You need to use High Speed Sync, that way you can increase the shutter speed but keep the lens open for the depth of field you want....when you use HSS, the output power of the flash drops, usually you have to gagnon a couple of flashes together all with HSS to get the output you want.
Another way to bring it out better than you have it is in photoshop to use the "burn brush" to darken up the highlights that are there.......
hcm228 wrote:
Thanks guys and gals for all of the comments. I'm going to have to give this flash thing a try sometime. I just haven't built my confidence level up yet...but I will keep trying. Thanks again for all of the comments and help.
You have to remember that all of these opinions are subjective, and if you and your client are happy, then that is all that matters in the end. It is your vision - others' opinions are always great, but shouldn't sway you from making the kinds of photos you want to make!
Don't worry Sharona, whilst I appreciate all of the comments, I take them in a way to help me. For instance...flash. I've played with it, and I know it "can" work for me, but if I don't learn to get results that make me happy I will just get better with natural light. The skin smoothing, I hate when it's over done so I'm glad to hear other opinions on it. I've always felt like how I've done it was border line so it got me looking a bit more. It's a challenge and I enjoy it, but just as you said, in the end I've gotta make me happy and my clients. This whole thing has helped me and now I feel better about posting more work. Thanks so much for all of the kind words and CC.
Herb wrote:
I like the last photo (really like them all)....would have looked better with a ND filter or a bank of flashes to over power the sun........would be nice to see the pier a little better.....also she is pretty and that always helps too!
The charm of the photo is the nice soft natural light and airy feel of the photo. Blasting it with flash would have ruined the effect.
I don't give a rat's rear about the pier - it is not the subject. It reads well enough to help put the subject in context. I'd actually lighten it up in post some so you get just a hint of it to prevent the lines from fightng with the subject.
Please explain what you think an ND filter would do to the image and how it achieves it.
I would venture that the parents are thrilled with what you've done. They are beautiful images of a beautiful young lady, and WOW those eyes are going to break some hearts!
Spot on.....for all we know our comments may make photo look bad........paying happy clients is all that matters!
Sharona wrote:
You have to remember that all of these opinions are subjective, and if you and your client are happy, then that is all that matters in the end. It is your vision - others' opinions are always great, but shouldn't sway you from making the kinds of photos you want to make!
The parents are in love with the photos and Im happy. Could they be better? Probably...they definitely could be different. That said, this was a very helpful experience. Thanks again for all of the comments. They dont fall on deaf ears.
Great shots. I like the sharpness in the first photos and she does have amazing eyes. Some people do have eyes (or other features) that stand out and I think you did a great job of showing them.
Just one more comment.....you did a great job posing the young lady....hand and arm position was great and the one with her biting her lip just slightly is especially a nice pose.....you make it look easy, I know it isn't!
My ex- wife had eyes that everybody thought were contacts but were just natural. Of course those eyes also conned me into marrying her twice, but I finally learned my lesson. I also had a client whose teeth are ridiculously white. White to the point I would never think of making them that white in PP.
Great set of images you have there, and like said before it sire doesn't hurt starting out with a hand up of someone that good lookin.
Thanks Herb for the kind words. That's one area that I'm really trying to work on, posing hands. I missed them badly early on and still have a ways to go, but I'm getting there.
And yes it really does help to have a pretty young lady as your model. Was her first time taking pictures but she was really confident and that makes things so much easier.
