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Hello,

Well I've completed my first commercial shoot and it went well. Many thanks to Taro for being my wingman on the day, without him we would not have found this new location.

Ok, so on to the shots. I've PP'd these - the client has taken unprocessed versions to do with what he wishes.
I would appreciate brutally honest C&C on these. Most lighting was natural with a reflector. The only one where I tried something different was the 2nd one - strong lighting to produce a heavy shadow.






Cheers

Matt,

Very good work here.

#1 just works.

#2 ... I like it, but I'd have preferred to have seen it shot in portrait mode, includiong the model's feet, and his shadow head. I'm not at all concerned about the blown highlights, but I feel that composition could be better as I've noted.

#3. Feet. Again.



#4 like #1, it just works.

Great stuff. I how that your client is as satisfied as I suspect you may be.

Great work for your first commercial shoot

the natural light on the first one works well as the tones are more neutral and urban

but for impact the strong lighting on the 2nd one appeals to me more as it seems more art directed than the others, establishing the mod is important for this kind of urban wear

the 3rd one i would crop tighter unless there was more interest in the background like grafitti or something

but since i know what's involved with working with models outside of a studio environment you did extremely well as you have to think about the presentation of the fashion

did you use the 1 sb800 for the 2nd image the lighting is strong it must of been dark at the time you took it

Great work, Matt. They all work for me. No. 2 works less than the others, but still does! You should be very happy with these.

Alex

These look great. #1, #3 and #4 all work for me.
The only one I can find anything to comment on in the way of criticism is #2. I don't like the placement of the models arms. They seem stiff and at an unnatural angle. The lighting is great, and the set up is great, but the arms seem to stick out for me.

Thanks for the comments guys.

I think I was trying too hard to take shots that could be used quite variedly - for example 1 and 3 could all accommodate text to promote the brand right and top respectively. The more I look at 3 the more his feet not being in it annoys me.

Number 2 is the one that appeals to me the most because it was so different from the rest of the shoot. I broke from the natural lighting and had Taro hold the sb800 about 6 feet away from the model - it was broad daylight.

I agree about the unnatural position of his arms Suzanne - it does draw the eye.

Sorry to add another picture into the post, but how is this one in comparison?
I got him to pretend he was in the glare of headlights:

like them all.. well done!

cheers

Matt, like them all though I think 1 suffers ever so slightly from the doorway being right beside his neck. It takes just a little away from the composition

Great work Mate, you did well....
I only have a few small reccomendations.
In image #1,
Get rid of the white mark on the far right of the image, its too distracting. Also get rid of the small white line between the models body and his left arm, its too bright. And maybe lighten under his chin just a fraction, as it looks like his chin diappears into his neck.
In image #2,
As stated it would have been good to see the feet, and for me I would have tried to keep the top of the shadows head also (thats just me).
I think its a bit too light in his face area and atiny bit on the t-shirt, but for fashion this is ok. I also feel the pose is just a little stiff.
In image #3,
Great shot I like it a lot. I would have tried to get the feet in this shot too, but thats not too important. Cant decide about the logo on the box he is sat on, wheter to keep ir remove (thats one for you to decide). Final very small detail, In the right edge near the middle, I would remove the white marks, they just distract a little, especially the one right at the edge.
This is a great pose....
In image #4,
Try to keep just a little bit more space above his head, I think its just a bit too close to the top of the image (again very picky...).
And clone out the visible part of his right hand just behind the leg. Would look much better with just the b/g showing.
The above suggestions are just my opinion so I dont want people telling me my suggestions are wrong...
Overall great stuff, you did well.
The client will be very happy.

Matt

I have little to add to what's already been said other than to say #1 and #4 work best for me, but the standout shot for me is the "glare from the headlights" one you've just added.

hi

i just do not want to add the same comment as the other so i will comment on this

1 i really like what you have done with the tones, very nice pp. i also like the lighting on n2 and the pose of the last one.

2. the model looks relax and confortable. a pro?

3. location was execelent.

thanks for sharing your work

christian

nice shots, that guy like "one face" expresion i guess. the venue is cool too. i like the light work on the last one u psoted. :thumbsup:

Wow - I love this last one.

Matt
I like the background colours and texture and the general setting. I think your model is not connecting with the camera....I'd like to see him less static. Maybe some kind of prop is required so that he is doing something with his hands? A big grey Belgian floppy- eared rabbit or something else quirky. And maybe an item with a strong primary colour to pop off the background. An old fashioned bright red childs 2 wheeler scooter or something. Overall I think your client will be happy and the last shot has the most energy. It works very well.

Matt,

Great work. I'm sure your client will be very happy with these. Number 4 is a great shot and the headlights glare shot is a cracker. Well done.

Good stuff, how did you feel once you started shooting?

Did the butterflies flock off and you feel OK about it?

Nice textures it's better not to crop to close on commercial shoots leave space for designers to adjust and add text etc just give them a good range of options but you can always come in closer it is harder to add more background to a photo.

You are shooting for them not for you.

I would have liked to see a direct at camera look but again it depends on the client.

Well done!

Thank you very much everyone.

The model was very nervous, I think this was his second time of modeling which was good because the nervous amateur was immediately him in the situation - making me a lot more comfortable.

It was nerve racking until the end, and indeed until the client saw the shots, but I did relax into more as soon as the first couple of shots came out ok.

The client didn't want direct look at camera shots - wanted them more natural, as in going about your day to day loiterings in an alleyway! It was difficult trying to figure out 300 shots worth of different "natural not staged" shots that's for sure. I definately need to work on my direction I think.

I agree about the props Matt - the scooter is a cool idea. ANd I guess the women would like a handsome guy with muscles stroking a cute bunny rabbit.