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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
Pictures from my first "paid" shoot

szerangue
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Nov 10, 2006, 3:56 PM

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Pictures from my first "paid" shoot	Can't Post

Yes, I actually got paid.. woohoo! Actually, she just paid me for pro prints. Tell me what you think, I know they are below par, but we got to start somewhere. All of these have been tweaked so they are about as good as I could get them. I softened some of them for an effect. I would have liked to have gotten better ones of just the boy but he was a handful and my skill level is just not up to speed. He never stopped or slowed down, never sat still, was always moving and cried a lot. But it was fun just the same... (Note, don't wear a cap and do not put your $100 sunglasses in your vest pocket.. they will fall out and you will lose them never to see them again!) Smile

I lost a $100 pair of sunglass and made a $100 on the prints so it was a wash.

Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

Brackish
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Nov 11, 2006, 5:37 AM

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SuePren
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Nov 11, 2006, 7:35 AM

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I think they look good. The color photo's were my favorite. The black and white's did not have enough impact for me. Maybe you need more contrast. Just my opinion.

Now you inspired me to post a few of mine. Your cirtique is welcomed.
SuePren
another proud grandparent

szerangue
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Nov 11, 2006, 7:38 AM

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Re: [Brackish] Pictures from my first "paid" shoot [In reply to]	Can't Post

Brack, I took about 300 pictures total. These were all she ordered. Pretty much one from each "sitting" or pose. There were a few others that she did not pick, mainly because, and I just found this out, the boy's dad was there and I shot pictures of the 3 of them together, just him and the boy, the two of them together, etc... but dad moved out of the house on Monday. Very wierd. So she did not want any pictures with dad in the shot. She bought 48 Christmas cards, an 8x12, a couple of 5x7s and a few 4x6s and that was it. I was really expecting the grandparents to order some but they didn't, I thought that was strange.
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

Jenn M
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Nov 11, 2006, 1:36 PM

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Fill flash on 4 and 5 would have helped. Maybe you can boost in PS. I saw an action on www.atncentral.com for this type of situation. (Thanks Colvin! LOVE that site.)

Some fill on roup portraits would help brighten the eyes and eliminate the dark sunken shadows.

Congrats on your first gig!

Scott Brooks
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Nov 11, 2006, 3:16 PM

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Re: [Jenn M] Pictures from my first "paid" shoot [In reply to]	Can't Post

Jenn's got some good suggestions. Also ... I would photograph the three ladies a little bit higher. It almost looks like you're shooting up and that's going to make them look heavier/larger ... not what ladies want to see. A higher angle might provide a more flattering look.

szerangue
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Nov 11, 2006, 8:05 PM

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I think fill flash would have worked but you know flash can be so difficult. But I think I could have made it work. Another option would have been to use a reflector. I had mine with me along with my flash but I did not use either of them. I was a little overwhelmed and trying to get the exposure right.
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

Scott Brooks
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Nov 11, 2006, 10:22 PM

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I wish I could remember where I read this ... I've looked all over and I can't believe I didn't save it to Word. Anyway ... someone once wrote something like if you're fairly close outside and need fill flash in the sun, leave the 580 set on zero ... shady but plenty of light, -1 ... shady and losing light ... -2. The premise is to only throw on as much light as you need without making it look like flash. (Easy enough for someone to say.)

Obviously there's plenty of room in between all of those numbers, so you have to play with it plus take distance into account as well.

One wedding I shot was outside and all formals were in the shade. I took at least two or three of each ... using fill and without fill on each group. Overall the fill looked better ... when I got it right. Unsure

No question that flash anywhere is a hard thing to master. Makes me want to be one of those guys that only uses "natural light." Angelic

Brackish
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Nov 12, 2006, 2:11 AM

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Scott Brooks
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Nov 12, 2006, 2:16 AM

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In Reply To

No question that flash anywhere is a hard thing to master. Makes me want to be one of those guys that only uses "natural light." Angelic

Are there some pros who only use natural light? Or are you just joking?

Dead serious. Lots of 1.2 lenses.

Shadow
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Nov 13, 2006, 12:08 AM

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Re: [Brackish] Pictures from my first "paid" shoot [In reply to]	Can't Post

I shot a wedding using only natural light. The photos looked awesome. Mind you, I had a photography teacher choose exactly where and how to position them and I basically metered and shot the same stuff he did. But they looked nice though.