May 2012 Portrait shoot C&C please

[shankar]

I am shooting quite a bit these days, and take on every opportunity to take photos & learn. I am not a pro, and do not charge at this time.. though people have given me some gift certificates to say thanks.

I try to apply Bemji's rules of portraiture, and all the things I leanr from here and POTN about lighting

Here are a few that came out of last week's shoot. Hillary wanted theatrical headshots *& Emily just came in to get some shots for her portfolio

Please offer your critique...

Hillary

1.


IMG_2098_db by shankar_hokie, on Flickr

<deleted the rest per Benji's recommendation>

[Benji]

Shankar,

Please pick one image of one young lady for critique per the rules of this forum.

I suggest starting a second thread for the second young lady, with again, one image.

Benji

[jimmills]

Hello, Shankar!

Jim

[shankar]

Originally Posted by Benji

Shankar,

Please pick one image of one young lady for critique per the rules of this forum.

I suggest starting a second thread for the second young lady, with again, one image.

Benji

Sorry Benji.. I did not understand the rules..

I will delete all but one here..

[shankar]

Originally Posted by jimmills

Hello, Shankar!

Jim

Hey Jim!!!! How are you?

[Benji]

Shankar,

Several things jump out at me in your image. The white balance is excellent as is the quality of the light, and after staring at her expression for several minutes I'm beginning to think this is her normal everyday look. It appears to me she was rather relaxed in front of the camera.

I'm not real wild about the flat to the camera shoulders (football shoulders as they are known in the business.) Personally I like the 45 degree angle the best as it slenderizes the shoulders but doesn't make the near shoulder look large. Judging by the catchlights in her eyes, the fill light was too low and too far off to one side and the main light was too low. the fill light catchlight should be dead center or very close to dead center and the main light should be at the 11 or 1 o'clock position in the eyes. A hair light behind and above and slightly off to her right would have brightened her hair up. Lastly the background doesn't really add anything to the overall image. In portraiture everything in the image should add dimensionality and excitement to the image.

You are very close to getting this right!

Benji

[shankar]

Originally Posted by Benji

Shankar,

Several things jump out at me in your image. The white balance is excellent as is the quality of the light, and after staring at her expression for several minutes I'm beginning to think this is her normal everyday look. It appears to me she was rather relaxed in front of the camera.

I'm not real wild about the flat to the camera shoulders (football shoulders as they are known in the business.) Personally I like the 45 degree angle the best as it slenderizes the shoulders but doesn't make the near shoulder look large. Judging by the catchlights in her eyes, the fill light was too low and too far off to one side and the main light was too low. the fill light catchlight should be dead center or very close to dead center and the main light should be at the 11 or 1 o'clock position in the eyes. A hair light behind and above and slightly off to her right would have brightened her hair up. Lastly the background doesn't really add anything to the overall image. In portraiture everything in the image should add dimensionality and excitement to the image.

You are very close to getting this right!

Benji

Thanks Benji, for your kind words. I also appreciate the tips to improve the shot.

Hillary wanted a "Theatrical Headshot" and she had certain specific thoughts about what it should be. Limited make up, straight shoulders, and a blank stare, plain background. Hence the overall setup.

The key light was a 60" octabox, to the right of camera, and I had it raised all the way to the 9 ft ceiling. I winder if that is the reason that catch light appears low. The Fill was a umbrella softbox, and it was at her shoulder level, close to camera. Should I have raised it a bit?

I had trouble positioning the hair lights in the beginning... It was a speedlight in a 24" softbox, on a boom stand. Positioning that was a nightmare!

Here's one that she posed for on my request. I hope that I got most of it close to right here


IMG_2158 by shankar_hokie, on Flickr

[Benji]

Looks pretty good. Watch those lopped off fingers. I always place all the fingers of both hands above the arm rather than below it. I also try and not place the main light on the same side as she is facing that way the skin on her chest is darker than her face is because it will be lit by the fill light rather than the main light. Nice hair light!

Benji