Model 2 Shots

[GB1]

Another model from our shoot. She's taller and this really comes out in the shots. Comments and critiques welcome.

gb

[Anbesol]

She looks awkward and uncomfortable. The tilt of her eyebrows and her eyes make her look tense. The right hand looks very uncomfortable in the first.

The open under shot of her panties in the second one makes it look somewhat pornographic. I'm unsure of what to think about her boots, something about big floppy neutral gray boots (or pants for that matter) that just isn't doing it for me.

I'm sorry to say but I think the model is killing these shots, with her awkward expression, posture, and strange choice of apparel. Maybe the look is more understood in socal culture, but its lost with me.

[GB1]

Anbesol,

I'd have to agree. I really don't think this model was uncomfortable during the shoot but for whatever reason she does look it. Sort of the reverse of what you want: even if the model is uncomfortable, she should look like she's not (I am thinking of the models that do bikini shots on skis in the snow).

I'll have to check the other photographers' pix they post on the club website and see if she seems more relaxed in those. If so, I'll know it's something I did wrong to make her feel uncomfortable. Half the model shooting game is psychology.

I think even I can digitally remove her panties showing w/o too much trouble. I sneaked in this shot in the middle of another photographer's pose/setup with her.

Regarding her attire - I think a bit of the problem is that the clothes seem a bit too '20 year old' for her. I also immediately noticed that there wasn't enough contrast between her stockings and boots .......... The dressing room was too crowded at that pt to ask her to switch, & I'm not sure she had a better color combo.

Anyway ..

[jetrim]

This is a tough pair to disect what's leading to a less than stellar result. I absolutely agree w/ Anbesol about the model but also the first shot doesn't look particularly well planned out to start with. The cars, especially the one parked between her legs, are incredibly distracting and some sort of reflector (silver,white,gold,zebra) really needed to be at the lower right to bounce more fill in. The second shot is better but the lighting is VERY "plain vanilla". Looks like you guys set up a pair of high 7" reflector/low softbox with a 1/2 or 1/3 ratio and started snapping away. I don't mean to sound harsh, but if this was a class/workshop your instructor doesn't appear to have been doing their job very well

[chaman]

The model seems indeed out of place and the clothes are not what you would expect in her. I feel she is more of a mom kind of model. Some one i would seen modeling clothes for mature women, that kind of vibe.

[caleb]

+1 to that... more Real Housewives, less Hills

[GB1]

Ok guys, quit bitchin' ... (LOL)

I just checked the group's website and there were only 2 other images of her there. They look relatively the same, so maybe it wasn't only me. I guess this proves that the photographer should be involved in the clothing selection process.

Jet, we didn't bring a reflector since this was a studio shoot and the outdoors shots were ad hoc. Lighting as this isn't necessarily bad IMO, as not every shot needs to have dramatic or off-beat lighting. I can think of many incredible magazine shots of famous models or actors that have used lighting that is essentially the same as this. One thing that the instructor did mention however is that you never want the light source to be above the model, for it recreates the light you get from mid-day sun, which is universally accepted as unappealing. We didn't have the lights too high, but .... when she laid down like this I guess that indeed made them too high, as I don't believe they adjusted them. Our mistake! We're learning, though.

[jetrim]

Ok guys, quit bitchin' ... (LOL)

Seriously, it may not show but I agonized for a while before posting the critique, because I know how hard you're working on this stuff and how difficult I'm finding it to learn.

I guess this proves that the photographer should be involved in the clothing selection process.

The classes I'm taking now have gone into great depth regarding this. Our instructor has had us pre-plan EVERYTHING from hair and eye color, to wardrobe to accessories. It's a surprising amount of work. He also absolutely refuses to set up shoots with what he refers to as "hobby models" from places like MM and OMP.

One thing that the instructor did mention however is that you never want the light source to be above the model, for it recreates the light you get from mid-day sun, which is universally accepted as unappealing. We didn't have the lights too high, but .... when she laid down like this I guess that indeed made them too high, as I don't believe they adjusted them. Our mistake! We're learning, though.

Always a good thing to be able to take knowledge away from a shoot whether it worked out as planned or not. Regarding the key being high overhead, learn the rule, so you know when to break it! Some examples of really high centered key lighting amongst the shots here: http://olegigorin.blogspot.com/

[Greg McCary]

On number one I think the surroundings and lighting hurt it. The tree in the background seems to be growing out of her. But I like the second one. I ain't crazy about what she is wearing though and feel it needs a bit more light on her face. The background is very nice on the second one as well and I think her pose is fine.

[byjamesderuvoDHQ]

I think the subject is too dimmed from the background. Open the lens up a bit or use a fill flash to make her "pop." Otherwise, it just looks flat.

[GB1]

Thks for commenting. Jet, no reason at all to agonize over critiquing my work. I can assure you I have a pretty thick skin when it comes to art and photography. Now that I recall, the bottom shot was taken with on-camera flash, not w/ the strobes since the wireless triggers were both in use. This explains the shadows you see and the funky lighting.

I think your instructor is doing you a service in making you think out all the steps that go into a successful shoot. But I also think he's snobby in assuming (quite incorrectly, IMO) that all OMP and MM models are inferior. Indeed, many professional models with incredible portfolios are there. Anyway, I won't do their sales pitch for them ..

Greg, I see what you mean about the tree. See the above comment on the lighting on the studio image.. I guess it was a grab shot. I personally like her pose and her smile, but feel the outfit is out of place w/ her. With shots like this, straight on, there's not a lot of artsy arrangement .. Either the model has the looks and outfit to wow you, or she doesn't.

J, I was actually pretty far away shooting wide open (I believe) so to blur the background, and not within range of fill flash. It's a tough sell alright: a dark model against a very bright background. Like sailing against the wind

G