[loribrown]

Thanks Kris3000. I actually really hate every single wedding shot on my portfolio, so I’m not surprised people are pointing them out. Every bride keeps asking me if I have sample photos so instead of saying no I just put up a few that I took at my best friends wedding – in which I was just a guest LONG before I considered being a photographer. I will take them down in two weeks when I finish some conceptual wedding sessions. It’s interesting the photos that some people love are photos that I don’t like and photos that some people think aren’t good are the ones that are my favorite. I’m sure if I gave access to all of my albums the photos that other photographers would choose to be in my portfolio may be images that I would never even consider!

[loribrown]

I am using an Olympus OM-D which is a fantastic camera! Some of the problems I have noticed with it all revolve around the focusing. The focus points are very large. If I want to make it smaller I have to set one of the options to manual assist, and then double press it and then this whole rigamaroll-but then if I turn the camera off and on again it will revert back to the large focus point size. Also, it doesn’t focus well in low light. So if I have a telephoto lens on which has a maximum aperture of say 4.5 and it is a bit overcast then my camera will struggle. I have looked into the Nikon D7100 which I will likely change to once I have some extra cash.

I have done some more work since my last post and if anyone could give me some feedback on my technique or maybe some things I missed that would be greatly appreciated! I have several weddings booked for this year so I want to hone up as much as I can before I shoot them.

[loribrown]

No those are their real eyes. The only thing done with that photo was it was made a bit warmer and I fixed a scratch on the little girls cheek.

[loribrown]

I can appreciate what you’re saying about the gear trap. I had my Panasonic for a long time and I decided I wasn’t going to get a new camera until I at least understood the technical aspect of how a camera works. I know I have a lot to learn about composition, posing, cropping and lighting, but I am just saying that because the OM-D uses contrast phase detection to focus, it focuses in an out constantly and never actually locks on to the subject. That it’s frustrating for me when many of the comments are in regard to what is being focused on. The only other option is to use MF, and that is next to impossible when photographing children.

I really do appreciate the advice and suggestions though, and I am thankful for this site to have the opportunity to ask people who have been in the game a long time for their opinions and advice 🙂

 

[loribrown]

I have my camera set to the middle point, I focus and then recompose. The majority of the time I am taking photos of children running around so I let the camera use the face – eye priority to do the work for me, which it says it is. I have read on a number of blogs that this is an issue with this camera, and have spoken to the camera store which says although a great system, it is better for experienced hobbyists and not a professional. I think I will purchase the Nikon D7100 and keep practicing my skills. I do know I have a lot to learn, but thanks to all the advice and constructive criticism I think I know what I need to work on and which direction to go. I think I’m doing pretty well for only having owned a camera for less than 2 years! 😛

I also have a hard time culling photos that aren’t technically good because they are photos of my own kids (which 90 percent of the photos on my page are and I just think that they are so adorable LOL)

[loribrown]

Thanks everyone for the feedback!

I had a free shoot yesterday, and I am feeling frustrated. Maybe like I am getting WORSE. My camera is always set to face/eye priority. I tried a wider aperture this time (F11) it wouldn’t even get the background nearly in focus, and their eyes still aren’t in focus even when my camera is showing me they are. I’ve tried SAF, CAF and tracking, and my camera can’t figure it out. I think my issue right now is my equipment, with my nervousness in directing people as well. I also have tried 5 different types of metering in varied light conditions and it won’t get it right. I am going to try some indoor controlled light situations and if that doesn’t work out, I’m going to switch camera systems. To what though, I have no idea.

[loribrown]

The majority of my outdoor family photos were taken on the Olympus OM-D with a 45mm at 1.8 and shutter speed of 1/500 of a second or on a 25mm at 1.4 and between 1/300 and 1/500 shutter speed. I typically leave my ISO on 200. Even with that, with kids running around I am still getting a bit too much blur for my liking. When I add the flash (I tried point away, use a flash bender and also using a Gary Fong kit) at the lowest setting, I am getting too much light from the flash and it’s washing everyone out. I probably should switch to a DSLR but I really like how light my system is 😛 How expensive are portrait lenses for the Nikon D700 system?

 

[loribrown]

Wow, thank you so much for your honest and helpful feedback.

I have noticed that my photos are not as sharp when uploaded as they appear on my LCD and in my viewfinder. Do you think this is an ISO issue? I do try to keep it down because the GF2 adds a lot of noise. Whenever I try to add fill in flash, my camera seems to give it too much even at its lowest setting. I switched to an Olympus OM-D halfway through my photography so many of the photos you critiqued were with the Panasonic which I found wasn’t giving me the results I was hoping for. The OM-D for some reason gives my hot shoe a power boost and no matter how far away I am and at the lowest ISO it whites them out.

I agree that I should invest in a better camera, I just got stuck in the M43 series and am afraid to start all over again 🙁

My website is a smugmug so people do order from there.

Question, for doing outdoor shoots in overcast days (the session with the little girl and the leaves was one of those days) my camera even at its widest aperture still had trouble capturing everyone in focus. Do you have any settings suggestions for kids who literally don’t stop running and in low-light?

Again, I appreciate the time you took to look over my photos and give me that feedback. I truly hope to grow as a photographer and learning is the way to do it.

[loribrown]

I clearly don’t want feedback because I forgot to post my link… hah! http://www.loribrownphotography.com

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