Maternity Family Session

[spoppe]

I like this outdoor shot, but their eyes seem a little dark. Would you use a reflector to fill more light in? We were in a shaded area.

F/7.1
Shutter speed 1/125
ISO:200

Canon 50D
50mm f/1.8 lens

[NicolaB]

He looks a cheaky chappie (in a cute way).

Yep a reflector would do the trick. Put catchlights in the eyes and pop the skin tones.

If you don't mind me saying...I would have a look at a tighter crop to see if you can get rid of some of the bright area to the left of the image. Alternatively, burn it down a little. I feel it draws the eye away from your subjects a little. What do you think?

hth

[spoppe]

What kind of reflector would you use? I've been trying to get by without one, but I feel like it would have helped.
I did burn that in and it looks pretty good. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm using Aperture and new to the editing process, so I appreciate that!

[kevingeary]

You could just blow out the background and expose for the subject. I'd try that first. Working with a reflector without an assistant is an exercise in futility.

Shade isn't created equal. You need open shade so that the eye has a direct line to the sky. The sky is what reflects in the eye to create the sparkle.

[NicolaB]

I agree with Kevin that reflectors are really hard to get the hang of. IMO if you are going to go pro (I am jso - so take this with a pinch of salt) it is worth the effort. Golden hours back lit images are beautiful and very often the difference in rim light on the hair and the dark shadow on the face vrs bright dipping sun are just too great a contrast. Here is a full sun images I took at the weekend to practice. I was in the sun and my little one just in the shade standing roughly 45º to the backlight. I used the lastolite trigrip hung from the pushchair (a very handy prop I find ;-) - the pushchair that is) Notice the catchlights? Without the reflector there would not have been enough light to get her correctly exposed (again I took the exposure from the grass at her feet and took it down 1/3). Being about 4pm the sun was still too bright and her hair is very blown. (Excuse the Hello Kitty - I know it distracts, but I can't fight them everyday for their choice of clothing ;-)

Without the pushchair I would have struggled to use the darn thing though

[spoppe]

Thank you! I'm finding this site and critiques very helpful already. I needed the push to get better, instead of people just telling me they liked the pictures, etc.
I too think working with a reflector when I'm by myself could be very complicated, so I'll try to pay attention to the sun light getting through the shaded area, too.

[kevingeary]

Or you can get a single flash for off-camera and use it to do the same thing you'd use a reflector for. The flash is sturdy, wont' catch wind, and is far easier to position and much more versatile.

[spoppe]

I do have a speed light. I'm not very familiar with it and need to keep practicing, but I will try it.