Starting fashion portraits

[ekib]

Hi all, Recently my girlfriend starting a fashion blog and needed some photographs of the outfits. Often times, she tells me, the details are as important as the whole outfit itself, hence some shots which are detail oriented. Although I've never done portraits before, I figured this would be a wonderful opportunity to learn, especially with someone I am comfortable with. Some shots I am happy with, but some I feel are lacking something... but don't know what. Any suggestions for improving my shooting/PP skills would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I uploaded several other ones in my gallery.

Since I don't have a flash, all were shot using available light with D7000 and 35mm 1.8g.

 

[crycocyon]

Looks like you are off to a good start. I would include the model's head in each shot, rather than legs or torso only. And don't cut off the legs above the knees. Try to place the model not so much based on location but on lighting. Since you don't have flash, you should be finding locations with good directional light so that you can control how the model looks into the light. Also, if you are not already, I would be shooting maybe one stop down from maximum apertureso you get better isolation of the model from the background. The poses, angles, composition are otherwise pretty good, but it almost seems like you are having to work against the light rather than with it. You definitely need to invest in a flash with flexibility in terms of bounce capability. It makes a huge difference even outdoors if you can control the light somewhat on the subject and therefore in relationship to the background. (6/12)

 

[dea]

you need to get more eye contact from the model. this looks like more of snap of the moment.

 

[Michael J.]

If it is not explained it is difficult to recognize that this is a model shooting.

 

[ekib]

Thanks everyone for all the input. Crycocyon, your comment about working against the light makes perfect sense now that I think about it. I feel like quite often I have to spend a lot of time in Lightroom tweaking the levels to get something that looks decent but in the end it still doesn't look "right". And now when I look all the photos from that perspective, a lot of them are back-lit. Is that what you mean by facing the model the opposite direction, into the light?

Also, I guess I should have clarified a bit more what the purpose of these shots is. It's all for a personal fashion blog so the priorities are fashion details, clothes and how they fit the person. In hopes of conveying the clothes and the fit in a most natural way possible, I often try to take the shots more like candids than posed portraits. Does this idea get lost or did I misrepresent the purpose of these shots?

Here are some examples of type of shots I was going after:
COTTDS | PERSONAL FASHION BLOG
Camille Over the Rainbow

 

[Epoc]

Your background is distracting. Try and shoot somewhere without clutter. Always be conscious of what's behind the model you shoot. Also, have some separation between the model and the background. This will allow more out of focus bokeh and will make the model pop!

 

[ekib]

Thank you all for the comments. Crycocyon, your comment about fighting the light as opposed to working with it makes a LOT of sense now that I think back! On many pictures I spend a lot of time in Lightroom tweaking levels and it still doesn't come out right because the dynamic range in the scene is just too wide. When you say "directional light", what do you mean by that? More light falling directly on the model so that it's not in such high contrast from the background?

Flash...
How would one bounce the light outdoors? Off the sides? The bounce card? Would I also need some gels to match the color of the ambient light?

Background...
Another point I need to be more aware of when shooting. I already use the largest aperture I have (1.8) but as you all pointed out, the background is still too close and therefore distracting.

Also, I should've been more precise with the point of these shots. It's for a fashion blog where the fashion details, clothing and the fit is a priority. In order to convey the clothes and the fit, I tried going for a more natural setting as opposed to strictly posed shots... hence the candid look.
Here are some examples of what I would like to get to eventually:
Camille Over the Rainbow
COTTDS | PERSONAL FASHION BLOG

 

[crycocyon]

By directional I mean that the light is not only diffuse (coming from many directions), but has a particular direction heading toward the model. Ideally it would hit the model not directly but 3/4 direction so there is side/frontal lighting. If the model is near any wall you can bounce flash off of it. You can also hit the model at an angle with flash and use a higher synch to make even the sky become night. In other words flash with fast shutter speeds gives you complete control of ambient light no matter even if it is a bright sunny day. You could use a daylight gel but it depends on the normal color temperature of the flash.

You can still have candid-like shots and have a bit more pro-feel to the lighting.

As for the link, nice examples....almost all of those images I am sure use some form of flash to some degree, believe it or not, if even for just a very mild fill.

Here's my setup:

http://nikonites.com/other-photogra...-secret-weapon-portraits-d.html#axzz2SUfkmCs0

 

[ekib]

Thanks again crycocyon. We went out today again and I tried to see what I can do with the builtin flash (until I get an external one). It was also cloudy which evened out the lighting but I think the flash still helped... enough to convince me to get one .

Nice setup you have! Is that bounce shield in your setup for bouncing upwards? What is the benefit of that vs simply pointing the flash head further back?

Also, is it ok to post another photo here from today or should I start another thread? Sorry... still a newb

 

[ktan7]

Good start but looks like you took these pictures on a stair case. You are below them. Try to stand on a flat plane if you want to take fashion photos.