I know that selective color is blasphemy, but at my client's request, I have done it to this photo anyway. Keeping that in mind, and that I would never normally do this, what do you think of the shot? Thanks!
Okay... care to elaborate? Do you not like the shot or is it the selective color you don't like? Remember to keep an open mind and understand that the client does like selective color, even if we don't. I've added a straight B&W for comparison.
Not a fan of selective color. I think it looks a little spooky/dead babyish. Maybe if she was in color with a select few leaves? I like the image though.
Mike Yamin wrote:
Not to be ungrateful, but I figured it goes without saying that you guys should mention *why* you don't like it. Again, is it the shot or the effect?
She looks dead - Creepy. Not sure what else to tell you.
Well... if the goal is to draw all the attention to the leaves in the shot... then you've done so. This is why IMO and I think others... selective color is a bad thing 99.9% of the time. I've never understood why you would want to draw away attention from your main subject ? Look at these stunning leaves... and oh... that's our baby in the shot as well? lol
I'm sure the parents will like the shot of their baby... they are biased lol but.... if you have any others with maybe another expression or with the eyes more closely looking at the camera... it might help the shot.
As the professional photographer your are... as you know....it's your job to educate the clients on what you do and what you do not do. If this style doesn't fit you.. then let them know the reasons why. Why put something out there which doesn't reflect your style? Pandora's box... do it for them.. compromise your style...expect to do it for other clients in the future.
I reckon we should give the paying customer what they ask for, though don't blog it / put it on your website if it doesn't fit with your normal style
If you do go ahead with it (as well as offering your own preferred processing option), my preference would be to avoid colouring the leaves that are cut off by the edge of the frame.
Do you have any other shots with better expressions from the baby?
The selective colour doesn't work for me for the simple reason that it draws the attention away from the subject.
That aside I am struggling with the image because the baby is too bright and does look a little ghostly like. Its a little less evident in the second image but I think if you were to reduce the brightest of the baby a little it would improve the overall feel to the shot.
Thanks for your input guys! Like I said, the client specifically requested a B&W shot with colored leaves, and they knew what we were going for when I shot this. I wouldn't put this on my site, Facebook, or anything public like that, but in my experience, you can't do much better than to give a client exactly what they're asking for. I'll take a look at re-processing it as well.
Hatch - I probably have one or two more decent shots, but this is a three-week-old baby who hasn't started smiling much yet. I understand what you mean about "educating" clients about my style, but I'm not so stubborn that I won't do something like this when asked. Educating clients (that sounds so arrogant haa) is a delicate thing, because you don't want to offend their taste or otherwise turn them off when it can cost you money. It happens all the time in the commercial world, but it's best to just nod and smile when you're being paid for something. I'm not some sort of artiste who won't break their rules for the art's sake, at least with this kind of work.
The colour keeps drawing me away from the baby and looking at the leaves. It really leaves me feeling that the baby is not the important part of the image.
Hatch - Educating clients (that sounds so arrogant haa) is a delicate thing, because you don't want to offend their taste or otherwise turn them off when it can cost you money. It happens all the time in the commercial world, but it's best to just nod and smile when you're being paid for something. I'm not some sort of artiste who won't break their rules for the art's sake, at least with this kind of work.
*Mike...I say this as if we are just having a casual conversation not a hostile reply*
You do educate your clients... from pricing/products/services.... letting them know in a nice way why you choose to not do certain things is in their best interest. Explaining to them... when they look at the shots of their beautiful baby 20 years from now... would you rather look at the colorful leaves and a camouflaged baby who is lost in the scene or have your baby be the center of attention. I honestly don't think you would lose business by stating the reasons to why you want to offer them a better end product. They will cherish these images over the years. I've been there and it's as simple as ... I don't do these techniques because of x,y,z .... people appreciate (from my experience ) the facts. They come to you for your skill set and your style ...
I get you don't want to pass up an opportunity to sell another product...and making the client happy is great. But... if it looks bad..... isn't your style... why accommodate them? They knew what to expect when they hired you.
You could easily go back to them with this and say... I tried it... it completely takes away from your baby and maybe we should go in another direction... and sell them on another idea.... one they won't regret years from now... and one you are proud of to put your name behind?
Usually the selective colour is on the subject rather than the other objects in the frame. Maybe show the colour on the ribbon around baby.
As shown, the baby looks a tad too drab. It may be the result of even lighting - same on both sides of the face. Get the light coming from one side or the other for some shadowing, perhaps.
lol but.... if you have any others with maybe another expression or with the eyes more closely looking at the camera... it might help the shot.