[C&C] Only more cute? (Children's portfolio shoot)

Fenster

Or just bland? I've thoroughly enjoyed working with children in photography, but I'm wondering if I'm just churning out one unremarkable (albeit cute) portrait after another. My most recent shoot was for a child's modeling portfolio - the shots here aren't necessarily the ones used for the portfolio, but instead the cutsey images for me to show off to the public. I'm barely even processing them! #2 was converted to black and white and #3 has a Lightroom filter applied. The rest just had minor cloning, straightening and white balance adjustments:

http://www.newworldphotos.net/blog/archives/1206/

kjt

Hey Mark,
The last few photos you've been posting up haven't been doing anything for me (I forget how much people like honesty on here) but those first three + #5 photos are far superior to your last few posts.

I'm in no way a portrait specialist (sure I'm only really getting into it) but you've really brought out a lot of different looks for such a young 'model'. It's great work! 1,2,3,5 are absolute keepers in my opinion, the rest a bit meh.

I hope work is going well for ya,
Keep them coming!

Fenster

(thank you for the honesty!)

Crispin

No. 2 is just suberb!

1&5 are great too! really good!

Number 3 is a mixture for me, I don't like the pose in 3 but the idea for the steps is a great one. When I look at it I feel the kid looks over posed, and a tad uncomfortable and it's a bit of a weird pose imo. A more relaxed look would have made this super too.

Number 7 again the pose seems a bit out of place for a kid, the kid looks uncomfortable to me.

I think the rest seem ok but not exciting.

oshead

Thats funny. I was thinking the same myself as kjt so didn't bother commenting. I do like these more.

I have a young girl about the same age as the pretty girl in these images. I know how difficult it can be to take photos of young children in an interesting way. You have to connect with them on their terms. If you don't it shows in the photos as being too contrived and unnatural. Also, it can be difficult to critique the images when such a pretty little girl is the subject. They all look real nice and I'm sure her parents and relations will love them. But, should a little girl be posed or just should they just do their own thing?

Form a more critical :rolleyes: POV, No's 2 and 3 are the only keepers IMO. The rest don't work well as a set. Maybe as one off photos. Poses are too similar and there is no consistency in the post production/color treatment throughtout. But you probably know that and I'd say it was even your intention.

David OS

smelltheglove

Mark, if they were pics of my kids I'd be delighted. Number 2 is a favourite of mine that I often do myself but I dont really have the love or patience to photograph children even if I am a mammy, if you enjoy it keep it going and with results like these you could do very well. Give me a wedding any day though;)

I love the last one, may be the best of the bunch for me.

CabanSail

I do like that you are trying to do things a bit differently.

Here are my comments.

#1 Lovely pose on the lass. I just find the yellow in the background keeps pulling my eye to it rather than the child. A tighter crop may well improve this shot.

#2 Really like this one. The highlights on the hair are nice (though some may complain they are burnt out) Nice use of DOF. Well done.

#3 This one is my pick of the bunch. Well composed & I like the fact that the lass is doing more than just sitting there, it adds a a bit of tension to the shot.

#4 Does nothing for me. The side of the face is burnt out & there is nothing special about the expression.

#5 The Mono shot above shot at the same time works for me whereas this one doesn't. While being one for breaking the rules I think this shot really needs eye contact.

#6 Nice and sharp on the eyes but the background is quite distracting. Fine as a family shot but not a strong image for me.

#7 Another good shot, trying something different. This one works without the eye contact. Well composed & posed. Could do with a bit more contrast in you Mono Conversion.

#8 As a family snap this would be fine but it doesn't really do a lot for me. The highlights of the sky draw the eye out of the shot.

So 2,3 & 7 are the the shots that do it for me.

Borderfox

2 and 3 are superb and the rest are really nice too, nice bit of work when you can get it

Fenster

Crispin wrote: »

No. 2 is just suberb!

1&5 are great too! really good!

Number 3 is a mixture for me, I don't like the pose in 3 but the idea for the steps is a great one. When I look at it I feel the kid looks over posed, and a tad uncomfortable and it's a bit of a weird pose imo. A more relaxed look would have made this super too.

Number 7 again the pose seems a bit out of place for a kid, the kid looks uncomfortable to me.

I think the rest seem ok but not exciting.

Not putting down the rest of anyone's feedback, but I have to say that beyond putting her in place with regard to the light, the girl posed herself.

oshead

Fenster wrote: »

Not putting down the rest of anyone's feedback, but I have to say that beyond putting her in place with regard to the light, the girl posed herself.

Well maybe you should've put that in the original post and removed C&C from the title. Save us all the bother.

Fenster

oshead wrote: »

Well maybe you should've put that in the original post and removed C&C from the title. Save us all the bother.

Yeah yeah, you all had some very good advice about backdrop and presentation.

quilmore

+1 to all said about #2 and #3

your jpegs are stripped, can you please let us know lens and f-stop? that should be enough for me

Fenster

quilmore wrote: »

+1 to all said about #2 and #3

your jpegs are stripped, can you please let us know lens and f-stop? that should be enough for me

I need to figure out just how they are getting stripped, but... EF 50mm f/1.8 II stopped down to between f/3.5 and f/1.8 for the purposes of the headshots, a EF 28mm f/2.8 for some of the closer shots and an EF-S 17-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM for the balance.

mikeanywhere

For a portfolio, only 1 & 3 would be good enough with different processing & pose for #3. I also really like the expression in #2 but the processing kills the image for me. It also seems like the images are soft, are you applying any sharpening to them??

The others are ok for general shots.

How was the shoot directed ie parents giving direction or did you do it all yourself??

I appreciate it isn't easy for us armchair pushers to sit and give criticism when its you on site doing everything with the child etc.

It would also seem you have found your (new) calling too

Fenster

Get your arse on MSN, Irish.

Fenster

...and he's in bed. I would break down the posing to 50/30/20 - 50% my poses (lying on the ground and behind the wall), 30% of the child's, poses and 20% of the parents posing.

sineadw

I absolutely LOVE 2 and 5. Really really beautiful, and I love the processing. 3 the pose is just 'off' to me. Maybe its my filthy mind, but it looks almost like a glamour pose. Sorry. The others seem a bit soft? Or just don't have the wow factor.

Seriously though, 2 and 5 are stunning.

/armchair photographer

Fenster

Sinead, I've had that said a lot about #3. I'm still not sure if I will use it (or push its use). #2 in color:

TequilaMockingBird

I love number 2, in B&W or colour.

I'm a mammy, and have no idea about photography, but if I was paying for photos, I would prefer if the child looked more relaxed. Not as posed and just playing around. Otherwise I think the photos are great, just relax a bit maybe?

I really love the B&W number 2 though.

mikeanywhere

#2 looks tons better in colour and I am on MSN now if you want to chat