Hi everyone! I finally got to shoot a friend in a sweet building with huge windows and brick walls. This is my official first ever portrait shoot. Been only doing candids for the past few years and decided I wanna start going towards something more pro. Anyway, since I've never done anything like this before, I had a hell of a time figuring out what to do. It ended up being something more like senior pictures than shooting a model I guess I'm just happy for the opportunity to shoot! I need some critique so I can improve on the next shoot. Bring on the harsh cold truth! I can handle it or else I'll never get better. I hope it gets easier after this. I was a huge stressball. lol
This first batch is available light:
1.
http://www.pixelfashion.com/images/LHB-TAB-1.jpg
2.
http://www.pixelfashion.com/images/LHB-TAB-2.jpg
3.
http://www.pixelfashion.com/images/LHB-TAB-4.jpg
4.
http://www.pixelfashion.com/images/LHB-TAB-5.jpg
5.
http://www.pixelfashion.com/images/LHB-TAB-6.jpg
6.
http://www.pixelfashion.com/images/LHB-TAB-7.jpg
I realize 6 is a bit blurry
On these next two, I just used some Canon Speedlights + shoot-thru umbrellas.
I am learning the severe under-powering of Speedlights after the tennis series. I think I need to drop some cash on some Alien Bees or something for more power. I almost had to shoot at ISO800 to catch any motion shots. The gear used was 40D + Canon 70-200 L IS. I was gonna use my 5D, but I wanted to cheat and use the 1.6x to multiply my 70-200 to a 300mm+ lens. I shot in RAW and developed using Adobe Lightroom and dumped it into CS3 to do some smart sharpen + color punching (may have overdone it?).
You did much better than most would in similar circumstances.
You got a very nice series of images of a lovely model.
I don't think you really need the bees yet. Just practice some more with your speedlights. And try some bounce. And make sure you shoot manual...and...and....there is a lot to learn.
It takes some time and experiments. You have already learned a lot in this first shoot.
The "stress" you feel will reduce when you have a little more experience.
My Simple Suggestion: Keep it very simple.
Work on simple poses and simple lighting setups (natural is best). Master that.
Your model looks like she had fun. That is important too (if you are not paying her much) and so keep that up too.
Thanks for the input, Steady Hand! Yes, she is a lovely model I'm hoping she will volunteer to be my model for a few more shoots while I get the hang of it so certain things become more automatic so I can focus more on the model and less on technical set-up.
I did indeed shoot manual the whole time That's where I was sort of freaking out. I was so worried that while I was spot metering the model and adjusting the settings to meter properly that I might miss a perfect pose or two (and I did, but someone's gotta meter or else NO picture would turn out).
You're right about the bees, I'll stick to the Speedlights for now. The 580EX and 580EXIIs combined probably could have gotten me a few 800ws bees, but they wouldn't have fit on a hotshoe and wouldn't have helped me out in non-studio situations (weddings)
I absolutely love natural light and I hope to find locations that have the room to let me shoot with more of it. All I need is a reflector and an on-camera flash for when I want to shoot the model with a bright background.
A fun model does make all the difference. I actually shot with two other girls who were friends of hers. Needless to say...there's a reason I didn't post those pictures. They looked stiff and unnatural. That might have to do with the fact that I didn't give them much direction as I was too busy worrying about exposure. This particular model just knew what to do and I just followed her with the camera. She made it "easier".
I have a huge shoot with a bunch of photogs and models coming up, so I'm hoping that will get me a ton of experience in a short weekend. I'll post those results here when the shoots over. I think the boys will like the eye candy. lol
I guess I'm just happy for the opportunity to shoot! I need some critique so I can improve on the next shoot. Bring on the harsh cold truth! I can handle it or else I'll never get better. I hope it gets easier after this. I was a huge stressball. lol
