My attempt at senior pictures... need some critics

PyroPenguin (Banned) · 03-31-2007, 12:36 AM

My girlfriend and her friend wanted me to take their senior portraits, I explained to them I'd never done portrait photography before, but they wanted me to do them anyways.

So, here's my first attempt at portraits!

#1 - Marina (girlfriend)

#2

#3

#4 - a bit different

#5 - her friend

What's good? What's bad? How can I make them better?

Any post processing tips to help with the skin tones? (I can never get them right)

Any portrait-specific help?

Thanks!
Kyle

Crane · 03-31-2007, 01:02 AM

Not terrible actually. Considering you didnt have any fill lights or studio setup.

I dont like the last one at all. too much dead space

#4- not really aportrait.. but kinda cool none the less.. and it just likes desaturated... rather than b/w

#2 is my pick out of all of them

Thanatology · 03-31-2007, 07:42 AM

i dont like how in #5 u can see the crease on her foot from the shoe. it sort of takes away from the photo's surrealism.

kennmon · 03-31-2007, 08:22 AM

hrmm.
maybe its the screen im using but the colors are a bit dull.
the poses look a little forced, and not to be mean but in some pics she has what i would call a "quagmire" jaw.

the_lane · 03-31-2007, 09:08 AM

Im not really liking #5, pose looks kinda forced, too much dead space, and the crease on her foot.
#2 also looks like the pose was uncomfortable(sp) or forced.
#3 I like the best.

shoot_squrriels_09 · 03-31-2007, 12:03 PM

nice portraits!

the B&W is deffiantly my fav.

it would be better imo if she was looking at the camera and smiling, but i also like the flower blowing thing

tonybhall · 03-31-2007, 12:56 PM

you don't suck..

If noone else beats me to it I'll do a little more indepth c&c later when I have time. I like #2. And I think 4 has potential. It looks like you need to work on your angles, and use of your surroundings to create more interesting backdrops. By using different angles and a more creative control over your DOF you can create some pretty nice shots even without any studio setup or even nice backgrounds.

Also, that structure that you are shooting around could provide some really nice texture to shots. I'd have done more there.

Like I said... more later if Twitch doesn't beat me to it.

cowkid90 · 03-31-2007, 03:27 PM

One thing that I don't like is the lack of light on the girl herself. She and the background kind of blend together because they're so evenly lit. If you don't have a flash, now might be the time to look into getting one. Or maybe even just picking up a reflector. A nice 2-sided gold/white reflector is only about 30 or 40 bucks, and I think it would really make a pretty good impact on the photo's look.

In some of them, I'd put some more distance between the subject and the walls, and let them be blurred out a bit more. You could maybe like find a wall for her to lean on to have it in the foreground (which seems like the look you wanted) but then shoot from an angle which allows you some distance between the model and another wall to blend out the background a bit more, bringing more focus to the model.

Just a few things to think about, I'm not gonna claim to be a real expert on portraiture.

giantdave · 04-01-2007, 03:54 PM

they arent too bad. i hope you had a lot more though. the last one is a good qualty pic but the expression on her face is kinda weird. good job though!

haywoodeee · 04-01-2007, 04:28 PM

i actually like #1 .. it seems to kinda help bring out the subject more by setting her apart from a background that isnt very busy. the last one is my least favorite.. too much going on and as said.. too much dead space