smcaleer Loc: Dearborn Heights, Michigan

I am not a people photographer, but I'm trying. I am not good with taking shots indoors either so I used auto and tried to focus mainly on composition and subject matter.

All your comments are welcome.

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Getting someone laughing is hard! It's tough to catch so it doesn't look like they are crying, or shrieking, or something else. This lovely young woman is clearly laughing, head thrown back, mouth not too wide open… Compositionally it's fine. I see you've placed her eyes at an intersection of thirds. What bothers me is the very bright and busy background that pulls the eye away from her face. I'd also like to see just a tish more detail in her beautiful hair. In the old days you couldn't do much about that, but now most any post-processing app will open up the detail without ruining the contrast. Not bad! A decent candid. :thumbup:

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

Chuck mentioned the number 1 flaw..... The background.
Things are easy people are hard. Chances are slim that you will just walk up to someone and catch a moment that looks great. This is a snapshot.
Things to consider when trying to produce quality

1) What is your background.
2) What's your subject wearing. (Green martians?)
3) Does the body form meet posing guidelines. (Head in an acceptable manner? Not shooting up the nose?)

I know you probably like this photo because it's personal to you. For anyone else that does not have a connection to her it will mean very little.

Keep at it. Take 50 shots and move her into better light and watch you background. Then get her to laugh and make it look naturau by cracking jokes. That's what I do.

To create quality portraiture you have to be objective and truthful to yourself. You need to try to create a connection with the viewer to your photo.

and one final note.....

No matter how good you get.. Everyone is not going to like what you produce.

Russ

smcaleer Loc: Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Thank you for your input. Her shirt did have some cartoon character on it.
I was just shooting snaps for a friend at his Christmas party we attended. Nothing really in my control. I did feel, however, that posting one here might help me get an idea of what I need to keep in mind when shooting people. I rarely shoot people (even snapshots).
I know the reason I don't shoot people is because so much is out of my control. I would like to learn how to control the different situations, but knowing what to look for and what I want needs to come first. She is a beautiful young lady and I'm sure those that know her will like this shot. Most of them won't even know that it could be so much better.

Again, I thank you for your comments. I will keep them in mind while shooting.

smcaleer Loc: Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Thank you, Chuck. I too am bothered by that background. Unfortunately for many reasons it is what it is. I'm going to play around in PP to see what I can come up with in toning down the background and also bringing out some of the detail in her beautiful hair.

I need to train myself to look at the background as it effects my subject WHILE I'm shooting. It's much easier with subjects that are not moving on you lol.

Thank you for helping me out here.

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

As I said earlier, this shot is what I have always called a "candid," as distinct from a "formal." I shot a lot of weddings in my time, as well as studio portraits, and Wedding Formals were the controlled shots where we had time to consider the backgrounds, the lighting, the posing, the grouping &c &c &c. Whether at home, in an outdoor setting, or the church or synagogue, formals were controlled.

Once the party started, however, it was virtually all Candid, very little to zero control of background other than trying to stay in a place where it wasn't awful (I liked to shoot against the crowd of guests a lot because I got reactions). A lot of the time all I was looking for was that moment, and hang the background, because those were 70% of the pictures they bought (and hang the background). I actually love candids because they catch people being "real," unposed, not thinking about being photographed so not trying to "look their best," just natural. So that's what you have here: she's as natural as can be, and (perhaps curiously) she is apt not to like it (because she didn't control it) but you're correct, her friends and family will love it because OMG that's her! I've shot thousands of candids against not-so-great backgrounds, maybe with distracting clothing, but to me the key thing is always the face and the expression and capturing that moment, now gone forever but frozen in that fraction of a second. So I don't get too exercised if all the elements aren't pitch-perfect. You can knock down the background. You can even totally remove funny little green thingies on her blouse (but please don't touch that octopus necklace!) and open up her hair for more texture. It's not a formal portrait; it's a candid, and for my money a very good one. It captures her personality, and that's where it's at! :thumbup: