rick_n_wv Loc: Charleston WV

These are from something I did last weekend. I originally processed them to what they liked. I was looking at them and then processed them as I would for me (for portraits). I posted some of the guy with his dog in another section and it is the last one here.

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E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Hi Rick,

Welcome to the section.

Would you like a critique or some other editing ideas?

How did you light these?

What did you change up from what the clients wanted?

rick_n_wv Loc: Charleston WV

Hi,critique and editing ideas are always welcomed and greatly appreciated.
The lighting was 2 Octaboxes with the focus just to either side of the people. This was because the space was a little tight and when I tried a lower power I did not get the shadow fill I wanted without over exposure in other areas. Some else probably could but at this time it beyond me. I used 2 Flashpoint (Godox) AD 400 pro's.
They were friends of the family so ya can't really count them as customers. I have changed diapers on big guy. They don't live close anymore though. I included the last as an example. They liked the harder more typical of snapshot images to which I was glad to give them. My taste runs more to softer and slight lighter images. I should have added one of his wife. It would have been a better example. While a matter of taste on the finished image any ideas or improve and create images is always appreciated.

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E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

The expressions you have captured are excellent- the are natural, relaxed and show the personality of all the subjects.

Lighting: You lighting is even and soft and provided good exposures and skin toes but it is FLAT, This happens when you have two lights of equal output, equidistant to the subject and both at the same angle to the camera/subject axis. The issue is that the lighting does not provide enough shadow depth and placement to create modeling and dimension and does not enable corrective shaping of the faces.

I understand that you have limited space. With your 2-light system use, one light off-camera at anywhere from 25 to 135 degrees off the camera/subject axis THIS IS YOUR MAIN LIGHT. The other light becomes you fill light and it can be placed behind the camera at 0 degrees or you can remove the Octobox and simply bounce it off the ceiling or a white wall in the back of the camera where the wall meets the ceiling.

You only need to move around the main light to create the shading you want- the fill ligh remains fixed. Your LIGHTING RATIO is the difference between the effect of the 2 lights. If the fill light is anywhere from 1 to 4 stops weaker than the main, you will begin to see highlight and shadows. Your exposure is based on the main light. You can vary the ratio by increasing the decreasing the power of the fill light.

The Edits: The edits I have made are not intended to create finished work- the are not of high quality. They are only to illustrate some of the points about the lighting and show some possibilities for composition. Basically, I faked some shading that you will not have to do if the lighting is addressed when you shoot. This again is my quick and dirty edits. When I teach, in person, I can move to lights around and sketch things out on a backboard- online this is the best way I can mess with images and illustrate my points

Better lighting control will give your images a more 3-dimensional quality, and allow you to sculpt faces- slim down wider faces, make very slim faced more roundness, etc, and enable placing shadows on the chin/jawline of the face to manage double chins, etc.

Cropping and sometimes vignetting brings more attention to the subjects' faces and expressions. Leaving more space in the direction the subject is facing in 1 2/3 face of profile shot has the subject gazing out of the picture rater that at the edge of the frame.

Using the term "customers or clients" is my habit because photography is my day job and I know that both clients and friends often want stuff that photographers would rather do differently. It's good that you want to make great images of people you care about and give them something special.

I hope you give the lighting suggestion a try and post some more images. You have some good gear and background material so keep at it! You have a talent for getting those expressions- the big guy and his dog is a precious image. The teenage athlete is a good character shot and the lady in red has an infectious smile and you also captured the smile in her eyes.

I hope this helps.

If you have any questions, post them here. Meanwhile, have a fine holiday season- MERRY CHRISTMAS!

rick_n_wv Loc: Charleston WV

Thanks for the help. I will try and experiment some. There is an old saying "all contributions are gratefully excepted". Lots to learn in my old age.

Alafoto Loc: Montgomery, AL

The young lady's face would not look nearly so 'full' if you gave up the broad lighting and simply moved your main light to the side of her face which presents the smallest facial area to the camera and reduced the intensity of your fill light by an f/stop or a stop and a half..

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I'm 75 and still learning. Learning photographic techniques is like going on a vacation that includes a long road trip. Half the fun is getting there.