Mary Sue C & C Please

[HeatherLou]

A friend called me yesterday, wanted me to do some pics of her for her dating website. Shes a great lady, 65, pretty well to do and can tell you off and still sound as sweet as anything!

These are really the first time I have shot outside and kinda had a clue, so let me know what I could have done better. They were shot jpg (I was trying to help my workflow along) but its not something Im going to continue, Raw is my friend! All were shot at f4 and AV mode. But they seemed really dark to me, so I did a brightness/contrast layer (dont ask me HOW I did it LOL) SOooooo, Any comments would be very helpful! Thanks HHG

[SaundraU]

Not bad....the first one has a little to much shadow on one side of her face.

I love the one of her and her dog the best, its friendly and open.

[wyatt]

Perhaps your camera was metering on the sky/bright background instead of the subject, therefore: dark. Try to shoot in the shade (or some kind of overhang etc) with some fill from a reflector or flash so you don't have squinty eyes/ dark sockets/ harsh shadows/ hot high lights, umm, generally speaking of course. If you think about how we light in the studio, we use light coming from the side kinda, shooting in the shade with some help mimics that to a degree. Now you got white balance adjustment to make 'cus you are in the shade (cool) and shooting with flash (neutral) or a reflector (could be warm). Late afternoon when the sun is low is a good thing.
Wyatt

[HeatherLou]

Thanks Saundra and Wyatt!

Wow 100 views and no one has anymore advice for me?

[Glassman]

I like the last one best, I am not a ps expert but I modified it a little.

[lhdvies]

Originally Posted by Heatherlou

Thanks Saundra and Wyatt!

Wow 100 views and no one has anymore advice for me?

Hey Heather, that means only 3 out of 100 feel they could do it better. Good work I'd say.

[HeatherLou]

Hahahahahaha Leon I guess so! That should make me feel good huh? LOL

Glassman, I like the edit on the dog, Looks Great, thank you!

[PeteArnold]

Hey, nice work !!!

The lady's kinda squinting in a couple of shots. If you can shoot in less direct light, you can avoid a lot of that. If not, a diffuser panel (kinda like a semi-sheer curtain panel on a stand) will cut down on the brightness in the eyes - squint factor.

Light at the back or back/side is usually best outside, and use fill flash and reflectors to light the face.

It's sure a lot easier to do at shoot time than in PS, I think !!!

Love the dog shot !!! Methinks that's the real heart of the lady !!!
See ya,
Pete