Need Critique from a Professional

Poor lighting?

  • Yeah, pretty bad.

    Votes: 3 50.0%

  • Bad, but fixable.

    Votes: 1 16.7%

  • Looks good to me.

    Votes: 2 33.3%
  • Total voters
    6
elvenom

elvenom

Messages
7
Name
eden
Edit My Images
No
Hi,

My name is Eden and I'm a singer; not a photographer. I'm posting here because I'd like some opinions the attached photos that were taken of me last weekend.

I know alot can be done in post, but 90% are very dark and I believe I was poorly lit. I didn't see him use a reflector for the natural light shots, he never used a light meter, and of the photos that were on the backdrop, the lights I recall the lights being pretty low. I'm over 30 and told him straight out, "Hey, I'm not 25 anymore. My face always looks bigger on camera;I need angles and I need lots of light." LOL. I had a stylist there who took shots with her iPhone and I swear, her phone images look better than the raw photos I paid $800 for.

The work on his website is beautiful, but what he's done with me is not good. Before I say anything to the photographer, I'd like some feedback from those of you who are professionals, as I don't want to criticize him unnecessarily.

These are all low res, unedited proofs. I'm hoping someone can have a look and tell me what's wrong here. For contrast, of the last three shots, the first two were taken with the iPhone and the last one was done outside where it was really sunny. Markedly better. I look almost like a different person; skin tone and everything. Even my profile photo -- one I took myself with no lighting equipment standing by a window and not photoshopped -- is better than these. I don't get it. :( Thanks in advance..

16106-1470678512-bf8dcb3972793e4b69883e6a753747c6.jpg
16108-1470678627-f5eab0ae82c261eac6da865020adc821.jpg

16109-1470678798-c96a5b75d5c11f3b283243400929ae65.jpg
16097-1470675618-fa0bee2ca97c3d5c80fc3b0591ae1555.jpg
16107-1470678614-d58c03695b6d02fa0acc31e77f44a120.jpg

16101-1470675880-c0034d5bab60e84eef90036cd9a4a987.jpg
16100-1470675833-705f19f847e10b1628323abcd0b423d3.jpg

16103-1470676794-d41bb81bc9ef764f91593904178bcebf.jpg

 
Last edited:
Raw photos don't look good out of camera, there's nothing that would alarm me about these, especually if you've liked his previous finished work. Photographers have different styles if you look at people like dani diamond who shoot for their style of post work and post before and afters you'll see what a difference it can make. If you're worried speak to him and ask if he can provide a finished image as an example.
 
Last edited:
Thank you all. I've never seen raw images of myself that looked this way. They just seem super dark and shadowy, albeit to my untrained eye. My skin is actually a lot lighter than it appears in the first few photos. Also this is the first time Ive had my photo taken where no light test or reflectors were used. I guess I'll wait for the edited images before I work myself up into a lather.
 
Even as unedited proofs I can see why you're disappointed

But I'd defo wait for the finished edited images before throwing your teddy out :)

I never show a client anything but the edited images, except maybe on the back of the camera to encourage them and make sure the shoot is heading in the right direction

Dave
 
Difficult to say how they will end up... but they do not look exactly promising.
None of them shout singer to me Or even entertainer come to that.
He does not seem to have put a great deal of effort in so far.But time may tell.
 
I'm of mixed opinion... 2 & 4 I quite like.

1 & 3 are under exposed. I think the main light (camera left) is a bit low (angle). And in #1 I think the lighting ratio is off, it's a good thing it is underexposed otherwise the brighter skin would have blown out... that said, they are easily fixable in terms of exposure/lighting.

#5 I would bin.
 
I think it's pretty disgusting for photogrpahers to critique another photogrpahers work when he hasn't asked for it and isn't here to defend himself...

If the OP has a problem with the pics and seems to know more about photogrpahy than letting on then she should speak to them.. All your doing is giving her ammunition she can then go to the photogrpaher and tell him she has got profesional advice (as asked in the subject) from talk photography
 
KIPAX said:
I think it's pretty disgusting for photogrpahers to critique another photogrpahers work when he hasn't asked for it and isn't here to defend himself...

If the OP has a problem with the pics and seems to know more about photogrpahy than letting on then she should speak to them.. All your doing is giving her ammunition she can then go to the photogrpaher and tell him she has got profesional advice (as asked in the subject) from talk photography
Click to expand...

Actually, I don't know alot about this stuff at all. I did alot of reading on photography when I bought a used Nikon D200 a few yrs back and realized I was over my head lol. As mentioned, I've been photographed enough times to notice a marked difference. I wouldn't have come here if I already knew the answer to my question.

I have no plans to use anyone's opinion as ammo against the photographer. He's actually a nice guy and it's awkward for me. If it turns out I don't use these I'll just take the loss and find someone else, unfortunately. I just wanted to know if my instincts were right about the lighting, so at the very least, I know what to look for and discuss with the next person I choose. Thanks again, everyone.
 
Last edited:
elvenom said:
so I know what to look for and discuss with the next person I choose.
Click to expand...

You don't though. You don't need to be talking or thinking about light meters, reflectors, and "needing lots of light". You need to find a photographer you trust and then discuss with them what you are looking for. By that I mean the end product and its purpose, not what random accessories you think they should be using to do their job (a job you admit you don't understand).

Hire someone you trust, tell them what you want, let them do their job.
 
You're right, I don't know enough to have an intelligent dialogue, and I dont want to have to worry about the technical stuff. Just trying to figure out how to avoid this scenario the next time around. What question didnt I ask, you know? In addition to what *I* believe are poor photos, I also didnt get many of the shots on my must have list. More than anything I'm angry with myself.
 
Last edited:
elvenom said:
You're right, I don't know enough to have an intelligent dialogue, and I dont want to sorry about the technical stuff. Just trying to figure out how to avoid this scenario the next time around. What question didnt I ask, you know? In addition to what *I* believe are poor photos, I also didnt get many of the shots on my must have list. More than anything I'm angry with myself.
Click to expand...

you had a stylist, did they do the makeup? seems to be a hell of a lot of skin shine that really could have been dealt with in pre-processing i.e. the makeup - wait for the finished shots or ask for 1 to be fully processed before judging - as to not getting the shots you want, why was this? lack of time, lasck of communication ?

Mike
 
I'm not going to critique the pictures other than to say that it's possible that they could nearly all - after processing - become perfectly nice shots, regardless of any errors at the time of taking them.
What I sometimes do is process one from each set so my subject has an idea of how things will look and only then ask them to make their selection.

Perhaps you could get your photographer to do the same? I suggest choosing your shots on the basis of your pose and expression - and add a friendly comment that some seem a bit dark to you.

Few photographers use light meters so don't let that worry you. As for reflectors - if I didn't feel the need to use one to create a particular mood then I wouldn't.

$800 is a lot of money, though. I think you have every right to be discerning. Do post back when you get some finished images.
 
mike weeks said:
you had a stylist, did they do the makeup? seems to be a hell of a lot of skin shine that really could have been dealt with in pre-processing i.e. the makeup - wait for the finished shots or ask for 1 to be fully processed before judging - as to not getting the shots you want, why was this? lack of time, lasck of communication ?

Mike
Click to expand...

He was provided with a digital vision board a month in advance. I then printed out the photos and brought them on set and laid them out. Idk what else I could have done. Here's a pic of me taken with my cell phone with the same makeup on 3 hours after the shoot. I dont look greasy here, I think. Hence, my confusion.
16126-1470752262-b095173923ef74a0fbaf97a20fd03617.jpg
 
Last edited:
elvenom said:
He was provided with a digital vision board a month in advance. I then printed out the photos and brought them on set and laid them out. Idk what else I could have done. Here's a pic of me taken with my cell phone with the same makeup on 3 hours after the shoot. I dont look greasy here, I think. Hence, my confusion.
16126-1470752262-b095173923ef74a0fbaf97a20fd03617.jpg
Click to expand...

You look shiney (I never said greasy) and there is a large difference between having makeup on and having makeup on to be photographed.

Mike
 
juggler said:
What I sometimes do is process one from each set so my subject has an idea of how things will look and only then ask them to make their selection....

Perhaps you could get your photographer to do the same? I suggest choosing your shots on the basis of your pose and expression - and add a friendly comment that some seem a bit dark to you.

$800 is a lot of money, though. I think you have every right to be discerning. Do post back when you get some finished images.
Click to expand...

He sent me 600 photos and told me to pick five for editing. I'll post back once I have the finals. Thank you all!
 
mike weeks said:
You look shiney (I never said greasy) and there is a large difference between having makeup on and having makeup on to be photographed.

Mike
Click to expand...

Gotcha. I thought I looked a little greasy in the raw images lol.
 
KIPAX said:
I think it's pretty disgusting for photogrpahers to critique another photogrpahers work when he hasn't asked for it and isn't here to defend himself...
Click to expand...
Why? We frequently discuss/critique/form opinions of other's work... w/-w/o them being involved in "the discussion."
IMO, the main issue/concern in this situation is the "validity" and "relevance" of the opinions expressed on a forum. Anyone can say anything and that doesn't make it right, wrong, valid, nor relevant... it's just an opinion...
 
I should have noted that it is not unusual for a photographer to purposely underexpose a raw image, knowing what they want to do with editing it in post (i.e. to ensure they don't loose highlights/whites).
 
sk66 said:
Why? We frequently discuss/critique/form opinions of other's work... w/-w/o them being involved in "the discussion."
IMO, the main issue/concern in this situation is the "validity" and "relevance" of the opinions expressed on a forum. Anyone can say anything and that doesn't make it right, wrong, valid, nor relevant... it's just an opinion...
Click to expand...

It doesn't seem entirely fair to critique someone else's unfinished work without knowledge of their working methods.
 
juggler said:
It doesn't seem entirely fair to critique someone else's unfinished work without knowledge of their working methods.
Click to expand...
Certainly not in the context of "final results." But, I do think it is quite possible to evaluate a raw image and have a very good idea of what the possible/probable results are... However, it is a very weak position to judge a delivery of 600 images based upon only 5.

IMO 4 of the 5 are/will/can be quite nice... I believe that's what I said.
 
Last edited:
Speaking as someone who doesn't earn a living from photography, it looks to me like he's chosen to try to bring out character, hence the lighting etc. Even so, it's a little surprising that he sent everything without culling those that have obvious flaws, but if he only needs to process 5 images then he could afford to spend significant time correcting issues.
 
These are unfinished photos. It's like critiquing a chef based on the cake mixture and not the cake :) With the exception of the two middle BTS shots, all of these could be polished in post to an acceptable level. "Professional" is a sliding scale, too. There are plenty of "professional builders" whose results aren't exactly as one might expect.
 
Of course the photographers website / portfolio looks great - all the images on there will have been post processed / retouched. Like Denyerec said above, it's a little unfair to judge Raw files, when they are just a 'recipe' waiting to be finished.

I retouch for a living, and trust me - I've had a lot of Raw files worse than this, that have ended up looking great. Hopefully you will be happy with the processed result from the final selects.
 
Did you specifically ask for the RAW files ? it seems unusual (to me anyway) why anyone who doesn't have a great deal of knowledge of photography why they would be asking for the raws, personally I wouldn't be handing them over, as they are the unfinished article, the only reason I would be giving raws is if it was say me being a second shooter at a wedding, or something similar, where another pro I was working for was going to process them, but never for a normal client, I can't see the point, FWIW some of the shots seem fine unprocessed, like as has been said, wait for the finished files, then see what you think, you may be pleasantly surprised :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top