Critique Thread for Photographers

KaylaRyder's Avatar
These are pics from my photo shoot on Thursday.. I am not happy with the images but I didn't tell the photographer.. need other opinions, please help.. are these pro quality?
Thankyou in advance xoxoxoxox


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KaylaRyder's Avatar
IMO

all the blurs are terrible, the blur should be just of my face not hair and all over.. I think the blur was done messy

First photo.... I looked hunched over the way im posed I you cant see my waist line or that I have a but..

Second photo...the pose is totally off, u cant see any curve in my body and I have one boob lol

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Third photo...my boobs look totally crooked, the photographer should have had the eye to fix my bra or the pose
Helping out. FIFY - First photo....
I looked hunched over the way im posed I you cant see my waist line or that I have a but
And again. FIFY -
Second photo...the pose is totally off, u cant see any curve in my body and I have one boob lol
ben dover's Avatar
Just so you all know i'm the offending photographer. Feel free to give opinions..always willing to learn.
JONBALLS's Avatar




yah , but this is really what a guy is going to see during the appointment

unless trisha is going to majicly be able to stay in some sort of perfect pose and light

to accentuate her hip line......


id be pissed if the pics were anyway somehow "better" than this

then i actually see this in person.....and paying ......uhhhh noa
john_deere's Avatar
well...this is a situation i never expected to see, where both the shooter and the shoot-ee were here. so it's delicate, but i won't mince words. i was asked to give some feedback, so here goes.....

in general, these look like images of an inexperienced model taken by a photographer who had some good instincts but failed for various reasons to totally pull it off.

now, the model....it is what it is. posing is a talent, just like singing or dancing, and some have more of it than others.

regardless, it's a professional photographer's job to see and understand how talented and comfortable a girl is within the first few minutes of a job, because you gotta dance with the girl you brung, right?

it's also your job to:

pose the girl in the most flattering yet natural way.

pay attention to details like a wonky bra strap.

pay attention to the background so it's uncluttered, straight, etc.

process the photos effectively...clean up flower petals on the floor, blurs, etc.

of the 3 images, the 3rd is most successful because it's mostly squared away...boobs being what they are, you should've seen that and known your girl wouldn't be thrilled, then taken steps to solve the issue as best as possible given her anatomy. i mean, lets be honest...those aren't bolt-ons, and they ain't gonna stand up straight on their own, nice as they are. a bra adjustment would've helped, but she could've done the "arm squeeze" to push 'em up a bit with some coaching from behind the lens.

the pose in #2 isn't bad, but angling her more in the frame would be more dynamic, and her foot shouldn't be buried in the pillow.

#3 is a good shot design, it just needs work. that's one where the slightest pose shift can make or break the image.

all of these look like f/11 or so...there's no artistry in that. try 5.6.

i hate blurs and i tell girls up front i don't do them. instead, i protect their anonymity with pose adjustments and crops. but, that's a decision between shooter and model.

i hope this helps both of you. if you have questions, don't hesitate. it's late and i'm cross-eyed.
ben dover's Avatar
Ok great response.
The bra strap.. she was fiddeling around for minutes pulling here tucking there every pose took 3-4 minutes so when she settled I released the shutter. I'm sure she was nervous but it was taking forever to get the shots.

Background was tough, VERY small hotel room, stuff in the way,had to sit on the air conditioner to get any DOF.

Blurs.. I don't like a solid dot like blur so I use the Lasso and feather 5-8 pxls. I don't like blurs either and funny thing I sent her the blurred ones first and she wanted unblurred ones so not sure why she posted these. I've shot hiding the face and at least for me it's hard to get a natural look most of the time, when I get a pose I like then tell the model "ok turn your head away" it screws up the image. The petals on the floor were a struggle and I should have cleaned them up in PS.

#3 Again the poses were tough she never stopped moving.

I actually shot mostly 5.6, even with my lights the room was dark and had a ton of falloff, the only good part was a fair amount of ambient coming through the window early in the shoot. Wasn't too concerned with DOF most models or guys don't care what's behind the model. As I said sitting on the AC and was still only 3 feet away.

I use continuous lights because hauling strobes to hotel rooms is a pain and i've broke some in the past, not the greatest but... The shoot started late ended late and I did the initial editing at 4 am just to get something to her. Anyway thanks for looking. BD
KaylaRyder's Avatar
Lol... love the excuses... yes I was nervouse and he knew I had never posed or modeled before that is no reason to deliver a product like this... he also knew he would be shooting at my hotel room ( wich was an average size room at the Hampton ).. I asked to be posed in a way my face wouldn't need to be blurred and I was told it would be to unnatural for him to be able to get a good looking photo.. the whole time during the shoot I kept asking where I should have my hand and how I should pose, he gave no direction without me asking multiple times.. I also never begged for the photos to be returned right away so I'm not sure why he would be in a rush to edit..
john_deere's Avatar
there are of course three sides to every story, and i'm sure both of you have valid issues, but i hope this does not turn into a back-and-forth between the two of you because this isn't the place.

i will say this… as a photographer i have learned over time that there are things you can control and things that you cannot. the things you cannot control, however, are usually things experience tells you ahead of time are likely to be a factor.

for example… hotel rooms are always small, there is never enough light, the hooker will always be late, and she will always weigh 10 more pounds than she says she weighs.

girls in general are always going to be wishy-washy about their photos, and it is never, ever a good idea to promise same-day delivery. if you are serious about your work, and the model is serious about having good photos, then everyone should be okay with at least a week.
Iaintliein's Avatar
I spend a lot of time in hotel rooms and have often thought about how I'd shoot in one. A normal sized room is way too small to shoot full length without getting barrel distortion that will add the appearance of more bulk (I'd use the "lens distortion" option in Photoshop to at least partially correct for).

But even doing less than full length more directional lighting would be better. I have one of these and would set it up, maybe straddling the bed even, and use it with super clamps to hold speed lights: http://www.ebay.com/itm/PHOTOGRAPHIC...item4d2edce835

Get some of these and some duct tape to make snoots: http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/...et-2mm-232637/

As for showing curves, besides what JD mentioned on posing, black clothing is going to make it more difficult since it takes light against dark areas to show depth. I'd suggest something lighter without going too bright n white. That combined with directional lighting would show curves better.

Most ladies tend to wear outfits that are just too tight. A loose see through teddy can be manipulated in Photoshop to hide nipples etc. and avoid the "muffin" look. Even the strategic use of the sheet while nude would be good.

I think posing hands is probably the weakest talent most photographers have, I know it's one of my many weak points. When in doubt, have something in your hand (preferably not a breast). Holding the flowers on the bed would have been a better use for them, especially holding one by the stem and covering the nipple with it rather than a "hand bra".

Ladies should study posing I think, not just for photos but for their profession, the same elements that make a good photographic pose make a great first impression when opening the door, or walking into a room full of people.

Certainly a photographer thinks more about posing, but it's like going to a doctor or most other things, being an educated consumer usually means you are a more satisfied customer.
john_deere's Avatar
you can get full length on a 50mm in a normal hotel room, but your back will be against the wall. literally.

and all you need for directional light is to open the curtains.
CCphoto's Avatar
Hello, I'll introduce myself as a photographer from the Nashville area.
I am a commercial photographer mostly dealing in fashion and art fashion/nude.

I love the idea of shooting in my style with escorts or real people that want to look beautiful. I am a complete newbie though in this community.

Here are a couple of samples of what I do.
Also posting here to learn how to put an image in a post. Remember, this is my first post. CC is always welcome. I have tough skin and appreciate feedback good or bad.

Photos are of clients but not escorts. (IMG tag not working)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dww8mj724u...-0195.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/500zk7tzf5...lm002.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/eqwtvg1970...-Edit.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r0ms1a4el4...-Edit.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/z5w39b4mfj...-Edit.jpg?dl=0

More on my website: charleschristoph.tumblr.com

Thanks for looking.
I thought his thread was very interesting. I like to take pictures of my ladies. Mostly in bedrooms or hotel rooms. Any tips for better pictures? Mine are usually hit or miss. Mostly misses. I know that lighting is an issue. The flash is harsh. Any thoughts? Other than retaining you for a portfolio. Lol!
Iaintliein's Avatar
CCphoto,
The best way I've found to post photos here is right click; save image location, then paste that into the pop up when hitting the "insert picture" button here on eccie. Those are some well executed images you've posted. Personally I'm not a fan of the somewhat washed out contrast look that is very popular now (and back in the 70's) but you carried it off very well in the first two.

As long as I'm here I'll post a couple more of Dallas Bella since who knows when I'll get to shoot again.

Two shots, same lighting, 1x5 strip box above and behind, another low and in front with a 7" grid for the hair light (blocked by my big but in the second image). First is flat but pleasing light, while walking around gave a better idea of her great curves.

D300+ 30mm Sigma 1.4 (~5.6 -8 or so) + tiffen soft fx2, detail contrast boosted with Topaz Detail plug in.