127
votes
How can I create this 'medieval look' using an entry-level camera like the Nikon D3300?
I can see three very clear aspects that all three photos share, so let's concentrate on those.
Two can be done in camera, the third is a software process.
I didn't have time to costume a collection of ...
- 19.6k
121
votes
What can I do to get models to take my small camera more seriously?
At the sort of geeky/cosplay events you describe a good solution might be to wear a T-Shirt which addresses the issue. Here's an example I found with a quick search.
This should do a few things. To ...
- 879
52
votes
Why aren't faces sharp in my f/1.8 portraits even though I'm carefully using center-point autofocus?
You're not doing anything wrong. You're just finding the limits of the camera/lens combination you are using.
The EF 50mm f/1.8 (in various versions) has been known as the "plastic fantastic" for a ...
- 167k
43
votes
Should I horizontally flip a client's portrait?
If the lighting was asymmetrical and consistent between shots, then the lighting will be flipped as well and this might easily make the shot look simply awful or so awful its funny.
This may not be ...
- 531
41
votes
Accepted
What can I do to get models to take my small camera more seriously?
It's not the camera they have to take seriously: it's you.
Get past the shyness. You're all fans/reenactors together, you already have an instant bonding point. Appreciate the costume work they've ...
- 49k
36
votes
Why is this child portrait not compelling? What went wrong and what could have been done better?
In addition to what has been written (cropped feet), in my opinion the greed hedge in the background draws a lot of attention away from the child because it is so heavily saturated.
Since the ...
- 1,014
32
votes
Is an entry level DSLR going to shoot nice portrait pictures?
If you read the other answers, it should be apparent that the qualities you seek such as (a) better portraits and (b) the desire to have a blurred background ... aren't really one thing, but a ...
- 3,567
31
votes
Should I horizontally flip a client's portrait?
There are no hard and fast rules in art. You are free to follow your heart. If flipping some of the images assists in the symmetry of the final presentation, then go for it!
Few if any will recognize ...
- 36k
29
votes
What can I do to get models to take my small camera more seriously?
I'm going to throw lots of ideas at a wall and make them stick. But changing cameras because it doesn't look the part is wrong. Use what is right for you.
Start with an introduction, and offer to ...
- 4,806
28
votes
Accepted
Pros and cons of cheap studio strobes vs. hotshoe/speedlight flash for portraits?
Buckle in for a long answer.
There are three primary advantages that "studio" flash have over hotshoe flashes. The first, and most obvious is power; even the lower-powered "serious" units (we're not ...
- 796
27
votes
Accepted
How can I improve this picture of my friend on vacation?
This picture, and others similar to it, aren't pictures of the woman.
These are travel snapshots, with some landmark and a woman in the same frame.
There's nothing wrong with such snapshots per se. ...
- 140k
27
votes
Why focus on the eye closest to the camera instead of the eye in the middle?
There's more depth of field behind the focus than in front of it. So focussing on the near eye gives you the best chance of getting the whole face in focus. If you can't do it focussed on the near eye,...
- 3,602
27
votes
What can I do to get models to take my small camera more seriously?
The models are obviously seeking maximum exposure.
They'll assume the people with several thousands worth of camera gear on them will be selling/providing the shots to magazines, big blogs, etc. ...
- 391
26
votes
Photographing a waterfall but also have a person in foreground
Use the ambient light to illuminate the waterfall. Use a fairly powerful flash to illuminate your human subject. The quick duration of the flash will freeze her, especially if she remains fairly still ...
- 167k
26
votes
How to make portraits look sharp with skin soft?
Nice work on the portrait. Some things that I notice are:
The wrap around her body appears sharper than her eyes - suggesting that the focal point was set in front of her. With portraits, you want ...
- 20.3k
24
votes
Accepted
How do I take flattering photos of people with acne (scarring)?
Usually, people are aware that they have it, but don't want it to be so pronounced.
If you can use Gimp, there is a plugin called Wavelet decompose.
In this site there is some information on how to ...
- 992
23
votes
Why is this child portrait not compelling? What went wrong and what could have been done better?
The leaves in the background aren't an interesting part of the photo, and they're a bit of a distraction. Blurring the background by shooting at a wider aperture (smaller f-number) would turn the ...
- 31.2k
21
votes
Accepted
Why is this child portrait not compelling? What went wrong and what could have been done better?
The first and obvious problem is framing. Almost never do you want to put a small head in the middle of a large picture.
There is much space to the left of the child in the picture, but it doesn't ...
- 17k
21
votes
How to make a not so good looking person more appealing?
There are not "ugly" people. There is bad lighting.
Well, there are several things to consider. I am just making a list, but you need to take a dive into each of them.
1. Location
You can ...
- 20.7k
20
votes
Accepted
How viable is copy pasting a professional's settings so that a noob can produce high quality photos?
How viable are "photography templates" where a professional gives the
exact settings to use in a specific set up...to allow noobs to produce
high quality photos?
That sounds a lot like the "scene"...
- 31.2k
19
votes
Why is this child portrait not compelling? What went wrong and what could have been done better?
To improve your portraiture, try simplifying your composition to better focus the viewer's attention on your subject.
How? (No particular order):
Square yourself with the background. You are closer ...
- 1,040
18
votes
Accepted
How to fix bra strap marks... during production
Tell them to come back at the next available appointment time when they have followed the instructions you gave them.
Seriously. The only way to deal with this during production is to ensure it is ...
- 167k
18
votes
Accepted
Should I horizontally flip a client's portrait?
What I did in the end
Thank you all for your suggestions and advice. You all really helped me decide what to do.
Just to clarify, I wasn't aware that they wanted this before the shoot and they were ...
- 521
17
votes
Accepted
How can I achieve a light-painting portrait without the subject becoming translucent?
If you want the light painting to appear behind subjects without them being transparent, the subject has to stay in place for the whole exposure. So, obviously, somebody else has to do the painting ...
- 31.1k
17
votes
Portrait Lighting - why are my fill and rim lights overpowered?
Nothing at all against LightBender's calculations and advice, but the OP's question is about balancing flash and ambient light, which is a valuable concept to tackle.
Check out this great how-to on ...
- 181
16
votes
Accepted
how can I improve these portraits?
I. Recommendations while taking the photos
Please do not cut the feet. Define well where you are cropping. There is a recommendation to not cut on any articulation.
If you need to cut the feet, ...
- 20.7k
15
votes
What can I do to get models to take my small camera more seriously?
I don't think it's about how people view your camera, it's about how people view you. If you're using an X-T2 and a 55/1.2 lens, it's quite enough for portraiture and the camera is capable of ...
- 151
14
votes
Accepted
How to take this group portrait with faces in profile only lit from the side they're facing?
The setup is relatively simple but to do this as one shot you will need space. An awful lot of space. Doing this indoors in a regular sized house is not going to work, the walls/ceiling are going to ...
- 117k
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