Portrait/Model shoot from today

[Ben Watts ATL]

I took this pic today, showed it to the model, and she said she hated her face in it. I think she looks fine. Since she's asking to see the pics before I put them up, I took it down from my Flickr page. However, I am looking for an outside opinion. I like it along with the other one she said she really dislikes.

DSC_0187.jpg


F/ 7.1
1/200 sec
ISO 200
Shot it with a D3100.
Assistant was holding a soft box off camera.
SB-700 Speedlight

[Tito87]

In my humble opinion, I think you went a little too far with the sharpening.

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by Ben Watts ATL

I took this pic today, showed it to the model, and she said she hated her face in it. I think she looks fine. Since she's asking to see the pics before I put them up, I took it down from my Flickr page. However, I am looking for an outside opinion. I like it along with the other one she said she really dislikes.

Attachment 56865


F/ 7.1
1/200 sec
ISO 200
Shot it with a D3100.
Assistant was holding a soft box off camera.
SB-700 Speedlight

I wouldn't even ask for outside opinion if the model dislikes it, and if the shoot was TF... but if I paid the model I don't care about their opinion then I'll do whatever I want with the photos. If it was a TF shoot never show photos online without permission from the model(s) in the photos even if you get them to sign away their rights.

Anyways I like the photo a lot, its perfectly cropped, the lighting is good, but for my style in this type of area I would have tried without the softbox and try to capture more shadows which would be more of my style somewhat just in this type of environment I would have loved to see shadows. As for the sky for some reason its distracting me, it just doesnt go with the tone of the rest of the photo being more darker tone and feel as the sky is brighter upbeat tone.

[cyber3d]

I agree. If she was your client then she has a say in it. If she is not your client then it is your decision. That being said. as a critique... the soft box was too small. I'd have used a 2x3 softbox (as a minimum size) and a little more inline with the camera linesight (may be split the difference) and a catchlight.

Here are the reasons. While the contrast level is fine, it is too harsh IMO (too sharp). Usually caused by a small soft box or too small of a reflector. May be I just like a softer more glamour look.I wonder about the catchlight difference between the left and right eyes. I assume you did not use a catchlight fixture.

[Ben Watts ATL]

Originally Posted by Tito87

In my humble opinion, I think you went a little too far with the sharpening.

I didn't sharpen anything. I removed some blemishes from her face and didn't do anything else to the pic. This is straight out of the camera.

Originally Posted by ChrisAdval

I wouldn't even ask for outside opinion if the model dislikes it, and if the shoot was TF... but if I paid the model I don't care about their opinion then I'll do whatever I want with the photos. If it was a TF shoot never show photos online without permission from the model(s) in the photos even if you get them to sign away their rights.

Anyways I like the photo a lot, its perfectly cropped, the lighting is good, but for my style in this type of area I would have tried without the softbox and try to capture more shadows which would be more of my style somewhat just in this type of environment I would have loved to see shadows. As for the sky for some reason its distracting me, it just doesnt go with the tone of the rest of the photo being more darker tone and feel as the sky is brighter upbeat tone.

She understood that I would post a couple samples for her to look at and that we would go from there. I only put it in here to see if there was something she was seeing that I wasn't. Her exact words were that she liked everything but her face, which I think looks fine. However, I've been doing this for 4 months roughly, she's been doing it for a few years. So I figured I'd come to some people who have been doing it longer than me. I tried a few without the softbox and they were just too underexposed. I don't have a lens with a low F stop (3.5 I think at the lowest). I experimented with dialing down the strobe, pulling it back, and closing aperture. This was my favorite and was actually the exact style of lighting I was going for.

To address Cyber3d; I guess it would be a matter of opinion. I'm not a big fan of the soft glamour shot look. To each his own I suppose. The softbox I used was 20in x 20in. I'd never thought about looking a bigger softbox. I typically just use it for head shots. I'll take a look into that though. Thanks!

[phil24]

Having two daughters (who critique every shot I take of them), I try to look at the areas they seem to point out the most.

I would agree with your model that her face is not flattering in the shot. Around her mouth,especially on her chin it is almost a different skin tone- greyish appearing. Also under her right eye there is a shadow that makes it look like she has a black eye.

Now having said that I, the overall shot is good and you are fortunate to have an experienced model to work with.

[Rentham]

Originally Posted by Ben Watts ATL

I guess it would be a matter of opinion. I'm not a big fan of the soft glamour shot look. To each his own I suppose.

I'm with Cyber, I think the placement of the light is too far to the side. Its not quite side lighting, but it is creating deep shadows that are accentuating parts of her face that she may not like. Some possible solutions are moving the light or popping in some fill.

I find the composition a little strange. I'd either include more of the sky, or remove it completely. I'm not a huge fan of the wall going through her head. Overall I like the shot, and I think it has a lot of potential.

[prince]

You could have tried to move the softbox further from the model and towards the camera or use a second light source from camera left to fill the shadows.

Shadow/highlight split is not working, for me, in this photo. I agree about the sky, it is not adding any value.

Did you ask what specifically she did not like about her face? Try to get more details about her dislikes so that you can note them and improve upon (if you agree, that is) in future.

Free or not, if someone is not happy with their images I don't think, IMO, it is appropriate to post online. You don't want unhappy clients or "potential" clients.