Portraits: I generally do not shoot portraits. These I shot for my Lodge of its incoming officers. Simple set up. overhead florescent light closer to me, both sitting about six feet...

larrywilk Loc: Palm Harbor, FL

I generally do not shoot portraits. These I shot for my Lodge of its incoming officers. Simple set up. overhead florescent light closer to me, both sitting about six feet apart with "helpers holding cloth backdrop, camera handheld and done in assembly line fashion. EXIF data imbedded in pictures.

Since I do this on an annual basis, I should produce a quality image for their benefit and my self-respect. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

These are the male officers.

Andy

Ed

Carl

Tony

Sam

larrywilk Loc: Palm Harbor, FL

And these are some of the ladies

Terri

Sidney

Peggy

Kathy

GPoyner Loc: North Dakota

Just my opinon, not a fan of the blue background (don't get me wrong love the color itself, but not for headshots). You also might want to iron the wrinkles out. You did better than I could I'm sure...GP

Toby

larrywilk wrote:

And these are some of the ladies

I understand your wish to keep it simple so in doing that I would suggest you move them farther from the background, open the aperture and use a different color. A lot can be done with the lighting but then it starts to become more complicated.

larrywilk Loc: Palm Harbor, FL

GPoyner wrote:

Just my opinon, not a fan of the blue background (don't get me wrong love the color itself, but not for headshots). You also might want to iron the wrinkles out. You did better than I could I'm sure...GP

Unfortunately, they are locked into the blue background. good suggestion on the iron, thanks.

larrywilk Loc: Palm Harbor, FL

Toby wrote:

I understand your wish to keep it simple so in doing that I would suggest you move them farther from the background, open the aperture and use a different color. A lot can be done with the lighting but then it starts to become more complicated.

I agree, a wider aperture would have put more emphasis on the subject and reduced it on the background. I do want to try something else with the lighting, possibly off-camera, diffused, and a reflector for fill.

Toby

larrywilk wrote:

I agree, a wider aperture would have put more emphasis on the subject and reduced it on the background. I do want to try something else with the lighting, possibly off-camera, diffused, and a reflector for fill.

If you have time you might also want to delete the background with Photoshop (or similiar software) and substitute a more friendly one.

CajonPhotog Loc: Shreveport, LA

Toby wrote:

I understand your wish to keep it simple so in doing that I would suggest you move them farther from the background, open the aperture . A lot can be done with the lighting but then it starts to become more complicated.

My first thought was that the BG was too close. Further away it would be a little more blurred out and the wrinkles would not show as much. I have no issues with the blue color. Nice work, keep on clicking.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Larry, the poses aren't bad. I think you now realize what is meant when people keep saying, look at the background first, then the subject. It is a part of the whole photo. Not only would opening the aperture help a little, as would moving it back. Take 5 minutes, and steam or iron the backdrop. As it is, it is VERY distracting. Another observation, most of your subjects are turned slightly, the second guy is looking straight at the camera, and it is not flattering, and almost intimidating for people to look at. Even slight 10 degree turn of the head, really softens it a lot.

larrywilk Loc: Palm Harbor, FL

bkyser wrote:

Larry, the poses aren't bad. I think you now real... (show quote)

Thanks for the input. The Lodge insists on that color background unfortunately, so that is locked in. I don't see the opportunity to iron the fabric, although I do agree it needs it. I was thinking of hemming the top and bottom so I can slip a pole through it to roll up and possibly put some wait on it to ease the wrinkles. I will look into a steamer as well.

I hadn't really noticed the Tony's in-your-face pose, but I completely agree, it is confrontational in appearance although he's not.

The other tips will be utilized as well.

I really appreciate the help everyone has offered. It will be used.

Thank you,
Larry

wtompkins Loc: Northern Michigan

Since the background color can't be changed, how about using a gaussian blur on it? I tried it on one, and it doesn't look half bad.

Other than the too-close wrinkled backgrounds, I like your lighting, and the poses.

larrywilk Loc: Palm Harbor, FL

wtompkins wrote:

Since the background color can't be changed, how about using a gaussian blur on it? I tried it on one, and it doesn't look half bad.

Other than the too-close wrinkled backgrounds, I like your lighting, and the poses.

I'm open to about any reasonable suggestion.

wtompkins Loc: Northern Michigan

Ok, since you asked:

I am no expert, and I'm sure the blur can be done more precisely; this was just a quick attempt, because I wanted to see how it would look (and because I love to practice, practice, practice).

I used Photoshop Elements 9, filter>blur>gaussian blur, after I had used the magnetic lasso to select the background.

Your original

Gaussian blur

larrywilk Loc: Palm Harbor, FL

wtompkins wrote:

Ok, since you asked:

Very well done. Thank you, it is something I will play with as Post to me is limited to minor adjustments. I do have CS6, it's just having the time to learn and apply all of it.

Larry

wtompkins Loc: Northern Michigan

Because of the background color, making the selection with the wand is actually quite easy, which makes the process a bit quicker. It should work fine with CS6... I wish I had that program!! I have one of the first version of Photoshop, Version 7, before all the "CS" stuff came out :D
You can do it!!