Candy: I'd appreciate feedback and suggestions. When shooting this portrait of my wife, my attention was mostly on posing her hands in a good way. I then took a bit more time in...

azemon Loc: Saint Charles, MO, USA

I'd appreciate feedback and suggestions. When shooting this portrait of my wife, my attention was mostly on posing her hands in a good way. I then took a bit more time in postprocessing than I usually spend.

Yes, I know that my camera (Z 5) slightly bobbled the focus on her near eye. It's eye detection seems to get confused by glasses.

But other than that, please help me improve my portraiture.

-- Art Z.

(Download)

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

I think this is a nice portrait of your wife; she has a very nice smile! I like the pose.

I would like to see you change is the color of your background preferably to a darker color; it would really make her stand out and after all, she is the star of the photo.

Dodie

azemon Loc: Saint Charles, MO, USA

I've give that a try, Dodie. I have a set of three canvas backgrounds so have a medium grey and a black as well as the white.

Thanks,
-- Art Z.

riderxlx Loc: DFW area Texas

azemon wrote:

I'd appreciate feedback and suggestions. When shooting this portrait of my wife, my attention was mostly on posing her hands in a good way. I then took a bit more time in postprocessing than I usually spend.

Yes, I know that my camera (Z 5) slightly bobbled the focus on her near eye. It's eye detection seems to get confused by glasses.

But other than that, please help me improve my portraiture.

-- Art Z.

OK it’s a little after four in the morning and I’m looking at this on my iPad and it is probably still in night mode so from what I can see right now I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the picture. I think it looks very good later on. I’ll pull it up on my desktop which I have a high definition monitor and I’ll look at it again but like I said, I don’t see anything wrong with it. I like it just the way it is I think you did a good job.
Bruce

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

What a charming rendering of your Life Partner Art...
From her charismatic smile it's obvious you bonded well with Candy in this session.

"I'd appreciate feedback and suggestions... on posing her hands in a good way.
Art it's all about the hands in Portraiture... and in Ballet since there isn't a script to establish a tone for the narrative. It's oft said There are no rules in photography Albeit this becomes irrelevant when your client's Creative Directory (i.e. Art Director - pun intended) is on set.

For females (ladies) an open hand with softly extended lengthen fingers is typically a norm... However for Women of Stature, Position of Authority etc. then a "Male" (closed hand is used) as you've done here...
(My best guess? Candy may well be the Authority in your home) thus so very appropriately posed

For female children, tweens, and teens (other than emancipated minors) there are no set protocols...

A soft open hand can also be used for Males in certain specific nurturing professions i.e Medical Doctors, Clergy etc. which in this case convey a "maternal caring" ambiance. Again depends very much on each individual scenario and whatever your client's Creative Director tells you to use (they are always right and should trump your thoughts entirely).

Please realize that all the above reflect only my experiences on the commercial side of the equation thus certainly do not embrace any "Universal Standardization" of Creative Direction. More over since Academic Institutions are not bound by any compelling need to "pay the bills" therefore they often vary considerable in what each "teach" and hold as "Authoritative". That said, in the immortal words of of Dean Collins
"Beauty is in the eyes of the Checkbook Holder" I'm solidly in Dean's camp here...
Experience can be a very cruel and brutal teacher...

Art I'm impressed with your query, this is an advanced parameter in portraiture and reflects well on your attainment in the craft of photography...

Below is a session with a very talented and widely published Agency model who primarily works the European market... btw, she's my neighbor who lives only a few blocks away from our studio

Hope this helps Art, wishing you much joy and success on your photographic journey

Beauty & Millinery Fashion Editorials

Model: Cassis Andrea (Agency Represented); Makeup; Styling; Creative Direction & Photography: I'm guilty; Camera: Nikon D3x Lens: AF-S 200-400mm f/4 IF ED VR Nikkor (Illumination: Paramount (Butterfly))

(Download)

Model: Cassis Andrea (Agency Represented); Makeup; Styling; Creative Direction & Photography: I'm guilty; Camera: Nikon D3x Lens: AF-S 200-400mm f/4 IF ED VR Nikkor (Illumination: Paramount (Butterfly))

(Download)

Cassis as she arrived at our Studio... And a compelling reason I'm hired as a bridal makeup artist...

(Download)

riderxlx Loc: DFW area Texas

Thomas902 wrote:

What a charming rendering of your i Life Partner ... (show quote)

MY GOSH Thomas, your work is wonderful, I see why you are successful at what you do.
Bruce.

riderxlx Loc: DFW area Texas

azemon wrote:

I'd appreciate feedback and suggestions. When shooting this portrait of my wife, my attention was mostly on posing her hands in a good way. I then took a bit more time in postprocessing than I usually spend.

Yes, I know that my camera (Z 5) slightly bobbled the focus on her near eye. It's eye detection seems to get confused by glasses.

But other than that, please help me improve my portraiture.

-- Art Z.

Art, I am looking at this on my desktop puter now. I would not darken the background since her dress is black. I like the way she stands out in the image. You could play with the skin color in post processing if you wanted to play and maybe sharpen the left hand but again I like it the way it is because it captures HER.
Bruce.

azemon Loc: Saint Charles, MO, USA

Thomas,

Wow! Thanks for the advice. Your shots are way more glamorous that anything I am aspiring to right now. I have been working my way through Valenzuela's Picture Perfect Posing and learning a lot as I go.

You are absolutely right about bonding well with Candy and she being the Authority in our home. I have learned well those four magic words that make a marriage last: I'm Very Sorry Dear. And she deserves serious credit for being endlessly patient with me over decades of photographic experimentation.

-- Art Z.

azemon Loc: Saint Charles, MO, USA

riderxlx wrote:

I would not darken the background since her dress is black. I like the way she stands out in the image. You could play with the skin color in post processing if you wanted to play and maybe sharpen the left hand but again I like it the way it is because it captures HER.
Bruce.

Bruce,

I tried the white background because I didn't want to lose her hair against a grey background and I didn't want to set up more lights. My laziness is probably biting me in the butt.

I'm bummed about her left hand. I was paying so much attention to her face that I didn't even think to check her hand when I was shooting.

Please tell me more about how to fix the skin color. Should I just desaturate it a bit to tamp down the heavy redness? Something else?

-- Art Z.

riderxlx Loc: DFW area Texas

azemon wrote:

Bruce, br br I tried the white background because... (show quote)

Art, do not sweat the left hand. You asked and so I responded. But again, I like just as it is. Now if you want to screw around with the skin colors, me, I would use Light room auto adjust. That is what I do and the sliders you can tweak other colors. But for the most part, Ya done good.
Bruce.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Thomas902 wrote:

What a charming rendering of your i Life Partner ... (show quote)

Spectacular work ⭐⭐❤️⭐⭐