i'm not one of the hero's here, but here's my 2 pennies...
given your description of what the clients wanted, it looks like you gave it to them. however, some people just don't seem to have a good "photographic" serious face. take me for example, i just come across looking pissed when i try to do a fashionable serious face. that said, most of my favs in this set are where they are smiling or simply being romantic. the serious faces looked unhappy. the other thing i don't like (beyond your control), is her shirt. i can tell she has a nice figure but the shirt doesn't show that. it just looks frumpy.
for the things in your control, nice job. great poses, lighting, etc. i like your flare shot! other favs are #6, 14, 23.
oh, and by the way, i agree with the double blind thing. it seems that everyone is afraid to comment because they don't know who the poster is, and there are more comments about guessing the OP. as you said, part of the critique is knowing who the poster is and what their goals are with the shoot.
I think your concerns with the doubleblind postings have some merit. I disagree with your conclusion though.
From what you wrote I would say that what should happen is that people who submit DB postings should provide two crucial bits of information:
1. What was the goal sought by the photographer (and/or requested by the client)
2. What is the photographer's level of experience (noob, green, intermediate, seasoned, very experienced)
The DB master should be able to edit those two bits of information in order to ensure that the writing style of the photog doesn't come across.
That said, I think there's definitelly value in posting BOTH DB and identified C&C requests.
The "Identified C&C" requests are akin to having your *homework* evaluated by your class teacher (your classmates actually) ... the comments are likely to be enriched (but sometime tainted) by the evaluator knowing (some of) your body of work.
The DoubleBlind requests are akin to entering your images into a contest ... the judge will have no clue who you are (but again, contests allow participants to enter for different categories ... hence the value in allowing the photog to express the goal of the shoot ... and they often allow entries into different skill levels ... hence the value of allowing the photog to identify themselves as a noob etc)
For what it's worth I think that the specific shoot you posted, if accompanied by an identified intent and level of expertise is indeed best posted as a DB than an identified shoot. The reason I think this is that you yourself mentioned that you were thinking differently and processing differently ... it would be very beneficial to get a benchmark on how you did in this "out of comfort-zone" situation that isn't influenced by your previous work.
I'm not a wedding photographer and rarely venture over to this forum. As a videographer who used to do weddings, I have the utmost respect for wedding photographers, it has got to be one of the most difficult ways to make a living in photography. That being said:
To me, the goal of ANY people photography outside of commercial work is to capture the essence of the person/people being photographed. I'm going to assume you have done this here. What these captures tell me about the couple is that they are pretentious and immature and should probably spend some money on premarital counseling before dropping a boat load of cash on the wedding. That's what these SAY to me knowing the context and intent of the shoot itself. Technically these are all over the place IMO. Some are standouts, some not so much. As a group I don't think they gel well as a body of work. And that double chin crotch shot in #21 is just plain bad all the way around.
Please take everything I say with a grain of salt, I'm a bit crabby today. Also, this is my opinion only and is a reflection of how I see things, not the way things are.
I haven't read above, so this may be redundant - not reading others comments makes it easier to keep my own fresh and honest based on what I've seen.
Your off camera lighting shots, 2-10, are incredibly harsh - what were you using, from what distance, what modifiers? They are definitely not what I would expect to see from you, but very very overdone. The ones later in the set feel the same way - simply too harsh, too bright.
Your fence series, in contrast, is awesome. A bit 'gritty' feeling, but not cheesy. I feel some passion there. Very nice.
14 is killer gorgeous. They both look hot, modern, awesome. My fav from the set.
25 feels genuine, nice. 26 seems shes annoyed, and he's sorry because he's the cause.
I hope that helps. I will go back and read other comments now.
I didn't have a chance to respond to the DB Post (I feel like everyone is talking to me today...), but I can understand the frustration you may have as a frequent poster.
doubleblind is perfect for someone like me - I have not yet developed a distinguishable style and I am in that middle ground of photographers - not bad enough to get critique, not good enough to get tons of praise, so my posts often sit listlessly waiting for people to comment. I'd love to have honest opinions about my work from people who don't care that it's me or not me. But that takes people who are willing to stop trying to guess who is posting and just look at the set for what it is.
So perhaps it would be best if we could describe the circumstances -even just, "Couple requested editorial and ad photography with serious expressions. Photographer is seasoned."
I think this is a swell set. Some are a tad hot, but they are very contrasty, edgy and extreme - which I believe is what they were going for. It's tough for couples like this because, as was stated above, sometimes they think they want ad shots, but they can't really pull it off. So our job as a photographer is to read between the lines and hear "I want to look good - like Model good. And I want to look really natural or posed in a completely untraditional way." They think they want to look like models, but they really just want to look natural and attractive. I think you acheived what they were looking for, and they will be very happy with these!
One thing to ask yourself is, "do I like these - do I like this style - is this me?" Each time you go out of your comfort zone and style, determine if it's the direction you want to go in. I was trying a lot of off-camera flash and I realized I don't like it in a lot of circumstances (still playing with it - but I don't force it anymore). It cramped the way I work and made everything less spontaneous and I wasn't liking the results. If someone came to me asking for shots like this - with dramatic skys and a lot of lighting, I would likely turn them away - I know two good photogs in the area who shoots like this and I would gladly send the work their way. As I start to hone what I like (and only show what I like on my website), then I hope to get clients who like my website and want my style.
So Mel, do you like these? Do you want to see yourself go in this direction? It's an interesting direction to go in.
DB wrote:
So Mel, do you like these? Do you want to see yourself go in this direction? It's an interesting direction to go in.
I like SOME of them. I tend to like the more naturally lit ones... but there's a part of me that loves harsh lighting... I just don't want to make a living at it. The fence shots and the wall shots are more up my ally (even though they're still a departure from what norm). Of all of them, #2 is my very favorite. I'd like to do more with that feel and that processing.
I haven't read above, so this may be redundant - not reading others comments makes it easier to keep my own fresh and honest based on what I've seen.
Your off camera lighting shots, 2-10, are incredibly harsh - what were you using, from what distance, what modifiers? They are definitely not what I would expect to see from you, but very very overdone. The ones later in the set feel the same way - simply too harsh, too bright.
It was our 580 on a stick (bare). I know they're harsh... but I felt like it went with the dramatic feel I was going for with those rolling clouds. I certainly see why people wouldn't like them, I guess. But #2 is my favorite... and sometimes I think harsh lighting is a neat effect. I wish I had done something else here, too... just to have some different looks with the same posing. Next time I'll do that.
Your fence series, in contrast, is awesome. A bit 'gritty' feeling, but not cheesy. I feel some passion there. Very nice.
Thanks! It's funny... on their own, each of the shots seemed lacking. But in a group like that, it gave them some added passion. I think I'd offer that in collage form to the clients.
14 is killer gorgeous. They both look hot, modern, awesome. My fav from the set.
This is one of my favorites, too!
25 feels genuine, nice. 26 seems shes annoyed, and he's sorry because he's the cause.
Mick Haensler wrote:
I'm not a wedding photographer and rarely venture over to this forum. As a videographer who used to do weddings, I have the utmost respect for wedding photographers, it has got to be one of the most difficult ways to make a living in photography. That being said:
To me, the goal of ANY people photography outside of commercial work is to capture the essence of the person/people being photographed. I'm going to assume you have done this here. What these captures tell me about the couple is that they are pretentious and immature and should probably spend some money on premarital counseling before dropping a boat load of cash on the wedding. That's what these SAY to me knowing the context and intent of the shoot itself. Technically these are all over the place IMO. Some are standouts, some not so much. As a group I don't think they gel well as a body of work. And that double chin crotch shot in #21 is just plain bad all the way around.
Please take everything I say with a grain of salt, I'm a bit crabby today. Also, this is my opinion only and is a reflection of how I see things, not the way things are.
saturnkk wrote:
Do you want congratulations on how you've grown or an unbiased assessment of where you are at?
I thought I made it clear that this wasn't about congrats. I didn't like the DB because it didn't allow people to compare my past work with what was being offerred now. I have no need for an assessment of where I am now if it doesn't take into consideration of where I'm coming from. I know I have lightyears of improvement to make... but that doesn't have to negate any I may have already made... or areas in which I've fallen back into poor habits.
This is just MY opinion of DB... you don't have to agree.
unblinkable wrote:
I thought I made it clear that this wasn't about congrats. I didn't like the DB because it didn't allow people to compare my past work with what was being offerred now. I have no need for an assessment of where I am now if it doesn't take into consideration of where I'm coming from. I know I have lightyears of improvement to make... but that doesn't have to negate any I may have already made... or areas in which I've fallen back into poor habits.
This is just MY opinion of DB... you don't have to agree.
Maybe the best way to do this is to post where nobody knows you then. Start with early stuff and compare to current. Otherwise, too many people here know and like you. This WILL affect there critic.
saturnkk wrote:
Maybe the best way to do this is to post where nobody knows you then. Start with early stuff and compare to current. Otherwise, too many people here know and like you. This WILL affect there critic.
I really don't think people have as much of an issue with posting honest critique as you think. Jeremy was pretty solid up there... so were several others. This post hasn't been a love fest, you know.
unblinkable wrote:
So they like me. I'm okay with that. As long as they like me and tell me where I can improve. Which is exactly what they did.
Well sister, you know I love you and the hubby (in the Lord) and your work as well. =o) On my monitors, they're all very "hot" lit. But if that's the look you went for, and the clients love em, then that's awesome.
I saw your post in Jeremy Clay's fash the sesh post and that's the light I've been emulating all year on my sessions. I love the commercial/fashion lighting and my clients do as well.
Marcus Watts wrote:
Why not do both? Their are positives and negatives to doing it both ways.
No one judges prints in competition knowing who took the images and watching print judging is a great way to learn.
I agree, I like that it was doubleblind first, and then you outted yourself. I think doubleblind posting needs some time to fully develop into what it could/should be.
I fought so hard to use different locations!!! Haha!