Senior Portraits

[terin5124]

Hi everyone,

I've been casually photographing high school seniors lately. I'm 17, a high school senior myself, and have been getting interested in photography for the past few years. I'm looking for a general critique of my photos: suggestions in composition, color, post-processing, etc.

My equipment includes a Sony A100, a f/1.4 50mm lens, and on off-camera flash used occasionally. All of my photos can be seen at Terin Barrios Photography's photosets on Flickr, but here are a few in particular that I would like you to look at:

senior photos:
25 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
14 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
3 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
5 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

and a baby photo, as well:
DSC082413 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Thanks for your time!

[Niresangwa]

what exactly would you like a critique on?

[deborahw92]

Go you! I loved the composition of the shots. If I were you I would pay a little more attention to some of the lighting. Some shots had some very harsh shadows on their faces. Somes had their faces overexposed, some underexposed. You have some wonderful shots. Would just watch how the lighting plays on my model.

[terin5124]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

what exactly would you like a critique on?

I'm looking for general suggestions from a trained photographer's perspective on how I can make my clients/models happiest with their photos. I know that these forums are for specific critiques, but I need someone to criticize my general style of portrait photography to help me improve.

[terin5124]

Originally Posted by deborahw92

Go you! I loved the composition of the shots. If I were you I would pay a little more attention to some of the lighting. Some shots had some very harsh shadows on their faces. Somes had their faces overexposed, some underexposed. You have some wonderful shots. Would just watch how the lighting plays on my model.

Great suggestion. Thanks.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by terin5124

I'm looking for general suggestions from a trained photographer's perspective on how I can make my clients/models happiest with their photos. I know that these forums are for specific critiques, but I need someone to criticize my general style of portrait photography to help me improve.

Your style is fresh as far as I'm concerned. It reminds me of my own eye, especially when it comes to your composition. I would suggest you stay with what you're doing, but make sure you make these crops in PP, not when you're framing up your shot. from experience, I'll tell you some of my favourite images were nothing like I framed them up to begin with, plus it gives you flexibility to play with your composition afterwards.

I think the other respondents mention of being careful with your lighting is valid, but again, I would venture a guess that it's to do with the 'unconventional' portrait compositions you're going for. When you're shooting from a low angle, for example in "25", you have to be super careful not to get unflattering shadows/wrinkles etc etc. This isn't something I have perfect either, but you have to force yourself to check for these things before you hit the shutter release...many of these details which will detract from an image won't register to your eye as you direct and set up the shot.

Rather than always try and perfect your lighting, you can try to use it to your advantage if it's not ideal. You seem to be coming at this with an artists eye, as much as anything, so try to adapt that and appreciate it.

"14" i didn't care for. Loved the model, loved the pose, hated the crop. too tight for me. I dont mind the blown out sky, but the missing arm and her eyes looking frame right with almost no space to breathe made it uncomfortable for me to look at.

"3" i liked the composition, again, one of my favourite set ups. I think the model, as pretty as she is, kind of fuzzed this set for me, she doesnt look very comfortable. i think almost every single image she has the same expression :/ ...thats what i took away from that set.

the "kaitlin" set was nice...again, same expression, but the variation in your locations and how you set her up was pretty cool in some of those shots. it would be great if she wasn't always looking at the camera. a few lighting issues, was it middle of the afternoon you were taking these? the sun seems harsh.

overall, i like your approach a great deal. the more appealing images were the ones where your model was interacting with something else, not the camera. i like your composition...again, maybe only because its the same approach i use however, be careful with your lighting and exposure. while i'm definitely not a stickler for these things in my own shooting, there are some in those sets i probably wouldnt use without some heavy PPing.

Hope that helps.

[ambrya_nell]

For only being 17 and just starting out i think these are really great. Honestly. I worked for a Portrait studio that primarily did Seniors over the summer and learned a lot about posing and lighting. Maybe looking at some posing ideas on the web would give you some better ideas, and honestly a lot of these were just as good as our outdoor/on location shoots that we did and the photographer there has been doing this for about 20 years so kudos to you for a good start. Also, in some of the closeups, some skin retouching and eye/teeth brightening is always good... that was my job so i always notice that first lol... anyway.... nice work!

[cziz]

Really love the baby shot! Just awesome! The other ones tell me that you are on your way to photographic greatness! Keep up the great work!