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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> My 1st stab at senior portraits (comments welcome)
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 09/07/2006 01:28:46 AM · #1
Here are a few results from my first two days of senior portraits:




All are straight from the camera, minus a tiny auto-enhance on the goal post and tractor shots. I haven't gotten into the whole super post-processing thing yet.

Let me know what you think. I know the sun was pretty harsh both days...it clouds would not cooperate most of the day. Oh and don't mind the sensor dust.

Thanks, Drew
 09/07/2006 01:32:33 AM · #2
dont make excuses for harsh sunlight and shoot at a different time of day or somewhere else. If you don't like the light like that, don't let it in your photo.

I don't shoot this type of thing so I can't really comment besides that I think excuses are goofy for the most part.
 09/07/2006 01:41:34 AM · #3
Left you comments.
 09/07/2006 01:48:53 AM · #4
Thanks, Sunniee! Very helpfull!
 09/07/2006 01:52:36 AM · #5
Originally posted by drewbixcube:
Thanks, Sunniee! Very helpfull!

You're quite welcome... happy to help
 09/07/2006 01:56:39 AM · #6
Originally posted by drewbixcube:
I know the sun was pretty harsh both days...it clouds would not cooperate most of the day. Oh and don't mind the sensor dust.

Thanks, Drew


I've got two things you need to have if you want to shoot a lot outdoors. With the right tools and a little experience you won't be completely helpless when nature doesn't cooperate.

First you need a set of Neutral Density Filters to limit the amount of light into your lens, allowing you to get shallow Dof and/or slower shutter speeds.

Secondly, you need a flash and some sort of diffuser for fill-flash. Or reflctor sets for filling light or diffusing it.
 09/07/2006 06:25:08 AM · #7
I've done 4 outdoor sessions now and I've done all of them in the evening or on an overcast day using a fill flash. I don't have any other eqpt apart from my camera and tripod right now. dwterry dropped the bug in my ear about the fill flash and that made all the difference in the world at my 2nd session.

These don't really look like senior portraits to me. They look more like something for a modeling portfolio. The football player would work as a portrait except the bg is way too busy. I'm guessing you were trying to get the "Bulldogs" on the pole in the picture but I could be wrong.
09/07/2006 10:15:55 AM · #8
Thanks everyone for your comments. I used a flash to try and fill, but I don't think I have learned how to use it to the best of it's ability yet, and I am looking into a set of ND filters. These were pretty spur of the moment appointments. I guess these could be considered more "outdoor portraits" than senior portraits.

Anyway thanks for the suggestions so far,
Drew
 09/07/2006 10:23:02 AM · #9
I enjoy the photos of Sam (sharp and colorful, unique settings) but there needs to be a little less shadow on his face. You also might try to use a reflector.
 09/07/2006 10:48:40 AM · #10
You need a better portrait lens. the kit lens your shooting w/ doesn't allow for much bokeh, and even if it does blur out the BG, its not very smooth. Get the 50mm 1.8, its only $80 and gives you a ton of portrait options, its fast and sharp.
 09/07/2006 11:27:59 AM · #11
Originally posted by Jmnuggy:
You need a better portrait lens. the kit lens your shooting w/ doesn't allow for much bokeh, and even if it does blur out the BG, its not very smooth. Get the 50mm 1.8, its only $80 and gives you a ton of portrait options, its fast and sharp.


I am actually going to stop by today and pick one up on my way home from work. These photos helped solidify the use of some birthday money!

ETA: I am planning on a re-shoot after getting the new lens.

Message edited by author 2006-09-07 11:30:34.
 09/07/2006 11:36:59 AM · #12
left comments.

On Farmboy, you can see a little sensor dust on top right. Nice series.

Josh
 09/07/2006 01:04:03 PM · #13
I've battled some harsh light lately myself and it can be frustrating. A couple things you might want to try...
- If you want to shoot in the open, like on the tractor, shoot morning or evening light and get somebody to hold a reflector for fill. Reflectors are inexpensive compared to flash and you can get some wonderful results. Here is an example(hope you don't mind). The sun was still way to harsh here, so I put it behind the subject and then used a homemade reflector to push light back at the model. Probably not bright enough, but I think it illustrates what can be done with an inexpensive relector.

- If you think flash is cool, you will probably want to get the flash off the camera. This means you will need a stand (or somebody to hold it) and a remote trigger of some type. You can do this on the cheap if you want to calculate your own exposure or it can get pricey if you want your on camera metering to handle everything for you.

I think you are doing some nice creative work, but you'll need to do more with the light if you are to stand out.

Message edited by author 2006-09-07 13:34:49.
 09/07/2006 05:06:09 PM · #14
Originally posted by Nusbaum:
I've battled some harsh light lately myself and it can be frustrating. A couple things you might want to try...
- If you want to shoot in the open, like on the tractor, shoot morning or evening light and get somebody to hold a reflector for fill. Reflectors are inexpensive compared to flash and you can get some wonderful results. Here is an example(hope you don't mind). The sun was still way to harsh here, so I put it behind the subject and then used a homemade reflector to push light back at the model. Probably not bright enough, but I think it illustrates what can be done with an inexpensive relector.

- If you think flash is cool, you will probably want to get the flash off the camera. This means you will need a stand (or somebody to hold it) and a remote trigger of some type. You can do this on the cheap if you want to calculate your own exposure or it can get pricey if you want your on camera metering to handle everything for you.

I think you are doing some nice creative work, but you'll need to do more with the light if you are to stand out.


Thanks for the input everybody! I knew lighting has always been my biggest foe, and I am trying hard to learn how to conquer it! I have found many forum posts here to be very helpfull. I will definately inquire about ND filters and reflectors when I pick up my 50mm/1.8 tonight. I recently read Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure" which has helped a lot, and I am trying to put his techniques into practice everyday. It was a quick read and had a LOT of great tips that are taking my fear of manual shooting away. And if all this wasn't enough to be happening at once, my Gary Fong Lightsphere is being delivered this evening! **Must stay AT WORK...must not rush to the camera store and home...**

Nusbaum, what did you make your home-made reflector out of?
 09/07/2006 05:27:19 PM · #15
there are good for the first try, the guys here have given you already all the tricks, (reflector and fill flash) use them wisely :)

Message edited by author 2006-09-07 17:27:44.
 09/07/2006 05:28:17 PM · #16
i posted a couple comments...hoipe they help!
 09/07/2006 05:33:53 PM · #17
Originally posted by drewbixcube:

Nusbaum, what did you make your home-made reflector out of?

I was listening to a podcast featuring Mark Robert Halper and he said that he really liked Calumet light panels. I basically made the same frame from a couple $$ worth of PVC pipe and then clamped either a white sheet or a mylar blanket to it. Eventually I purchased one a calumets reversable fabrics to stretch over it as well as my homemade fabrics. Let me know if you what a photo and I'll send one later tonight.

Message edited by author 2006-09-07 17:35:02.
 09/07/2006 05:39:52 PM · #18
Originally posted by drewbixcube:

Nusbaum, what did you make your home-made reflector out of?


Gluing wrinkled aluminum foil to card board or poster paper works really well.

For that matter, a large sheet of white posterpaper can be used as a reflector.
 09/07/2006 05:44:26 PM · #19
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by drewbixcube:

Nusbaum, what did you make your home-made reflector out of?


Gluing wrinkled aluminum foil to card board or poster paper works really well.

For that matter, a large sheet of white posterpaper can be used as a reflector.

Good point. I should have mentioned that the PVC pipe and fabric is only necessary if you need fold up fairly small for travel. there are even simpler solutions that will work. I'll add in mylar covered window shade for a car as another inexpensive solution that works very well.
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