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always a pleasure to do a photoshoot out of the blue
this one was for Natalie Marsland an upcoming actress in theatre, she wanted some shots for her portfolio
just shot in a room with a couch sb800 on sc29, 28-70 f2.8 lens

we started off with the corny stuff like this:

f4 1/250, ISO100

then i took control and got a more sophisticated look which is what i like
shot at f2.8


shot at f4


this one looks as if she's a mermaid sleeping under water or something


some more here
http://www.zeduce.org/images/portraiture/Nat.htm

Very nice. Very professional looking. Lighting is great! I love the lighting in the last one. You should have taken her out for dinner she looks hungry in the first shot

Wendell

Nice work as usual here. I quite like #1 even if it is a little cliched. #4 is my next fave, but I also like the one image you didn't post

Sorry Wendell, but I don't find the framing / lighting of the shots to be very flattering to your model... From the first shot, it's obvious that she's a very pretty girl... Your subsequent shots don't bring that out however...
I can't help wondering how many of these will actually end up in her portfolio???

leek wrote:Sorry Wendell, but I don't find the framing / lighting of the shots to be very flattering to your model... From the first shot, it's obvious that she's a very pretty girl... Your subsequent shots don't bring that out however...
I can't help wondering how many of these will actually end up in her portfolio???

yourt right john
she's an actress she wanted more action shots which i did get but have not yet edited, chewing cord, dance poses etc.

but i thought at the time style was paramount since she had lots of standard portraits done previously

thanks adam and peter
4 is my fav too

Wendell, if truth be told, I actually like the first one the most. Corny it might be, but there's some personality there - the others just seem a bit too posed and staged for my tastes.

I think the next 3 are very interesting photos, but IMO do absolutely nothing for HER (ie: they're more for your benefit than hers).

I checked out the linked page. Similar story. The first 4, I love em all, but the "arty" ones leave me cold. IMO she is wasted on the "typical" arty fashion shoots.

Thanks for sharing though

Hi Wendell,

All great shots. The only one I don't like is No.2 - don't like the lighting/ DOF.

Alex

Wendell,

I have to say that I also like the personality in 1. She looks like she's quite a fun chick.

#2 is a tough one. There is a lot in the frame that is leading the eye to the bottom and when you get there it KERPOWS you in the face. I find it really bold, perhaps too blod which puts me off a bit. The step from face to out of focus body is too much for me.

3 and 4 are you trademarks and these work really well too. The colours are gorgeous.

You've nailed this lighting technique. Is this a snooted off camera sb800?

Wendell.

I'm afraid I don't think the model style shots suit the subject. Remember that this is an actor, not a fashion model... a different subject demands a different treatment regardless what the photographer likes.

The others of her work ok, and fit the subject matter better. They possibly lack a little of the dimension your achieving in your model style shots.

very nicely done, esp if it was unprepared

Whilst I like the subject and the lighting style, I still think your framing and composition is off.

I'm going to be different and say I don't like the second one due to the harsher lighting. The rest of them, while it may be a bit different in terms of composition, lighting and model pose, I like the end result. With every shoot you have mate, your lighting skills keep improving.

Can you share your tips about creating the light fallout effect (probably most evident by the first pic).

Wendell, I like #2 if cropped to just above the breast area...squarish format

i think the shots are great but the lighting feels too cold and doesn't suit her as an theatre actor. why not try a theatre theme?

i like them all.. nice saturation.. interesting.. and for me they give an insight into the ladies personality.

cheers

I like this first one, but thinks the composition can be altered a bit, or maybe a bit of cropping?

I like the compositions of the next 3 too, but just thinks the lighting could of been a little less full on, so maybe a little less flash compensation.

i’m with Stubbsy on the pic you did not post. These pics might look great in B&W with some softening as per the classic 1930/40s shots of the femme fatales of the day

thanks ofr the comments guys

Matt I did not use a snoot the light just looks narrow i nsome instances depending on the angle you hold the flash

MJ i see your point very clearly, this was a very casual shot nothing planned, though Nat opted for a certain style she grew to understand the imprtance of the more abstract ones, they show a certain feeling but usually if a client told me to shoot a certain way i would do it, less hassle for me at the end

redline: i suggested next time we shot in a backstage or stage scene with a real spotlight and proper outfits

Leigh mind if i ask what exactly is off regarding my composition i think i thoughtfully thought about framing and comp and used some artistic license
from textbook compositional rules, you have mentioned my comp is weak in several posts?

Number 1 for me, something about her smile

Wendel
Some nice shots there...I like the last most. I think you could have exploited that sensual red dress a bit more. That colour is a photographers dream!
I don't know if you have ever heard of a photographer called Christian Vogt ...probably well before your time, but look at what he does with this shade of red
http://www.christianvogt.com/archive.ph ... &current=7