Portraiture work - Looking for feedback

[jbfilion]

Hi everyone,

 

This is my first post here, but I've been looking at this forum and Fujirumors for a while now. I'm a 32 years old enthusiast photographer from Canada. I learned photography almost 20 years ago with film, I used to photograph my skateboarder and snowboarder friends using a Minolta camera when I was a teenager. Then like most of you, I switched to digital as young adult, almost 10 years ago. I used to photograph a lot of travelling/landscape pictures prior to to having kids. After having my first child, I felt like I had less opportunity to travel, and my camera remained on the shelf for almost 2 years (beside baby pictures). I heard about the X-T1 one day, and I decided to make the jump and buy a new camera.

 

Of course, I felt in love with the system. Although I was planning to work on landscapes again, the camera and family context drove me toward portraiture. Like all father & photographer, I started with picture of my own kids, then I tried to expend my work to family, friends, and mostly co-workers. One thing leading to another, I did more and more work for the business I'm working for. While I can't say I'm a professional photographer, I have many projects going on at work (like books), and a portion of my paid time is spent on photography. I must admit that I really happy about it!

 

I'm happy with what I managed to learn in the last 2 years of portraiture, but I'm really starving for more feedbacks from photographers. Social networks are nice for sharing picture, but "Likes" is not what I'm looking for at this point. I don't care if it's negative criticism, as long as it's respectful.  I don't know if this is a common practice, but I'm thinking about using this single topic to share some of my recent work and get feedbacks.

 

Thanks in advance to everyone who will give me feedbacks.

 

I'll share recent pictures as soon as this first post is approved, in the meantime you can check my work on my website and my 2016 portrait overview:

http://www.jbfilion.com

http://jbfilion.com/2016.html

Edited February 28, 2017 by jbfilion

[batonrouge]

well , I looked at the portrait section ( only ) on your website and I must say its very impressive.....you certainly have the studio set up well and truly sorted out....lovely light control.......and the environmental work is also very very good....you have an easy rapport with the subjects ( not easy with close family , your kids ? ) and so you are going great guns.

 

since you asked for comments......I would suggest that you start to move back from the subjects and start to include them full length in both studio and location --- my rule on a paid job was to come back with a selection of head/shoulders////half length full length shots with as many moods as the sitter could muster...take some SIMPLE props too....scarves hats sunglasses etc........and in location ( my favourite location by far ) you can seek out interesting places, make a list in a wee book and use them when suitable models come along.......old stables, ancient trees, tatty brickwork , often occured in my shots.

 

but you are doing real fine.......you have a great photographic future....and lots of fun to come 

[jbfilion]

Thanks batonrouge for your comments. It's nice that you suggest to move back from the subject, most of my recent work is further back from the subject(s). About location, I also started to move more and visit people on their working location. While it's true that it help provides a different setup from the studio, I must admit that it's much harder to cope on-the-fly with lightning and background I must think much faster in these situations! Anyway, thank you so much for your feedbacks!

 

I'll start with a very recent picture that is not published yet. I'm working for a technological business where most of the staff are men, mostly because there are a lot more men programmers applying for the jobs. For the upcoming International Women's Day, we want to highlight/feature the women working with us and encourage more to apply for positions. I came up with this image concept to represent the women working with us. I must admit that it's not my best work so far from a technical standpoint, but it was very nice to explore from a conceptual standpoint.

 

(I used the 27mm @ f8, with 3 small flash, unfortunately balanced with ambiant lightning. I feel like the 27mm let me down on this one, and my first intention was to kill ambiant light, but I had not enough power to use a small aperture and get enough depth of field.)

 

 

 

 

Edited February 28, 2017 by jbfilion

[jbfilion]

Moving on with 2 family pictures that I took on last December, but I only had the chance to edit these recently. I used the 56mm for these one. Looking back at them, I used a very different approach for skin tone / saturations. 

 

[batonrouge]

FWIW....its a lovely clean shot which I am sure will fill the brief...

 

...a few small points......if you dont mind....

 

..the lady with the drink......the cup hides her face a wee too much...and I am not sure about the lady popping from behind the pillar...but apart from that they all look good...............

 

...........overall tho...they look a little stiff and wooden in parts..........it has taken a lot of organising to get them all into  those poses so that is both imaginative and accomplished...................in situations like this....you need to shake them out of the rigid pose and get them to act/look more natural......eg....get them all to shout something like  " I love my boss" and then take  the shot as they realise what they have just said and let themselves "go" for a moment  ( maybe  1/250 of a second moment ) and then its CLICK ..and with a few goes you will get a more natural look.....vary the phrase   " I love my mum "....."I want a pay rise "   etc etc.....that sort of approach works here in Liverpool maybe it wont be the same for you ?????....in fact I used to get people to say even more outrageous things at weddings  !!!!

 

hope this helps

[batonrouge]

Moving on with 2 family pictures that I took on last December, but I only had the chance to edit these recently. I used the 56mm for these one. Looking back at them, I used a very different approach for skin tone / saturations. 

 

running a bit short of time here tonight........great shots....one point tho...try and build a triangle / pyramid with the sitters  so that you get all the heads at varying heights....stops it looking static......so maybe put dad in the centre highest ( standing and leaning in ) with mum and eldest child next lowest with youngest in the centre bottom....all for now 

[jbfilion]

@batonrouge: Thanks again for the feedback. I guess you put your finger on my weakness, directing people toward a more dynamic pose. I feel like this is the most difficult part of portraiture work and I always admire / wonder how some others manage to do it. This is so different from working with landscapes I'm taking all the tips you into consideration.

 

Here is a mix of recent shots of my own family:

 

XF 35mm f1.4 (Using a single flash on the left side)

 

XF 35mm f.14 (Lit by the oven light)

 

XF 56mm

 

 

XF 56mm

 

 

XF 56mm

 

 

 

XF 56mm

 

 

XF 56

 

Edited March 2, 2017 by jbfilion

[Mike G]

JB, super set of piccies.

[batonrouge]

you did real good with the family shots....and they are the hardest of all...whilst there is no pressure as with a sitting for ££   $$....the family know you so well there is a tendency for them to think " o he's at it again" and not cooperate with your direction...but you did a nice job and got some precious memories into the bargain...10/10 for that

 

as to tips.............all I can do is to related my own experience which reflects my style...hope thats ok......................first of all I wouldnt have used the flash...I seldom did ; much preferring the  softer feel of ambient light...if needs be I would use a reflector to direct the light into the eyes or to even contrast level....very often it will give the eyes a catch light too

 

Mum and daughter is good....A) because its a true profile (only one eye visible) ..and they are both looking in the same direction with similar expressions ie  Happy ...also take a crop down the left to eliminate the curtain ( its a distraction )..and maybe the young girls knee too...as it intrudes a little

 

the biscuit shot is great ...brill idea maybe get her to raise her hand to pretend to steal a biscuit / bite  of the biscuit...this is where you rapport comes into play...clearly its there

 

Mum on red chair....the turning is good..it just needs a bit more care....you need to turn her whole body 45deg from the camera so as to slim her body down ( its the same for everyone ) watch the celebs on the red carpet...they always turn 45 deg from the togs....makes them look slimmer.....it is also a little over lit too......( see above re flash )

 

the sax shot is good ...gives her something to pose with and also builds her story / personality

 

finally ( for now ...I do go on a bit !!!)

 

in pro photography.....we say .....social photography is 25% photography and 75% people management...and that is so very true

 

hope this helps a little 

 

I have saved the mum and daughter shot....with your permission I would like to noodle it a bit for you....let me know if thats ok for me to post an edit on here....if you say no then I wont 

[jbfilion]

@batonrouge:

 

Thanks again for the feedbacks. It's so true that the family has a tendency to think "he's at it again", I must try even harder to convince them. I'm happy to learn that I'm not the only one who face this issue

 

While I understand you like to work with ambiant light, I'm having hard time to rely on it when shooting indoor, especially when it's dark outside. Are you using reflectors with regular/home tungsten lights only? It's true that Mum shot shows a bit of strong shadows, it was not my best setup I guess. But I definitely want to shoot more outside with natural light during summer! (Maybe with a really small fill-in with a flash ) I can't find pictures that you posted, you would like to share a link or some pictures so I can see your work?

 

I'll keep that 45deg tips in mind! Please feel free to edit the picture, it's all right!

Thanks!

[jbfilion]

Just finished this picture of my youngest, a sample of many pictures that I captured in a shoot yesterday. I'm trying to keep the colors a bit less satured than I'm used too, what do you think?

 

I used a neutral gray background that I flashed with colored gel to add some colors. Shot with the 56mm @ f2.2

 

 

Edited March 6, 2017 by jbfilion

[batonrouge]

Hi again...sorry for the delay I have been a bit pushed of late................. no I dont use any lights at all...just the sun !.......if its a dull day then I wait !!.....on weddings ( I stopped those 4 years ago...ish ! )....I always used natural light.............you asked about seeing my work ....blimey....I closed the website down years ago......along with lots of other galleries etc.....BUT....I googled myself and I found this....hope the link works for you ??

 

http://www.photographersinfocus.co.uk/profile.php?show=gal&uid=255

 

 

these were all "real" jobs...so no set ups as such....if you get my meaning

[batonrouge]

I had a little go at this.......some subtle changes to the warmth and a bit of contrast reduction on faces...only gentle so that it doesnt jarre the senses  LoL

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[CplGumby]

I can't offer any advice as I don't do portraits, however, I can offer my encouragement. I really enjoyed looking at all these images! You have done a great job with posing ideas and keeping things tack sharp. Keep up the good work!

 

C.