What’s Your Preference?

KendraDavis · #1 (**permalink**) 01-28-2011, 02:15 AM

Hi! I am new here so this is my first critique. I have been photographing mostly my kids with my D3000 for a couple of months now. I am planning on opening a small studio within the next month or so, so I would love any advice on what I am doing wrong and right please! I was given the body to my camera with no manual so I am lost on the settings. All I know is I took this on portrait with an 18-55mm lens-natural lighting. The only editing I did was a slight brighten and a cross-process filter

Thanks in advance

Hopefully the pic shows!

thompsy · #2 (**permalink**) 01-28-2011, 11:11 AM

I think it's a lovely shot, the lighting is great.

I think if the focus had been sharper on her eyes, the photo would have been perfect.

Just my opinion...

Eileen D · #3 (**permalink**) 01-28-2011, 02:33 PM

Welcome to DPS, Kendra! Your little girl is very sweet, with those gorgeous eyes, and she seems like a natural in front of the camera. However I do agree with the previous post that her eyes need to be sharper in this image. You have to learn how to control the specific point of focus, particularly with a portrait. No matter what the subject -- your daughter, your dog, a bird outside your window -- the eyes are usually the key to a strong portrait so they must be as sharp as possible. That means you have to know more about your camera to control what you get when you press that shutter release.

Since you don't have a camera manual, try an online search for the manual so that you can download one. If you're shooting in auto modes and letting the camera make all of the decisions, you're going to miss a lot of shots. And if you are even starting to think about opening a studio, you have to get out of Auto modes and really know what you're doing with the camera. I would take some time to get to know the camera so well that the choices you make in a specific situation are second nature to you, so that YOU are in charge, not the camera. This website is a fantastic place to learn more about almost any aspect of photography so consider making it a regular habit to go through the threads that are most helpful as you try to master more of what your camera can do.

SwissJon · #4 (**permalink**) 01-28-2011, 03:19 PM

Hi,

Other have already said about the focus, so I won't repeat them..

I love the composition, but to me the photo appears over exposed and the colours a little washed out.. I think that may have been as a result of your post production brightening and filter.. Post the unedited photo for comparison.

KendraDavis · #5 (**permalink**) 01-28-2011, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thompsy

I think it's a lovely shot, the lighting is great.

I think if the focus had been sharper on her eyes, the photo would have been perfect.

Just my opinion...

Thank you! I am having issues keeping the focus on the eyes!

KendraDavis · #6 (**permalink**) 01-28-2011, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eileen D

Welcome to DPS, Kendra! Your little girl is very sweet, with those gorgeous eyes, and she seems like a natural in front of the camera. However I do agree with the previous post that her eyes need to be sharper in this image. You have to learn how to control the specific point of focus, particularly with a portrait. No matter what the subject -- your daughter, your dog, a bird outside your window -- the eyes are usually the key to a strong portrait so they must be as sharp as possible. That means you have to know more about your camera to control what you get when you press that shutter release.

Since you don't have a camera manual, try an online search for the manual so that you can download one. If you're shooting in auto modes and letting the camera make all of the decisions, you're going to miss a lot of shots. And if you are even starting to think about opening a studio, you have to get out of Auto modes and really know what you're doing with the camera. I would take some time to get to know the camera so well that the choices you make in a specific situation are second nature to you, so that YOU are in charge, not the camera. This website is a fantastic place to learn more about almost any aspect of photography so consider making it a regular habit to go through the threads that are most helpful as you try to master more of what your camera can do.

Thank you very much! I agree with you 100%. I really need to get out of auto. I will look up the manual! This site is already teaching me a lot. I honestly didn't know you could set the focus on the eyes. I will keep practicing

KendraDavis · #7 (**permalink**) 01-28-2011, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwissJon

Hi,

Other have already said about the focus, so I won't repeat them..

I love the composition, but to me the photo appears over exposed and the colours a little washed out.. I think that may have been as a result of your post production brightening and filter.. Post the unedited photo for comparison.

Here is the unedited picture. I would love to see how you would have edited it! I tend to use filters as a quick fix since I am still learning