azemon Loc: Saint Charles, MO, USA

I have always focused on landscapes, wildlife, candids, and kids' sports. Being stuck at home, I decided to try portraiture for the first time. My wife graciously allowed as how she could sit for me while I messed with the lights and the camera.

Here is the best of the session. My main light was an SB-800 flash with an orange filter shooting through an umbrella. The fill light was a table lamp with a white-ish shade.

I would love your feedback and suggestions.

-- Art Z.

(Download)

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

Couple points to consider:

Orientation is best in portrait vs landscape
Not enough separation in colors/tones between subj and background. Perhaps a bit more light on the face
Good pose

Try cropping to portrait to reduce extraneous background. Good luck in future shooting in the portrait world.

Stephan G

You may want to use a body-double whilst "messed with the lights and camera".

Great start with a great model.

Show her a pictured magazine, asking which pose she would not mind emulating. Then emulate away. I find that a subject enjoys "cooperating" in attaining a common goal.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

Agree with DeanS, use the portrait (vertical) mode. As for different color for the background, you could position the subject farther from the background (if possible) and perhaps use a larger aperture to maybe blur the background a bit. That also would allow the light to fall off and slightly change the color of the background.

azemon Loc: Saint Charles, MO, USA

Folks,

Thank you for the constructive advice.

DeanS: You're absolutely right about the light. The photos were dark enough that I had to lighten them in post.

Yes, I know that I should shoot vertical subjects in portrait orientation. Since I was working on lighting and posing Candy, and the mechanics of getting my camera and lights to play nice together, I wimped out. The controls on the Z50 are easier to reach, and the screen easier to see, with the camera in landscape mode.

I didn't pay any attention to the color of the drapes and how close they are to her skin. Hmmm. I'll try a white sheet and maybe a few other colors that we have around the house. Who knows, if I get good enough at this, I'll invest in a real backdrop. And with the weather turning nice, I am looking forward to moving outside. Lots of possibilities beyond our living room drapes.

I also need to figure out the focus. I am using a Nikon Z50 with the Nikon 70-300 lens. The focus was really close but not quite right, even though the camera correctly spotted Candy's eyes. I think it focused on her glasses. I didn't expect that.

Cheers,
-- Art Z.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

Suggestion: you can always shoot in l/s, but set up far enough away to allow cropping to portrait pose.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...the camera correctly spotted Candy's eyes..."
Sadly the image is a throw away... the lens focused several inches behind your sitters eye...
Might take the time to learn how to calibrate your lens to the camera...

btw. at 180mm f/5.3 is a very poor choice for this optic...
Rethink shooting that lens wide open... it is a consumer grade optic which is barely acceptable when stopped down to f/8 through f/11. If you are serious above portraiture then maybe pony up for an f/2.8 70-200mm (or similar) which will do very well at f/5.3 or even f/4.

Best advice: spend $40 for a decent hair manikin... master your kit shooting the manikin to the point you're no longer thinking about your gear...

Bottom line? You need to be directing the talent in front of you... it takes constant positive reinforcement to allow them to feel at ease... a.k.a. practice the poses you wish to create in a mirror till you have them down flawless... strike the pose you wish your talent to emulate... show them how to emote the concept you're seeking...

If you are located near a commercial studio you might seriously benefit from renting a couple studio hours with one of their "house" models...

A professional model will have an extensive editorial fashion repertoire, finely honed and precisely choreographed. There is a decided rhythm to his/her movement on set... timed in perfect syncopation with the recycle of a studio's strobes... with immediacy he/she moves seamlessly into an endless array of contrasting and unique pose dynamics... A thespian of considerable merit, elegance and charismatic allure...

The above is worth so much more than endlessly throwing money after more pieces of kit...
Albeit so few will ever grasp the wisdom latent within...

I wish you well on your journey Art...

azemon Loc: Saint Charles, MO, USA

Thomas,

I appreciate your advice. The hair manikin is a good idea. For now, my wife and I have been enjoying the time together so modeling for me isn't a burden or anything. But if she gets bored, I will definitely buy one.

Your idea for hiring some time with a professional model sounds awesome, too. Right now, this is just a learning exercise for me. I never intend to earn money from portraiture but if I like it enough to get serious about it, I will invest in some equipment (glass, lights, background) and might just splurge on some studio+model time.

Funny coincidence: I sold my f/2.8 70-200mm to a friend several years ago, after 'bout breaking my shoulder hauling a D200 with that lens around AirVenture for a week. He lives just a few miles away; I might have to borrow that lens back. :-)

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

A good first effort...as was said, slow down, evaluate, shoot, evaluate, adjust, shoot. My one observation: The background needs to be more out of focus. If possible, move her away from it some more. GOOD: No "football shoulders", posing your model facing the camera squarely, and no horrible reflection on her glasses! Focus on her eyes, with sufficient DOF to make up for little farbles. You did good!

azemon Loc: Saint Charles, MO, USA

Thanks flyboy61. I'll give it another try today or tomorrow.