I would like your critique and help on these photos. The first two were taken indoors against a light gray seamless paper backdrop. Two 580 II speedlights were used. I had a Gary Fong diffuser on the light pointed at the backdrop and a Chuck Gardner homemade diffuser on my camera bracket.
I could not get the shadow behind the girls indoors to go away. Tried different light intensities and different angles, but it persisted. What should I have done? I also realized after we were done that it must have been too dark in the room as their pupils were too large - something to pay more attention to next time!
The third picture was taken outdoors with the flash on my camera bracket.
I'll try to be brief, because a thorough reply could be quite lengthy.
Please note that you did not include the color space information in your images. This means I've had to guess what color space you intended. I've guessed sRGB because it's the most common color space for web images. However, if that's not the correct color space, some viewers will not see the images as you intend. If you used a color space other than sRGB, then *I* haven't viewed them as you intend.
First image:
1. The shadow on the background means either the background was too close to the subject for the angle of the flash or, if using a flash on the background, the background flash wasn't bright enough, did not cover the shadow area or was too far away to properly light the background. Note that in post processing you can revise the shadow problem.
2. The color cast on what is supposed to be a gray background suggests you have a color balance problem, either when making the images or in post processing. (The cast is most obvious in the shadow.) The slight reddish color cast makes the subject's skin look perhaps a little pink. If you agree, you can rectify this with post processing.
3. Straight vertical poses aren't the most appealing. Tipping he head back is slightly less boring but not the best choice for typical subjects. Leaning forward is often a more interesting and engaging choice.
4. To have large pupils isn't, in and of itself, necessarily undesirable. Pupil dilation is associated with some sort of interest or arousal as well as low light level. When the lighting of the image is bright it looks odd unless there is another reason for arousal. The circumstances of this image suggest smaller pupils might be more harmonious. However, to my eyes, they are more attractive than the very small pupils of the sunny third image. (I presume you can change pupil size in post processing is you have the patience and Photoshop skill, but it's a change I've not performed.)
5. The lighting ratio makes for somewhat deeper shadows than is ideal for portraits of young women. Using broader light sources and/or reflectors or fill lighting would help.
Second image:
Most of my comments on the first image apply to the second.
Third image:
1. The principle problem with the third is the subject's posture. If you pose someone straight up, you *must* insure they sit up straight. A slouch isn't appealing or appropriate for anything but a few character portraits. One way to get good posture is to gently grasp the subject's head and apply light and gentle pressure to lift. It usually works magic to correct posture problems. However, you may need to repeat it between exposures a few times before they catch on.
2. Assuming the color space is sRGB, to my eyes the image needs some color balance and hue/saturation corrections.
If you wish I can post a couple of PP examples of my suggestions for the first and third images.
Aunti - I would love to see any alterations to these shots. How do I tackle all that I have done wrong in these photos? Do I focus on just one aspect at a time i.e., posing, then move onto lighting or is it possible to "fix it all" at once? I was so excited to get pretty subjects and I truly didn't do them justice. I would very much like to try again in the next few days. Color space was Adobe RGB in my Photoshop and I converted to sRGB for posting - not sure about the process of doing that, so I may not have done it correctly. Subjects were only about 4 feet from the background, so I will definitely move them further away next time.
I love the changes to the first picture. Love the coloring in the second, not sure about the angle. I did use that "save for web" option, so will not do that again.
Thank you again for your help - I would like to say I have learned a lot from many photogs here on FM (you included), but my pictures would say otherwise right now. Hopefully the next batch I post will be an improvement.
OK, I have to jump in here for a bit. Normally I love AuntiPodes work, and her written suggestions above are spot on. But, is it just me, or do the reworks show a decided green tint to them? Honestly, I like the white balance and warmer tone of the original photos, even with the shadow. I do kinda like the repose and vignette of the third photo that was posted, but again I'm seeing the green cast. Don't think it's my monitor, but I suppose anything's possible since I'm at work. I'll have to look from home and calibrated monitor to see if I'm all wet
The only additional comment I would make personally is that in the 3rd original, it seems like it's much too bright and slightly overexposed, or over"flashed". Looks like she is squinting, which is never good.
