My grand daughter is a 2020 graduate

Ben Egbert

Ben Egbert

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I went out Saturday with her and my daughter to get some grad images. Here is my favorite 4.

Like some critique

1

1
200425-12646-5DS R_pp.jpg


#2
200425-12636-5DS RA_pp.jpg


#3
200425-12630-5DS RA_pp.jpg


#4
200425-12619-5DS R A_pp.jpg
 
JimFox

JimFox

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#1 is sure appropriate now!

With #2 and 3, I don't know about the angle where you are looking down on her, that's not typical for portraits. But they are both nice shots, but the looking down caught my eye. #4, how about B&W? I know you don't do B&W really, but I think for portraits its good to mix it up a bit.

It looks like your granddaughter had fun, I look forward to see the rest of what you shot of her.
 
Ben Egbert

Ben Egbert

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JimFox said:
#1 is sure appropriate now!

With #2 and 3, I don't know about the angle where you are looking down on her, that's not typical for portraits. But they are both nice shots, but the looking down caught my eye. #4, how about B&W? I know you don't do B&W really, but I think for portraits its good to mix it up a bit.

It looks like your granddaughter had fun, I look forward to see the rest of what you shot of her.
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Thanks Jim.. Looking down was not an option, only way to get a decent background. I knew at the time it was breaking rules. I could do a B&W if she wants one. She still has not selected her favorites, I know mine.
 
MonikaC

MonikaC

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Congratulations to your granddaughter, Ben! #1 sure is a sign of the times. She looks the most natural/relaxed in #4. The few times I tried to shoot portraits of my husband, I found it super difficult. I had a patient who was a portrait photographer (studio work). She said she just had a gift for making people feel comfortable. I'm sure your granddaughter is comfortable with you, but maybe not so comfortable with posing. Figuring out what to do with their hands is a big one. #2 almost works that way, but it also sorta looks like she has to pee......:oops: I think they would all make for good head shots.
 
Ben Egbert

Ben Egbert

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MonikaC said:
Congratulations to your granddaughter, Ben! #1 sure is a sign of the times. She looks the most natural/relaxed in #4. The few times I tried to shoot portraits of my husband, I found it super difficult. I had a patient who was a portrait photographer (studio work). She said she just had a gift for making people feel comfortable. I'm sure your granddaughter is comfortable with you, but maybe not so comfortable with posing. Figuring out what to do with their hands is a big one. #2 almost works that way, but it also sorta looks like she has to pee......:oops: I think they would all make for good head shots.
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Yes, we had lots of discussions about hands. She was very uncomfortable as she was standing on a bunch of sharp rocks that were not level. Of course I was sitting on one that was pointed and also not level.
 
Amy Earl

Amy Earl

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#4 is the best in terms of composition, camera position most level with her as well as a good 3/4 angle on her face, but it's in #3 that she's giving you the most natural smile! Love the way the light is bouncing off her dress in #4 as well.

What focal length were you using in #4? A longer one would blur the background more, which would have been nice, but perhaps you can blur it with a mask in Photoshop. A reflector of some sort (whether natural or artifical) to the lower right would have helped to shed light on the dark side of her face but this might also be remedied in processing. I wouldn't mind having a play with editing #4 if you wanted to send me the DNG.
 
Ben Egbert

Ben Egbert

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Amy Earl said:
#4 is the best in terms of composition, camera position most level with her as well as a good 3/4 angle on her face, but it's in #3 that she's giving you the most natural smile! Love the way the light is bouncing off her dress in #4 as well.

What focal length were you using in #4? A longer one would blur the background more, which would have been nice, but perhaps you can blur it with a mask in Photoshop. A reflector of some sort (whether natural or artifical) to the lower right would have helped to shed light on the dark side of her face but this might also be remedied in processing. I wouldn't mind having a play with editing #4 if you wanted to send me the DNG.
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$ was at 70 mm, F10. I could have shot faster but we wanted the background a bit in focus to show American Fork River. Otherwise we would hav chosen another venue. I will ask her if it's ok to share the raws, she is a bit shy.
 
Jim Dockery

Jim Dockery

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Congrats to your granddaughter, and condolences at the same time to be heading out into the world now. I fear for the mental and economic health of young people in our country today - life is so much harder now than when I graduated back in 73.

#3 is my favorite, very natural smile. I read how you wanted the river in focus, but like Amy I would prefer it blurred, and would have also shot one at the largest aperture of the lens to compare.

I'm not a portrait photographer though so can't give much good advice.
 
Ben Egbert

Ben Egbert

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Jim Dockery said:
Congrats to your granddaughter, and condolences at the same time to be heading out into the world now. I fear for the mental and economic health of young people in our country today - life is so much harder now than when I graduated back in 73.

#3 is my favorite, very natural smile. I read how you wanted the river in focus, but like Amy I would prefer it blurred, and would have also shot one at the largest aperture of the lens to compare.

I'm not a portrait photographer though so can't give much good advice.
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Thanks for looking and commenting. I am not a portrait guy either, but I own the family camera so I do what I can. I should have shot a few wide open, 70mm at f2,8 would be fairly shallow DOF. I was so intent on poses that I did not think of it. I could probably blur up the background.
 
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