June Portrait Shoot - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

07/13/2005 12:23:06 AM · #1

Well...I finally finished up (they got the order done and everything) one family portrait shoot from the first of June. I had all the work done on them in the first week, but waiting for them to choose what type and how much editing done.
I shot this one indoors, in front of a Chromakey (blue) background with the D70 and the 50mm 1.8. I had the 40" Octagon Softbox camera right and at about 7 ft. Fill flash with Shootthrough white umbrella on camera Left at eye level. Wish I would have had the Gossen Luna Pro-F at the time...but I can wait till I get my camera back.
I think I need one more AlienBee to further light that backgroiund, since I did get some "oversplash" of he background in the hair. Hard not to do, but I think a single prioritized light would do it.
WOuld love if ya look at them HERE!, but they are also thumbnailed and on DPC below. Thoughts?, whilst I get ready to order them.

Will have a Model shoot to post here soon also, taken the day before these. After I get some confirmation from the model. And a wedding I did. Not bad, but not again! :)

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

07/13/2005 12:43:45 AM · #2

Those are very nice shots! I really like the two girls together..looks like an old painted photo. Got to love that lens. Can't wait to see more.

pixieland

Fujifilm FinePix S602Z

07/13/2005 04:59:05 AM · #3

That last photo is interesting and different. How did you do it? I did notice that the girl looked like her fingers might have been chopped off as she was holding the frame. The frame thing is a unique idea and I like it.

KiwiChris

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/13/2005 05:45:48 AM · #4

Hi-ho,

The portraits themselves are quite nice, but I'm not a fan of the chromakey background 'clipping' effect. To my mind, if you've gone to all that effort, why not use a neutral colour background? Or are you intending to use digital backdrops?

For the last one, a little more effort with the fingers etc can make for a great result.. I've done a few of these for family portraits, although I've only got permission to show the first one I did on the web:

Since then I've got a lot more sophisticated with my lighting, and my backdrops don't have wrinkles. :-).

The latest one I did had the largest photo with 'frame' under the arm, rotated about 45 degrees, and the head of the next person down looking around their arm. I moved the key light to shift the shadows to be 'correct' for the rotatation of the frame, and spent hours painting in shadows etc..

I'm not a portrait expert by a long shot, but I think you're definately on the right track here, although my personal taste isn't for the type of editing/backdrop you've used...

Cheers, Chris H.

jaxter

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Tamron AF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 LD for Canon

07/13/2005 06:01:23 AM · #5

Great shots both of you! I am definately going to try out that picture within the picture technique.

KiwiChris

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/13/2005 06:09:47 AM · #6

FYI, I can't claim that idea as mine..

I first saw it early last year here:

//www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2162827

Done by a chap by the name of Lew D'Souza.

This image:

//www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=3009702

Is along a similar line, although very different! :-).

Cheers, Me.

KevinRiggs

Canon EOS-1Ds

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/13/2005 06:30:52 AM · #7

I, too, like the muted color effect you have in this set. To me it imparts a style that goes beyond aiming a lens at someone and just pushing the shutter release. The chromakey effect does have an odd edge here or there (esp in the hair areas) but it looks like you've done a pretty good job cleaning that up.

Congrats on the job.

07/25/2005 02:36:11 AM · #8

I have had many people say they love the frame in frame thing. Also great reaction to the muted colors, customer and other observers. Getting some requests to do more!! SWEET!
As for the background, yes I do plan non using digital backdrops. I am saving up for one more Alien Bee to specifically light the ChromaKey, to decrease/eliminate the spillover effect.
Now, since I don't want to crowd the forums...

Message edited by author 2005-07-25 02:41:36.

07/25/2005 02:40:31 AM · #9

The day before I shot the Indoor family portrait shoot, I did a model shoot wth Kristen. Here are a few of hers. I converted quite a few to the muted colors. I am really liking it and the process I have come up with to do it. Also the Bronze coloring. Here she is. what'cha think?

07/25/2005 03:09:14 AM · #10

Thanks to the venerable KevinRiggs for his excellent tutooling and POV on portraiture!

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/25/2005 11:54:35 AM · #11

Not that interesting?

jtf6agent

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

07/25/2005 05:54:23 PM · #12

A tutorial on how you did the multy portrait thingy would be cool. I would love to have something like that for my clan.

groggyfroggy

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

07/25/2005 06:22:32 PM · #13

I love the 1st and 3rd (the muted ones) of Kristen. I like the colors, the poses and everything. Any way someone that doesn't have much experience or photoshop do something like that? Great job.

07/25/2005 07:34:07 PM · #14

As for a tutorial, it is nothing more than shooting the different subjects (with fingers appropriately placed of course), dragging one photo onto another, scaling and using Perspective (to fit within the frame). Fairly simple.
I put up my Muted Colors action onto my website for anyone that wants to try it. Photoshop required of course. Explanation on the site with the download.