Composition and Editing

I recently did a photo shoot for a family who was looking to have some photos for the holidays and just in general. Obviously they were very happy with them and said they would refer me to any friends who are looking to have some photos done. Overall I am happy with them but I am always looking to improve. I was wondering if anyone could give me some feedback as far as my composition/posing and editing goes? Any advice is always welcome. Thanks.










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#2 and #3 seem real good. #4 is too, but 1/3 stop or even 2/3 stop less bright could help it. I don't think there is any way to save the crop of #1.

#1 is a no form me. Just looks like you missed.
#2 would have been better in a portrait orientation with less head room and more just the people. That is what the subject of the photo is about.
#3 I like.
#4 (See #2)

Shooting portraits has a different set of rules than landscapes. Remember what the subject is and concentrate on that.

Don Kuykendall said:

#1 is a no form me. Just looks like you missed.
#2 would have been better in a portrait orientation with less head room and more just the people. That is what the subject of the photo is about.
#3 I like.
#4 (See #2)

Shooting portraits has a different set of rules than landscapes. Remember what the subject is and concentrate on that.

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Thanks for the advice. I guess I was trying to give them a little type of variety instead of just tight straight on shots. I wanted to try to get some of the fall colors in the background also and it might have hindered my composition. But none the less thanks again!


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TonyD315 said:

Thanks for the advice. I guess I was trying to give them a little type of variety instead of just tight straight on shots. I wanted to try to get some of the fall colors in the background also and it might have hindered my composition. But none the less thanks again!


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I have the same problem with people shots too. Been working with a pro recently to get my eye better. What he has had me doing is following a number of top photographers along with a number of not so great photographers and making me do a rapid fire critique of the shots of each. I have to tell which ones I like and WHY and also which ones I don't like and WHY. The why is the important part. Then I have to go through my photos with him and do the same thing. I see things in my own work that I have not paid attention to before. Also sometimes it is hard to here not so positive things about your own work. My friend would always "like" my photos on facebook until one day we were sitting at his place and I told him to not "Like" my photos anymore unless he really did like them. Been working with him since. I am building a website for him and generally his resident geek and he works with me on my photography. Here is the site I am building for him. www.kevinsnyderphototours.com

Don Kuykendall said:

I have the same problem with people shots too. Been working with a pro recently to get my eye better. What he has had me doing is following a number of top photographers along with a number of not so great photographers and making me do a rapid fire critique of the shots of each. I have to tell which ones I like and WHY and also which ones I don't like and WHY. The why is the important part. Then I have to go through my photos with him and do the same thing. I see things in my own work that I have not paid attention to before. Also sometimes it is hard to here not so positive things about your own work. My friend would always "like" my photos on facebook until one day we were sitting at his place and I told him to not "Like" my photos anymore unless he really did like them. Been working with him since. I am building a website for him and generally his resident geek and he works with me on my photography. Here is the site I am building for him. www.kevinsnyderphototours.com

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You nailed it with the part about it being hard to hear not to good things about you work, but thats exactly why I'm here. I could post photos on Facebook and have people blow smoke up my rear, but thats not going to help me progress and in the end, that's what i'm really looking for.

I have found fb has become very unhelpful as people just like or don't like but never really offer helpful crit and if someone does and someone else doesn't agree it turns into an argument, almost not worth posting anymore

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Do not like the crop in this one, also I would have positioned myself a bit differently as the tree behind the kid is distracting. Also I think there is too much either side of the parents, maybe a tighter crop?



This works but may be over exposed 1/2 to 1/3 stop. Reflective bounce board low would have reduced the shadows.



Nice shot but again watch out for the back ground, the kid has a branch coming out of its head. Maybe Portrait orientation would work better?




Another nice shot, but could have done with some fill flash or reflector.

I'd crop the first around the kid and have the parents as filler.

A quick example:



The kid and the hand-holding are the only relevant parts in the shot so you best put the emphasis on those. The rest is balancing out light/dark and colors/tints.

When cropped close, I like the shot. How the kid and mother not only hold hands but also flow into each other color-wise.

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Now... Now it's perfect.
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