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http://s15.postimg.org/tlebwvpmz/model.png

 

There was also a door with a window leading to an outdoor porch giving a little light off to the right.  We were basically diagonal in the room, and cramped, it was horrible.

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I’ll draw up a model real quick

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This is probably really bad, but I was using one continuous light, but with the umbrella in front of it, kind of as a fill, and then there was huge windows in the room we were in that let in a lot of natural light.  I didn’t use the flash on my camera once.  That was with the white background I used, then the black one I let a little more of the continuous light into it by repositioning it. I’ve read things about the studio lighting and have tried different setups with it, but I try to refrain from the whole indoor set ups right now, as I’m usually pressed for space.

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I didn’t actually sharpen the whole image, I only did sharpen the eyes.  I think it may be distortion from me messing with the sizes and everything?

http://s14.postimg.org/moiyktfrl/IMG_6080.jpg  that’s the original

http://s11.postimg.org/ouade1ab7/IMG_6080.jpg  and there’s the after.

 

I see the the white spot on the shoulder that I think is the one you’re referring to and I think the one in the hair, which I’ll edit out.  I’ll try that with the lines under her eyes.  I’m so back and forth about what looks better with those.  I tried to tone down her skin, like remove some of red tint I thought it had, but there’s more I can do.  These kids are so tan and then layer that thick orange looking makeup on, I just don’t understand it.  As for the lighting, I have a hard time with studio lighting, but maybe I could remove the shadow.  I think of those shots I have there’s maybe only a couple other ones with a shadow, so not many suffered because of that.

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http://s22.postimg.org/8p57hxn9d/beforeandaftervanessa.jpg

 

Alright guys, I tried it more of the way that some of you showed your versions and suggested.  Thoughts?

Don’t mind terribly low resolution before and after, threw that together in paint.

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Thanks to all of you for your responses.  Nesgran, I think I will do that.  To be honest, I never thought about it because I thought the color looked exactly like it did to my eye without the camera, but it would change when I edited them.  I’ll definitely be looking into color.  There’s a lot of things I seem to habitually warm up just because I like to to be a little warmer.  Jones, that location is two blocks away from my house, so next time I have a chance and it’s nice (it’s been raining here the last couple of days) I’ll try out that lower angle.  Cameraclicker, thanks for posting those.  With her face I’m going to try to get closer to that, I think I can do it.  Ebi, it is tricky.  For me, I feel like this excessive makeup and dark skin is more difficult than dealing with more fair skin.  I’m going to take everything into consideration and rework most things, and try to be more subtle and natural.

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Thanks Bill.  I’m happy to take the constructive criticism and work with it to improve.   I am definitely going to revamp some things on my website and facebook and be more selective about what I post.  I would love to take some classes of some sort, or maybe try to find someone to kind of shadow, especially when venturing on into new types of shoots.  I am completely self taught and it just leaves so much room for error it’s ridiculous.  And thanks for the comments about the charging people.  I don’t think I’ve ever just plain out called myself a “professional” photographer.  Honestly I feel silly getting money for something that I love to do and would do anyway.  I don’t ever make myself out to be more than I am.  People see my work before, and see the work they would be receiving and then pay me, if they do at all.  I would never take someone’s money that was not happy with what they receive.  I would sooner re-shoot or just give them their money back.  As for the whole kit lens thing, I completely agree.  After experimenting with my kit lens for a while, I wanted something more.  I bought a 55-250mm zoom with the same basic abilities as my kit lens, and it still wasn’t what I wanted, although it was nice to have it when walking around town exploring.  I finally got the 85mm that I discovered would fit my current needs, and it has become my favorite.  Then after discovering that was too long for some things I bought a 50mm, which I also like.  I like having the prime lens a lot more than the zoom lately, and haven’t willingly used that kit lens since the last time I was working indoors and found I was tight for space and my 85mm couldn’t work for that.  Hopefully one day I’ll be able to actually call myself a professional, but for now I’m working on everything else.

 

http://s17.postimg.org/84ibrzgn3/IMG_5877_fb.jpg

That’s the last photo I took which does not have a person in it.  If anyone wants to give me some input on that also that would be great.

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Thanks, I hate Fauxtography.

I understand that everything said is true, and I’m taking those things and working on it.  I always think that sometimes we can see fault in another’s work better than we can see our own.  I keep going over everybody’s comments and going over other pictures and pointing out things to myself.  I’ve offered countless times to just do things for free, and I just feel bad saying no, or when they try to give me something I feel rude telling them that I can’t accept it.  I just realized those links above don’t work, so here’s new ones.

http://s22.postimg.org/hnhhphnxd/IMG_6480.jpg  Vanessa’s close up SOOC

http://s16.postimg.org/6xg6uvnxh/IMG_6479_fb.jpg  first edit

http://s24.postimg.org/a4q4flfb9/IMG_6479_2.jpg re-edit

And also, ebi might be interested to see the SOOC version of the photo they liked compared to the edited.

http://s24.postimg.org/q613bj6px/IMG_4899.jpg    SOOC

http://s23.postimg.org/mh18uaf9n/IMG_4899_fb.jpg  edited <– looking at it now I don’t think I would’ve warmed it up quite as much.

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I do print my work, and they turned out beautifully, in my opinion.  And basically, because people asked me to.  I started taking photos and posting them, just as personal work, and I started getting people asking about it.  Then, asking about pricing and things like that, so I made it available to them.  They always see everything first, and don’t have to pay me.  But it’s there.  I would never take anyone’s money if they weren’t satisfied with something.  Everything just kind of started happening and it became a little overwhelming.  I ask them what they want and they tell me, and I give it to them.  These girls specifically asked me to do them.  Vanessa even had someone else scheduled initially and then asked that I do it instead because she liked mine.  It’s not specifically to my taste, but it’s what they want.  I’m always looking to improve, and better represent my style.  I’ll be the first to admit a lot of it isn’t fantastic, but there are some that I really do love, and I’m going to be more selective about what I “showcase,” basically.  To answer someone’s question from earlier, I thought of my name because I couldn’t think of anything that didn’t sound ridiculously cheesy to me.  I did not want to be known as “Something Blah Blah Photography.”  I was offering more than just photography when I decided on that, doing custom images, and just recently took it off my website when I redid it.  But if these people want me to photograph them and their families, they know what they’re getting into before-hand.  I do not mislead anybody or misrepresent myself, and they are aware of my previous experience or lack thereof.  All I was asking for was some objective opinions and constructive criticism.  Thank you to those who responded with that.

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Okay, so being home from work, I have time to look and go over things now.  I went over a close up shot of her again, and since you guys are helpful with your insights, give me your thoughts on this:

 

http://postimg.org/image/fbfp7kxev/   sooc
http://postimg.org/image/xayxr4ibl/  first edit
http://postimg.org/image/rpz16klct/  second edit

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Well, I was mainly asking about the most recent photos that I have up, which I named in my original post. The older ones are what I am least happy with. I think that asking about older ones that I am dissatisfied with is a good thing though, because I’m able to see if others are seeing the same things I am, and they also point out new things for me to watch for. I’m just trying to improve, and I wouldn’t ask if I thought every little thing was perfect. A little later when I can post a longer response and have access to my computer, I was going to redo over edited ones and post for comparison and tips.

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Thank you guys for all of your input so far. I know I have a lot to work on, and a lot of them I’m not happy with, but I was asked to put up, so I did. The one with the three children especially. I’m on a short break at work with no wifi, so I can’t answer the way I would want to, but I’ll be sure to answer when I get home. The words come off harsh, but everyone learning needs to hear them at some point in order to improve, so I appreciate your time. A lot of the things you said I did notice, but I honestly just needed a second opinion from someone more experienced. I’ll respond more later today. Thanks again!

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Thank you!  They were fun to do.  I have several where I turned people into zombies, by hand, unlike those goofy photo generator things from the walking dead and stuff, those make me so mad.  I love the my 85 because it’s quick, quiet, super sharp, and you can manual focus while in auto focus mode.  The only thing I wish it had was Image Stabilization, but you can’t have everything on a budget, lol.  I liked your page so I’ll be watching for that series!  I always love watching other artists and learning different things from them.

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I just looked through them!  They’re beautiful!  The one with her on the mushroom looks amazing.  Last year before I got my t3i I did some crazy picture of this fairy sitting on a flower that I took with a canon p&s I have, in the sky all HDR looking, then I did another one of different fairy sitting on a different kind of flower that I took.  http://thecolourrainbow.deviantart.com/art/The-Fairy-331088306?q=gallery%3Athecolourrainbow%2F23809425&qo=23 and http://thecolourrainbow.deviantart.com/art/daisy-and-the-fairy-335093817?q=gallery%3Athecolourrainbow%2F23809425&qo=18

I just bought a 50mm 1.8 that is a tad noisy and slow, kind of like the kit lens that came with my t3i, but it did the trick for those indoor portraits.  I just hate using the zoom lenses I have anymore.  My 85mm 1.8 usm is my favorite though.

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Awesome.  I’m definitely going to check it out.  I don’t have the resources to be able to take classes or anything, and sometimes I learn better when someone explains things to me rather me just trying to read something in a book or something like that.  I clicked on your profile and saw the link you posted in the one thread with your flickr account, I love the pictures of your little girl, she’s adorable.  And knowing your surroundings so well you have the ability to work with that lighting indoors.  I’m terrified to even think about venturing into newborn work because I’m just not comfortable with handling babies that young.  But I also shoot with a t3i.  I’m not sure if you’ve gotten more lenses since your other thread, but the last two I bought were primes and they’re my favorites.

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