to show case the jewelry, I'd be doing some serious tight cropping.

[locojain]

Hi,

Its a decent shot. And as far as your clients comments are considered I would agree that her hair looks multi coloured and this kind if diminishes the visibility of the jewellery as the viewer is distacted towards the hair. My eyes were attracted to her hair and little attention went to the jewellery. Probably nil, until i read the whole question.

I dont really understnd a lot of the terms you have used but I d say her skin is too white (over exposed) near the wrists. one can barely see the white silver/platinum metal. You might want to lower the level of exposure a bit. Plus the white background adds more distraction.

As far as the hair colors are concerned. they do look magenta, red, brown and a shade of yellow. maybe its the way it is or could be due to post processing. I d recommend you experiment with colors.. cant really specify which ones coz i dont use photoshop.. I can recommend you Lightroom to do the changes.. Again its just a recommendation.

Her dress really compliments the necklace but the part of the necklace above her chest area isnt really visible.. I assume it has pearls or white gems in it, which a viewer cant really see.
I have worked in a jewellery store for a long time and my comments are based on my experience.
Do upadte us with the changes you make.
Good luck.