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07/07/2008 20:37

My portraits on Fickr

These are a few of the photos I've taken with my new camera (Nikon D40). Could I have opinions please? Going by these, what do you think I could charge for photo shoots?:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28345786@N03/sets/72157606033403896/detail/

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07/07/2008 20:46

Re: My portraits on Fickr

Is it set to private?

(BAD WOLF)

07/07/2008 20:48

Re: My portraits on Fickr

Quote:

Going by these, what do you think I could charge for photo shoots?

Truthfully?

I'd say you need more practice before offering your services. A lot of the photos have backgrounds in them that are distracting, for ecample:

005 Melissa - cupboard door going right down the photo
012 Melissa & Denzel - wastebin and dogbowl in the background

Also, quite a few the subject isn't even looking at you. If the subject in the portrait isn't looking at you them the person viewing the photo can't make eye contact with them either.

034 Courtney - That gate is a big distraction

Half of the job doing portrait photos is looking behind the person

Sorry to sound harsh

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07/07/2008 21:23

Re: My portraits on Fickr

Yeah, I know what you mean. But I can always edit the background. I already airbrushed out the cupboard handles. I didn't have my backdrop then, either.

I always thought that the subject didn't have to be looking at the camera all the time?

Thanks for your opinion, though.

(enthusiast)

07/07/2008 21:57

Re: My portraits on Fickr

Quote:

Yeah, I know what you mean. But I can always edit the background. I already airbrushed out the cupboard handles. I didn't have my backdrop then, either.

I always thought that the subject didn't have to be looking at the camera all the time?

Thanks for your opinion, though.

TBH every time I've seen a Photographer taking portrait pic's there forever getting the sitter to look at the Camera or somewhere near even to the point of having an assistant to aid in this endeavour especially when shooting children who get easily distracted.

Technique aside i like the shot's you have of the kids that don't look staged....039, 069 as examples

I must admit on countless occasions looking at a shot and wondering how on earth i missed that in the frame, I think this comes with experience, A pro will automatically see the background without consciously looking and adjust accordingly..

It's easy to click off kids in their natural surroundings but as Fen says they become a big distraction, Props and a willing assistant is on the shopping list...At least you already have some excellent subjects

(BAD WOLF)

07/07/2008 22:10

Re: My portraits on Fickr

Quote:

Yeah, I know what you mean. But I can always edit the background. I already airbrushed out the cupboard handles. I didn't have my backdrop then, either.

Do you know how much time it takes to edit out a background, especially around the hair of the sitter! Trust me, much easier to get it right in the first instance. I remember loosing a weekend editing some photos for a client when I hadn't noticed a flowerpot in the background. A lot of the profit on that shoot went out of the window :carzy:

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07/07/2008 22:16

Re: My portraits on Fickr

Thank you for your comments, Donkey.

None of the ones of Harvey were posed. I didn't tell him how to look or pose. I was just shooting everytime I liked an expression he had on his face, or was doing something funny.

I was aware of the background most of the time, but I didn't have a plain background in their houses.

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07/07/2008 22:17

Re: My portraits on Fickr

Quote:

Quote:

Yeah, I know what you mean. But I can always edit the background. I already airbrushed out the cupboard handles. I didn't have my backdrop then, either.

Do you know how much time it takes to edit out a background, especially around the hair of the sitter! Trust me, much easier to get it right in the first instance. I remember loosing a weekend editing some photos for a client when I hadn't noticed a flowerpot in the background. A lot of the profit on that shoot went out of the window :carzy:

Tell me about it, lol. Yeah, I know it takes forever - that's why I didn't edit them all, lol.

(Pooh-bah Hoo-ha)

07/07/2008 22:26

Re: My portraits on Fickr

Quote:

I remember loosing a weekend editing some photos for a client when I hadn't noticed a flowerpot in the background. A lot of the profit on that shoot went out of the window :carzy:

(Bulls Hitter)

08/07/2008 09:46

Re: My portraits on Fickr

Quote:

Quote:

Yeah, I know what you mean. But I can always edit the background. I already airbrushed out the cupboard handles. I didn't have my backdrop then, either.

Do you know how much time it takes to edit out a background, especially around the hair of the sitter! Trust me, much easier to get it right in the first instance. I remember loosing a weekend editing some photos for a client when I hadn't noticed a flowerpot in the background. A lot of the profit on that shoot went out of the window :carzy:

I've no idea why you'd want to edit afterwards when it's not hard to get it right in the first place. If I were you I'd google "portrait photographer" and look at the portfolios of people who are already selling. See the ones whose style you like and try to work out why you like them and what they've done to achieve the end result.

If you're concentrating on children I'd say work with a longer focal length and just shoot as they play. Use a large aperture to spearate them from the background. Don't try following them, you'll only get the backs of their heads, just wait for the opportunity to come to you. Most of your shots fail because the kids aren't in a 'kiddy' environment. Standing next to a brick wall would work well for a moody teenager, but children work best when being shot playing. Take them down the park, shoot them jumping in puddles, that kind of thing.

Finally, learn to walk before you try to run. Portraiture is one of the hardest types of photography to learn. Follow the advice given above and post some on the Appraisal board for crits. That's the best way to learn.

(Hinkypuff)

08/07/2008 10:13

Re: My portraits on Fickr

The lighting's not too bad and you have some good expressions there, (Bill & Martha/Melissa) but yes you really need to think about the background and the aperture you use. Either a blank (set-up) background as in a formal portrait (and a wider aperture/greater distance between the subject and the background) or having the person in their natural environment (eg the dog could be nice but not with all that clutter in the background) Have a think about the composition too.

I didnt go past the first page but Lily and Jessica have some colour balance problems and are OOF.

(Hinkypuff)

08/07/2008 10:17

Re: My portraits on Fickr

Quote:

.

I was aware of the background most of the time, but I didn't have a plain background in their houses.

Then move them further away from the background and use a wider aperture. Or - shock horror - get them to go outside the house

Then the background automatically buggers off out of the way.

(Blue Peter Badge Winner)

08/07/2008 17:50

Re: My portraits on Fickr

I just tried to have a look but I think it must be set to private. I sent a flickr mail

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08/07/2008 18:47

Re: My portraits on Fickr

Quote:

I just tried to have a look but I think it must be set to private. I sent a flickr mail

I've sent you one back.

(enthusiast)

08/07/2008 19:01

Re: My portraits on Fickr

Coz your pic's are gone ???

(Blue Peter Badge Winner)

08/07/2008 19:15

Re: My portraits on Fickr

Quote:

Quote:

I just tried to have a look but I think it must be set to private. I sent a flickr mail

I've sent you one back.

Ditto :-P

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