Hello I just joined here recently and would really appreciate some honest opinions on what you all think about my images. Comments on posing the model, composition and editing or whatever all welcome.

Thanks

Stuart

bump

Well, your portfolio is certainly a mixed bag.

Some of it is a bit 'gimmicky'... a phase most photographers go through early on working with llamas. If an image doesn't seem to work... try sepia toning, cross-processing, etc... maybe (not very often) it may 'improve' the image.

I'll be honest with you, I just looked at your thumbnails. What I saw was enough to convince me, I didn't need to see the images large.

Sepia, cross-processing, etc. has it's place... it can make a good image spectacular. It won't make an average image better.

I can't comment on your other post processing... the thumbnails are too small for that.

You seem to be off to a reasonable start as far as posing. Some folks get off on a 'put the llama in the most unnatural pose possible' track when they start out...
A simple natural pose is usually the best unless you are photographing a Cirque d' Soleil star.

Same with lighting... simple at first. Natural or maybe one or two lights in a studio. Get fancy after you have mastered that. It'll take some time. Rome wasn't built... etc.

One tip: Talk to your llamas... get to know them as people, even if you are paying them to just sit and talk. It pays off in better pictures.

Good luck!

Thanks for that, I think you make some very good points. Im definitely experimenting at the moment with different styles to find out what I like and what doesnt work for me.

I know I do "rescue" some blah images with photoshop to make them ok, and hearing someone actually say it will actually inspire me to get off my arse and do better.


Thanks again for your time.

Any other comments welcome by everyone. Maybe Tell me on specific images after looking at it fully, what is wrong and if anything is right about it? It all would be a greatly appreciated.

I like. You are trying different things, you certainly have a good eye. My favorite is first picture in second row. Nice contrast between the flowery clothes and the background. Nice tonality going on there.

Next time you are shooting try pictures with more contrast and see if that what you are trying to get.

Thank you very much. I will indeed try what you suggest, I have a shoot on Sunday so will be trying more new things.

If there's one thing that stands out as a "needs to improve" with your portfolio, it's background composition. In some of your images, the background detracts more than it adds.

you're doing fine to start off ... good eye and initiative to learn will improve your portfolio soon in my opinion....loads and loads of shoots and experimenting with technique and edit will help you decide on the style that suits you best ... I commented on my fav photo in your port and the one I'd keep out is the sepia one. good luck and lots of good light

Dang, man. Strong start.

This one jumped off the page:



only critique is that it looks possibly a little too smooth, but that could be natural, and it's also a look that is used in many high end print work.

There a lot of other that are great but that is the favorite. Love your harmony of darkness and color.

Keep it up.

Thanks Daniel, I really appreciate that.