post your challenging models - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

08/20/2007 01:33:03 PM · #1

I would be very interested in seeing some portraits...both studio and outdoors....of very challenging, not-so-typical models. Just your average people who may have some extra weight, some challenging features, skin, skin tones, maybe not so comfortable in front of the camera etc.

Please post a shot or two and explain how you made the best of the situation through people skills, choice of pose, lighting, lens, etc.

My goal is not to embarrass anyone, but to deal with the realities that even those who are NOT a typical model in appearance deserve and desire nice portraits. Thanks in advance for sharing!!! I hope it will be very helpful.

fotomann_forever

08/20/2007 01:39:53 PM · #2

Tori is a bit heavy for a model. I try to choose poses that elongate her features. The photo above elongates her rather round face and stretches her neck.

Poses such as this de-emphasize a persons width. She also has a big scar on her belly (not sure why). Yes, I can PS it out, but it's easier just to avoid it.

Don't get me wrong, I think she is very attractive, but she's not a typical model. And, if you ever notice, I don't tend to work with typical models. I don't like the typical model look.

Message edited by author 2007-08-20 17:13:05.

wickee_one

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

08/20/2007 02:02:29 PM · #3

I am dying to put a picture up here. I am a girl that carries extra weight, losing lots yeeehhaaa, but think I am beautifl. At times I really get down on myself. I wish I had a tripod here at home right now to take a picture of myself or my husband was here to take a picture of me and I would put it out there. No offense

fotomann_forever, IMHO that girl is not carrying extra weight. I guess everyone's views are different though, and I respect yours. Will have husband take picture later and put it out here. I think portrait pictures of heavier girls taken from an angle are more flattering, it seems to keep the face narrower and not so rounded.

Message edited by author 2007-08-20 14:03:57.

fotomann_forever

08/20/2007 02:15:29 PM · #4

Originally posted by wickee_one:

No offense fotomann_forever, IMHO that girl is not carrying extra weight.

She'd argue with you. She's not typical swimsuit model, but I think she's sexy.

Originally posted by wickee_one:

I think portrait pictures of heavier girls taken from an angle are more flattering, it seems to keep the face narrower and not so rounded.

I very much agree with that statement. Also, tilting the head back slightly will diminish double chin and elongate the neck.

wickee_one

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

08/20/2007 04:08:57 PM · #5

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by wickee_one:
No offense fotomann_forever, IMHO that girl is not carrying extra weight.

She'd argue with you. She's not typical swimsuit model, but I think she's sexy.

Originally posted by wickee_one:

I think portrait pictures of heavier girls taken from an angle are more flattering, it seems to keep the face narrower and not so rounded.

I very much agree with that statement. Also, tilting the head back slightly will diminish double chin and elongate the neck.

I was thinking that exact same thing about tilting the head back a bit.

Nusbaum

Fujifilm X-T1

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

08/20/2007 04:32:34 PM · #6

I just have to ask, are you interested in images that feature challenging models or challenging portrait subjects? I'm not trying to be picky, but I tend to treat the two differently. For example, I usually to not tell a regular portrait client to suck in their stomach because it makes them self conscious.

fotomann_forever

08/20/2007 04:56:39 PM · #7

Originally posted by Nusbaum:

For example, I usually to not tell a regular portrait client to suck in their stomach because it makes them self conscious.

You want them to look their best, right? You might be a bit more diplomatic than "suck in that gut" but IMO, you should have them positioned in a way that makes them look most flattering.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/20/2007 05:09:07 PM · #8

Originally posted by Nusbaum:

I'm looking for portraits of NON-MODELS. Just regular folks who need a nice portrait. Especially regular folks who are not particularly photogenic for whatever reason. I am one of those who look just dreadful in most photos, and most people who know me agree with me!

I took some senior photo shots of the sweetest girl today, and she would qualify. I did my best and I think she will be very happy, but it's not as easy as someone who just has that love affair with the camera. :)

Nusbaum

Fujifilm X-T1

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

08/20/2007 05:30:05 PM · #9

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by Nusbaum:
For example, I usually to not tell a regular portrait client to suck in their stomach because it makes them self conscious.

You want them to look their best, right? You might be a bit more diplomatic than "suck in that gut" but IMO, you should have them positioned in a way that makes them look most flattering.

I guess the point I was trying to make was that the relationship between model and photographer may be different than portrait subject and photographer. If I working with a model that has amazing abs, the phrase "suck it in" probably means inhale vs exhale in order to get a little more definition. More explanation and discussion would be required with somebody who is not used to being photographed.

But, I'll quit being a distraction and see if I can find some images that I'm able to share.

soup

Canon EOS-30D

08/20/2007 06:24:50 PM · #10

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Nald

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

08/20/2007 06:43:49 PM · #11

Well the following shots proved to be quite challenging.

This girl (can't remember her name) had ZERO personality. She stepped in front of the camera and with the coldest most expressionless face said, "what do you want me to do?" It was literally everything I could do to get her to smile. I don't think you can tell by these photos because she looks pretty natural in them.

She had just recently had a baby so I had some challenging positions to work with the close up shots work a better her well because you're eliminating that extra pregnancy weight by not even having it in the picture.

The shot of her sitting down has had some pretty extensive PS work to trim her down. She was happy with the results.

Okay now this girl had a great personality but could be considered on the "heavy" side, I don't see it that way because she was so fun to work with her inner beauty came shining through. I think you can see that in the way her shots came out. I have a few other shots of her that really turned out great but they are at home.

I selected these more angled poses to do exactly what Leroy is talking about, slim her down without the use of photo shop.

Message edited by author 2007-08-20 19:03:03.

Givemeashot

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6

08/20/2007 06:55:39 PM · #12

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Tori is a bit heavy for a model. I try to choose poses that elongate her features. The photo above elongates her rather round face and stretches her neck.

Poses such as this de-emphasize a persons width. She also has a big scar on her belly (not sure why). Yes, I can PS it out, but it's easier just to avoid it.

Don't get me wrong, I think she is very attractive, but she's not a typical model. And, if you ever notice, I don't tend to work with typical models. I don't like the typical model look.

I agree with some of this.... she has a different look... i like the 1st picture better...

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC for Canon

08/20/2007 09:58:37 PM · #13

Here are some examples from my own experience. I'm still learning by experience and mostly I just experiment and know what I like when I see it...usually without knowing why! I have found that for heavier folks, an angle looking up at them is usually NOT a good idea, and looking down on them a bit seems to be more slimming.

I have also found that if posture, clothing, figure etc. is a problem, I concentrate more on closer to the face portraits (like the last girl...she was a real tomboy with flyaway red hair. I had her just take off her sloppy sweatshirt, take off her ball cap, and just pulled her hair back. All of the sudden there was this pretty girl!)

The boy was a pleasure to work with, but had extremely squinty eyes. I had to have him relax his smile just a bit and made sure the sun wasn't making him squint even worse.

I don't have studio access, so my shots are done outside. You can see that I'm not a pro, but people seem to really like my shots and ask me all the time to take them. The girl with the dark hair was my client today. I'm still working on the shots. All of these young people were really fun to work with, but not your typical yuppie type teen.

moswyn

Canon EOS-7D

08/20/2007 10:21:16 PM · #14

Originally posted by jpochard:

The girl with the dark hair was my client today. I'm still working on the shots.

The thing about this girl (and many people!) is that she would look a hundred times more attractive if she would put a little effort into it. It's not that hard to get your eyebrows waxed and your hair conditioned/trimmed up for portraits. The outfit she has on really isn't flattering for her either.

And what's with girls wearing tank tops for senior pictures?! Gah, I hate that! Most girls do not have the upper arms to pull that off.

My favorite of the images you have here is #5, the girl looking up over her shoulder at the camera. Showcases her eyes and hides her weight.

I also do close-ups as opposed to full body shots when weight is an issue, or like you have done: have them rest their arms on something and hide the rest of the body. I have some chairs in my studio that are great for asking kids to spin around and hang their elbows off of the back, if you can imagine what I mean.

AJSullivan

08/20/2007 10:29:39 PM · #15

That one was a pain in the ass...but shes my girlfriend and I made her pose. Shes still a pain in the ass though.

08/20/2007 10:53:54 PM · #16

Originally posted by ajdelaware:

That one was a pain in the ass...but shes my girlfriend and I made her pose. Shes still a pain in the ass though.

So what do you like or dislike about how this photo turned out?

luv2photo

Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical(IF)Macro

08/20/2007 11:02:41 PM · #17

The first is Kim...very very introverted. I had to pull teeth to convince her to do shots for me, but once we got through a couple and I showed her how good they were turning out, she relaxed.

Second is Courtney...who saw Kim's pictures and knew that she would have me do her Senior Portraits the following year. I had to laugh at the earlier post about girls wearing tanks for Senior Portraits...

Courtney is much 'bubblier' than Kim, but still very bashful in front of the camera. I used branches and such for her to hold. I was careful not to have her press her hand into her cheeks. She already had naturally occurring gopher cheeks. I find the best thing is not to shoot straight on, shoot from an angle and anything that pulls the chin slightly up and out helps reduce/eliminate the dreaded double chin!

I am a heavy woman and VERY self-conscious in front of the camera. I just feel better holding something or hiding behind something. I try to pay attention to details that can draw attention to flaws, or rather disquise those flaws. I learned with a bride I shot this weekend, that I might have overlooked it a bit...thank you for that PM btw!

Bride this weekend...previos thread.

Bridals I shot with the 24-70mm 2.8L I rented.

Message edited by author 2007-08-20 23:12:22.

08/20/2007 11:24:42 PM · #18

I really like those photos of Kim. I especially like the b/w and also the bottom right of the collage. Nicely done. Thanks for sharing. These are exactly the type of shots I'm interested in learning from.

luv2photo

Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical(IF)Macro

08/20/2007 11:35:34 PM · #19

I notice that I didn't include any of Courtney smiling. She had braces, which she also HATED about her pictures. Most of the pictures she ordered, she was not smiling!

08/21/2007 12:06:55 AM · #20

Here is another of the same girl...using what I mentioned before about getting in close.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

08/21/2007 01:32:52 AM · #21

[quote=jpochard] I would be very interested in seeing some portraits...both studio and outdoors....of very challenging, not-so-typical models.

Tension Buster!
Ok everybody, go back to what you were doing before I butted in. : )

Seriously, I had not thought about shooting from above the face, and keeping the face turned up to help with the chin, and to help with making the model look slimmer. I don't shoot many people pictures, but I need to do so once in a while, and these suggestions will help me with that. Thanks.

AJSullivan

08/21/2007 09:55:25 AM · #22

Originally posted by jpochard:

Originally posted by ajdelaware:

That one was a pain in the ass...but shes my girlfriend and I made her pose. Shes still a pain in the ass though.

So what do you like or dislike about how this photo turned out?

This was one of the ones I liked. I I wish the paper was a little more white and that her foot wasnt cut off. I also like how this really emphasizes how long her legs are too. This was the result of doing a shoot of my nephew and then my girlfriend showing up while I still had the equipment set up.