New to the game, please give feedback!!!

[JRphotos1021]

Hello All, I am a fairly new photographer. I just started charging for my services and I want to know what other photographers think of my work and how I can improve.!! I took this with my Nikon D5000 and a 18-55mm lens at a near by park I have read many times that you should have the sun behind the subject but then I get the rays, but I kind of like. Does it work?

Thanks so much!!

Jori

[Hill Country Hack]

Welcome to DPS. Please review the Critique Forum Rules and provide your EXIF and specific question. In general, "what do you all think" is too broad a subject.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by Hill Country Hack

Welcome to DPS. Please review the Critique Forum Rules and provide your EXIF and specific question. In general, "what do you all think" is too broad a subject.

This.

In expectation that you'll follow those rules, as all good members do, here's some general feedback...

Firstly, foliage, such as trees and bushes, especially when they've dropped their leaves mean a very cluttered background. Usually it's easiest to throw it out of focus using a more shallow DoF. People usually think trees etc make for a pretty background. Unless it's done well, it usually doesnt.

Secondly her red sweater, big belly and somewhat unflattering pose make for what is essentially a singular focus... how big she looks. The guy is barely in the shot, peeping from behind her.

The skin tones look underexposed and red. Backlit shots are tough, though youve already blown the sky, you might as well make sure you're exposing properly for the subject's faces.

The towel detracts from the shot. On closer inspection, it looks like a sheepskin-esque rug. Most people will not look so closely and think its a white bath towel. If you want to sit in the leaves for a nice shot, suck it up and get a damp ass.

The guys foot being right up against the right of the frame is a little thoughtless. While its better than chopping it off, leave some breathing room in your frame, unless a crop demands otherwise.

The rim lighting from the sun works for separation, the flare in an image like this (formal, conventional) does not, at all. candid shots benefit from it, imho, posed images in a classic meme like this make it a throw away. Be careful of claiming an 'artistic decision' out of a mistake... clients will wonder why there's a smudge across the shot, and other photographers know the difference.

Were it me, i would have reconsidered the point I was shooting from, and would have shaded to the right. That angled tree trunk is too prominent. If there was something out of shot to the left you were avoiding like garbage cans, well, theyre easier to remove in post that a tree... otherwise, if you have too may problems shooting landscape, shoot portrait or move.

That should be enough to get you started...

[RItz68]

Hi JR, I'm new too, so my critique is from someone who's just learning as well.

From a personal perspective, I don't shoot into the sun, and in this photo, I think the colors look washed out as a result. And the lens flares on her pants, don''t look like they should be there. I think the contrast & colors should have been enhanced in PP'ng.

After the lighting, the next thing that jumped out at me was the towel she is sitting on. If something was necessary to sit on, I would have used something considerably smaller so it didn't come out in the photo. Or selected a different location.

The man looks cramped with his foot right up against the edge of the photo, and the tree to the right just seems out of place.

I would have used a prime/portrait lens to take this photo to add DOF. If not possible, I would have added bokeh in PP'ng.

Hope this helps, and like I said, I'm just learning too, so all you pros, feel free to correct me as well.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by RItz68

I would have used a prime/portrait lens to take this photo to add DOF. If not possible, I would have added bokeh in PP'ng.

Hope this helps, and like I said, I'm just learning too, so all you pros, feel free to correct me as well.

Just to clarify this point, a shallow DoF is what you're alluding to, not 'adding DoF'. This isn't a function of using a prime lens, but a result of many factors, primarily the focal length of the lens, the aperture and distance between camera and subject.

In short, a zoom lens under the right circumstances is just as capable of producing a shallow DoF as a prime. Primarily, it's associated with fixed focal length lenses as they are common in f1.2, 1.4, 1.8, 2.8 etc.

Not being pedantic, however it's important to clarify what can be one of the more complicated basics for new-comers, rather than perpetuate and misuse terms and language.

Also bokeh simply refers to the qualities of the out of focus area, it's not an interchangeable term. Adding it in PP is rarely done well, and usually involves using some sort of blur tool, that doesn't mimic out of focus looks accurately. Better to take time before hand and use appropriate equipment if that's the look you want to achieve..

[RItz68]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

Just to clarify this point, a shallow DoF is what you're alluding to, not 'adding DoF'. This isn't a function of using a prime lens, but a result of many factors, primarily the focal length of the lens, the aperture and distance between camera and subject.

In short, a zoom lens under the right circumstances is just as capable of producing a shallow DoF as a prime. Primarily, it's associated with fixed focal length lenses as they are common in f1.2, 1.4, 1.8, 2.8 etc.

Not being pedantic, however it's important to clarify what can be one of the more complicated basics for new-comers, rather than perpetuate and misuse terms and language.

Also bokeh simply refers to the qualities of the out of focus area, it's not an interchangeable term. Adding it in PP is rarely done well, and usually involves using some sort of blur tool, that doesn't mimic out of focus looks accurately. Better to take time before hand and use appropriate equipment if that's the look you want to achieve..

I stand corrected. I'm still learning the terminology. In simple terms (which is probably what I should have used to begin with) what I meant to say, was that the background should have been blurred. I suggested a portrait lens, because those seem to blur the background the nicest (from what I've seen), but you're right, a longer lens can also do the trick. I actually got a nice blurry background using an 18-55mm lens by just getting closer to my subject.

There is a nice Photoshop plugin from Alien Skin called Bokeh 2, which adds bokeh (blurs the background) pretty nicely I think. (then again, you might think it's a joke). Here's an example of before & after that I did. [IMG] IMG_1807_b-a by famof5, on Flickr[/IMG]

Like I said I'm new to this, and based on your post, I have no where near the amount of experience that you have, but I was just trying to help. It was not an intentional perpetuation or misuse of terms.

I agree though, use the correct equipment right out of the gate, and you're better off. Mental note made. Thanks.

[mc1979]

Originally Posted by JRphotos1021

Hello All, I am a fairly new photographer. I just started charging for my services and I want to know what other photographers think of my work and how I can improve.!!

Honestly, and I'm not meaning to sound snippy, trust me..I'm a newbie too, started 9 months ago...but I don't think you should be charging... not yet...learn more..practice on people for free... then once you get consistant.. charge away.

Study up on composition, lighting, portrait photography, getting it right in the camera and then fine tuning in post processing.

I think in the long run, you will be glad you did.

There is alot to running a photography business. Are you paying taxes since you are charging? Have you gotten insurance on your equipment yet? Liability insurance in case someone is injured during one of your shoots?

I don't know, I could be wrong and you are doing all these things..but just from your first sentence..I don't think that I am.

Hope this helps you in some way.. my goal is the same as yours, I want to do this as a profession, but I have found through all my studying..it's alot more than just owning a good dslr.

[Mso]

I have to agree with mc1979. I was thinking this, but not game enough to say it. Going by this one shot and your comments I would say you are not ready to charge yet. To me this is a nice snapshot.

I take tons of photographs for friends and give them to them, it gives me tons of practise and they are happy to get some shots they might not have got otherwise.

I have been asked a couple of times to do shoots of horses for money (equestrian is my love) but have declined. I have however taken photos free and given them a cd. Again, great practise.. everytime I learn something.