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carrio walker's picture

engagement photoshoot for a good friend of mine please critique

I'm pretty new to photography, I've been shooting for a bout 1.5/ 2 years and i like that there are other individuals that can provide me with great no biased help or critique on my work. I currently use adobe light room cc to do all of my post processing. this is my 1st time on this as as well as my 1st post! i hope you all like the pictures and constrictive criticism is most definitely welcomed

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14 Comments

Hi Carrio, I like your photos, in particular the first one. I think the second one is a bit dark, especially his eyes - maybe you could bring the shadows up a little? But I'm sure your friends were very happy with the pictures :)

thanks so much roberta. yeah the 2nd one i did notice a different in the shadows even it was in the same lighting. i favor the top photo as my favorite

I like the first one more as well, but they are both great. I agree with Roberta to lighten the shadows some. I think that they are just a bit thick, but honestly that is more my style talking then seeing something "wrong" with the image. Really nice work, keep on shooting like that and you'll build a nice client base in no time.

i really appreciate the humbling CC you all. im very pleased to say that the CC here amongst other pros /semipro/rookies really makes me feel that my work is on par with the hard work, time and money i put into my photography. im not sure why but i always feels that i need my work judged by my peers. not in a sense of validation but as a review to see if i missed anything from a photographers eye

I'm with you, but sometimes the CC is not what I wanted to read. :-)

you sir are quite correct

The bottom pic is OK. The top one is so much better because they are very smilie, their heads are closer together, her hair spreads out to fill his embrase, they fill the frame so they just seem to be a couple, rather than two individuals having a cuddle. And the shaddows have more fill-in light. I suspect your flash did not fire on the bottom pic. Luckily the top one is much better in every regards so nothing lost.

the top one the girl was holding the reflector with her off hand. and the bottom one i was having to wrestle with the reflector. i was with out my wife on this appointment so i was missing my assistant lol. but really thanks so much for the CC you all dont even understand how grateful i am for the honesty

That explains it. A simple stand and reflector arm might help next time your assistant/wife is unavailable or a flash system which allows high shutter speed sync flash triggering, of course, ideally with off camera capabilities and a soft box.

Nontheless the top shot is excellent. One to be very proud of.

thanks very much Ian. yeah i will def look into a stand and arm for the lone wolf shoots! i appreciate your advice and CC

When you can use an assistant the reflector will be better hand held, as the stand solution can need a weight/sandbag to stop wind blowing it away or off line. But it is a partial solution to not having an assistant, that works well much of the time.

I agree with others. I want to move only two new poits to the discussion, just to give some advice to make the secons image better.
1) the eyes. In the first, are well visible and the image works well, good job. In the second are completely black, this cause no connection with the observer. You have already talked about the reflector, so, maybe photoshop could save the second image..
2) the black and white. It needs two elements to work: the blacks and the whites. I think in the first they are well balanced and the contrast is quite good. In the second, there are too much greys to be a solid modern b&w, but also too much blacks to have a 50s look. So, make greys more white to go for a solid modern b&w, or keep the greys and make blacks lighter to go for the 50s look.
Maybe you can save the second, because composition is good..

i know this is a pretty simple question to answer. but can you get similar results using lightroom as a full work flow for post. Im talking about re touching and finalizing an image only in lightroom. I hear alot of people say that they go in to lightroom to adjust colors and then move it into PS for final edits. Im not sure what final edits are made in PS if you just completed your workflow in LR. im a newbie to PS so please be gentle! im just curious as to if im missing out on a wow factor in my photos. for example the 1st photo. i made all edits in LR only. if i was to move this over to PS what other steps are necessary. i want to try PS badly i just dont want to waste my time stumbling about

Yes you can do everything in lr! :) use brushes and other local adjustments :) try also with curves, they are so powerfull!