Looking for feedback (Page 2): I think the busy background not just distracts but counter to WB adjustments.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Suzanne Caris wrote:

50mm lens. Raw format
Shooting closer to eye level would work better?
I shot ALOT of pics. I chose these to edit just because I liked them lol, I'll focus on getting shots with more direct eye contact for the shoot.
Thanks so much.
How does the WB look to you. I'm working on a laptop and struggling to get it right.

I think the busy background not just distracts but counter to WB adjustments.

Jack47 Loc: Ontario

Suzanne Caris wrote:

Good morning fellow photographers. I took this series as a trial run for a small preschool I was asked to shoot kid headshots by a friend. I have very limited experience with portrait photography. If anyone has any feedback on these I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

I love them. Background and all.

Marg Loc: Canadian transplanted to NW Alabama

Suzanne Caris wrote:

Good morning fellow photographers. I took this series as a trial run for a small preschool I was asked to shoot kid headshots by a friend. I have very limited experience with portrait photography. If anyone has any feedback on these I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

I’m going to “buck the stream” here and say I like them. After 5 kids’ and 10 grandkids’ same old same old cute (of course) but pretty boring school photos these made me smile! 😊 Just my feeling though. I’m not a portrait photographer so can’t offer any other assistance.

bbrowner Loc: Chapel Hill, NC

She may be looking up on all of them. But the looking up in #2 is perfect... maybe not on 1, 3 & 4... but definitely good on #2.

I agree with the others about the background.

Barry

Suzanne Caris Loc: Noneya, USA

pithydoug wrote:

I think the busy background not just distracts but counter to WB adjustments.

I agree. If I decide to make this a thing I'm most certainly in the market for back drops lol.

Suzanne Caris Loc: Noneya, USA

bbrowner wrote:

She may be looking up on all of them. But the looking up in #2 is perfect... maybe not on 1, 3 & 4... but definitely good on #2.

I agree with the others about the background.

Barry

Thanks so much Barry

Suzanne Caris Loc: Noneya, USA

Marg wrote:

I’m going to “buck the stream” here and say I like them. After 5 kids’ and 10 grandkids’ same old same old cute (of course) but pretty boring school photos these made me smile! 😊 Just my feeling though. I’m not a portrait photographer so can’t offer any other assistance.

These were test prints so we had a bit more room to play. I'm completely with you on school prints. I haven't favored one in at least 7 yrs lol

anotherview Loc: California

You are well on your way with portrait photography -- its own field. You have a very photogenic subject in the young female.
Her whole face smiles.

You could crop the photographs a little tighter and with a ratio in mind; for example, if you mean to print the photographs for distribution, you might consider two popular ratios: 8x10 and 5x7 inches.

You will notice the absence of a hair light. This element is a must in the best portraits. Thankfully, it is easy to achieve with a second light overhead. Use it with moderation. A touch of a hair light usually suffices.

Some others here will offer their critiques. Take them with a grain of salt.

I suggest that you look up portrait photography on the Internet to familiarize yourself with the basics of this kind of photography.

Good luck.

Suzanne Caris wrote:

Good morning fellow photographers. I took this series as a trial run for a small preschool I was asked to shoot kid headshots by a friend. I have very limited experience with portrait photography. If anyone has any feedback on these I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Suzanne Caris wrote:

Good morning fellow photographers. I took this series as a trial run for a small preschool I was asked to shoot kid headshots by a friend. I have very limited experience with portrait photography. If anyone has any feedback on these I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

I would go with your third pose. Set the lens more at eye level. As others have said she appears to be looking up, chins up in this photo. The background is distracting so I would move the child farther away get more distance between her and the background. The other thing you can do is open up the aperture, but then you might lose or get a soft focus on part of her. I would also Center her more unless you keep them looking to the right the way she is that's not a bad pose.

Since you are new at this I would suggest you download an app for your phone. I use hyperfocal pro when needed. What you do is enter your lens info your f-stop and distance to subject and it shows you what's in sharp focus. Use this and practice and move the subject forward and away from the backdrop to the backdrop is a lot more out of focus especially with this kind of backdrop.

How are you hanging the backdrop? B and H has backdrop kits fairly cheap.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/648381-REG/Manfrotto_1314B_Background_Support_System.html/?ap=y&gclid=CjwKCAiAkan9BRAqEiwAP9X6UVsD3kcw2Oh_Lto2E1mJYo9wwO1NGnYTdPXmtrSnhEGt0yWfVUrByRoCuuwQAvD_BwE&lsft=BI%3A514&smp=y

They have backdrops also. Your local camera store might have them also, and maybe for rent, and if you decide to do this more, you could them buy

And as others have mentioned if you have an 85 try it.

These are really great for first attempt good job keep it up and good luck.

cytafex Loc: Clarksburg MA

Pull the background as far as possible so that is more out of focus and use longer lens.

Sirsnapalot Loc: Hammond, Louisiana

Suzanne Caris wrote:

Good morning fellow photographers. I took this series as a trial run for a small preschool I was asked to shoot kid headshots by a friend. I have very limited experience with portrait photography. If anyone has any feedback on these I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

Photography is very subjective, it’s not always “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander”! Always keep that into consideration when judging your own work.......

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Suzanne Caris wrote:

The lighting is a whole new issue. I have a junky cheap 2 light with diffusing umbrellas. 2 work spotlight behind on the back drop.

I made the best out of what I have but ill try raising them some. I should have shifted my lights but it was a quick trial run and I don't plan to have the kids looking everywhere like I did with her.

Shooting with 2 umbrellas is just fine!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Other than the background, I like them.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Be sure to look at the details of your work at the 1:1 pixel-level details to make critical assessments of the actual results. Only three of four were provided for download. Only the 2nd of the three is in sharp focus on her eyes. The third has the best lighting / brightness, but alas, is out of focus. Consider tighter crops, such as the first. You might be able to brighten the second and remove the excess of background around her head and shoulders. The offcenter placement in the frame with her eye on the center line is very nice, if the 1st image was brighter and was in focus. Consider if there is a landscape crop of the 2nd of just her face to harvest the excellent details of this image.