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As I am wont to say my I'm not really a portrait person, but what do you say when a friend's daughter you've know since she was a baby asks you if you'd take pics of her when she's dressed for her year 10 formal.

These are a few that came out OK despite my lack of portrait expertise.





...

Nice shots, was that an on-camera flash?

If so, how did you soften it so nicely?

Chris

Peter,

I'm sure the family and Emily will be happy with the shots. IMHO they certainly aren't up to your usual super high standard but as you said portraits aren't your thing. (I seriously have to question what Adam was thinking with that suit ).

Of the shots my favourite is the last, but could just be me but it seems to to be a little cool in respect to the WB.

#3 is probably my pick next, both seem a little more relaxed, but I'm not a fan of the hand in the pocket, particularly it skewing the jacket.

#1 I really like Adam's expression and the "glam soft" feel to it, shame Emily feels a little stiff or nervous in the shot

#2 Very nice shot, will definitely make the album

casnell wrote:Nice shots, was that an on-camera flash?

If so, how did you soften it so nicely?

Chris

Chris, Peter has a D2x so he doesn't have an onboard flash, he is often seen with a SB-800 and a Lightsphere II PJ on top to difuse it.. but he'll have to confirm if that was the setup.

Alpha_7 wrote:

casnell wrote:Nice shots, was that an on-camera flash?

If so, how did you soften it so nicely?

Chris

Chris, Peter has a D2x so he doesn't have an onboard flash, he is often seen with a SB-800 and a Lightsphere II PJ on top to difuse it.. but he'll have to confirm if that was the setup.

Sorry, by on board I meant using the hot-shoe, or was it on a bracket etc.and yes, did it have a diffuser of some sort. (I hate that little pop-up thing !)

Chris

Peter,
Craig has pretty well summed it up, but my pick is the first one, although I would have liked to see it in portrait orientation.
As for No.3, is that a gun in his pocket?

Chris, Craig, Phillip

Thanks for your comments. I really do need to get better at this portrait thing. Most of the shots I took of EMily & Adam are in landscape mode which begs the question why I didn't use portrait orientation for the pics

Chris - Craig is correct I used an SB800 with Lightsphere PJ to diffuse the light. To further soften these images and give a nice glow to the skin using PSCS2 I added a Nik Color Efex Classical Soft Focus filter selectively to the image leaving the eyes, mouth eyebrows and hair unaffected by the filter.

ahhh i was just about to ask if you retouched them..

with the LS2PJ, did you point direct like the card says? (i cant seem to understand how pointing it direct would yield much diffusion..)

but yes, nice shots.. great work in capturing the subject aswell as the surroundings.
where were they taken if you dont mind me asking?

-julz

Well done Peter. The soft pastel colours really make the shots. Very nice

Lovely shots, their familys will be so happy.
Hey...I had that suit....about 34 yrs ago !

A gorgeous quality to these images and your treatment has enhanced their impact.
cheers
marco

#3 is my pick for what has been mentioned.

Not wanting to sound rude, but she has a lot of bags under her eyes for a year 10 student. Me thinks she needs more sleep.

or less cramming of assessments the night before theyre due and/or in the wee hours of the day theyre due..

-julz