People. Are. Hard. Is This Working?

[ilovelucydog]

Here is the link to the edited file, Mary: http://www.mediafire.com/i/?da0s319lpf4wbqb

And here is the smaller version of the edited image:


Hope you like it.

Thank you, Willie! That looks great. You are awesome!!!!

[jiro]

Thank you, Willie! That looks great. You are awesome!!!!

I hope it would bring joy to the young couple.

[ilovelucydog]

I hope it would bring joy to the young couple.

It will... most definitely!

[Shadowman]

Where'd you find her arms?

[ilovelucydog]

Where'd you find her arms?

Different image... Obviously having various composition issues.

[speedneeder]

i agree with Antonio. I hope to be taking some family portraits tomorrow night at the beach, so this thread could be some good input for me!

[Antonio Correia]

DIY reflector

Just 1 in so many available on the web...
No... 2

[ilovelucydog]

i agree with Antonio. I hope to be taking some family portraits tomorrow night at the beach, so this thread could be some good input for me!

I'm always glad for others to learn from my... not so good technique.

[ilovelucydog]

DIY reflector

Just 1 in so many available on the web...
No... 2

Thank you, Antonio.

[speedneeder]

I'm always glad for others to learn from my... not so good technique.

Lol. There is nothing WRONG with your photo, especially for overcast conditions. Looks like I will be facing the same thing tonight during family portrait time
We will see if I learned anything or not!?!

[ilovelucydog]

Lol. There is nothing WRONG with your photo, especially for overcast conditions. Looks like I will be facing the same thing tonight during family portrait time
We will see if I learned anything or not!?!

Be sure and post the ones where your kids have those great expressions... you know the ones.

[ilovelucydog]

Here is another one I've been working on... what do you think?

[Shadowman]

Different image... Obviously having various composition issues.

Composition is dependent also on what your intentions were for the photograph. If you wanted to show the couple's solitude on a vast beach then you would probably include thier entire bodies and show more of the ocean or coastline. If you are merely showing their enjoyment at that particular moment than any crop of the current photo would be acceptable. One thing is for certain, you have managed to fill most of the frame with the couple in this current image and that is part of your goal.

[ilovelucydog]

Composition is dependent also on what your intentions were for the photograph. If you wanted to show the couple's solitude on a vast beach then you would probably include thier entire bodies and show more of the ocean or coastline. If you are merely showing their enjoyment at that particular moment than any crop of the current photo would be acceptable. One thing is for certain, you have managed to fill most of the frame with the couple in this current image and that is part of your goal.

Thank you, John. Going from just taking snapshots of your (my) kids, family is so very different than a taking a photo with a purpose and taking in all the variables... which a lot I don't pick up on yet. But, I think I am improving... I hope.

[jiro]

I find the 2nd image nice, Mary but definitely with lots of room for improvement. I wish I have willing models with me to practice portraiture shots like you have here. Hehehe. I've been dying to test the ideas I've read about using natural light photography in portraiture.

Going back to the shot, I am seeing a slight magenta tint on both of your shots. I am not so sure if that might be an issue with your monitor or on the white balance correction during PP. Second thing I notice was that her smile does not look that natural to me. That is the obstacle with portrait shots. It's quite hard to have that natural pose and expression unless the subject is really at ease with the camera. IMO, it would be a good way to just let them enjoy themselves and don't rush pressing that shutter. Once you see that they are not mindful of you anymore (though you are always aiming the camera at them) then that's the time to press the shutter and capture that expression. I think this is also the reason why other portrait photographers prefer working with a 70-200mm lens for that nice, good distance from your subject to "breathe". I am no portrait photographer so kindly take all that I have said with a grain of salt. Even better, make that a spoonful of salt!

[ilovelucydog]

I find the 2nd image nice, Mary but definitely with lots of room for improvement. I wish I have willing models with me to practice portraiture shots like you have here. Hehehe. I've been dying to test the ideas I've read about using natural light photography in portraiture.

Going back to the shot, I am seeing a slight magenta tint on both of your shots. I am not so sure if that might be an issue with your monitor or on the white balance correction during PP. Second thing I notice was that her smile does not look that natural to me. That is the obstacle with portrait shots. It's quite hard to have that natural pose and expression unless the subject is really at ease with the camera. IMO, it would be a good way to just let them enjoy themselves and don't rush pressing that shutter. Once you see that they are not mindful of you anymore (though you are always aiming the camera at them) then that's the time to press the shutter and capture that expression. I think this is also the reason why other portrait photographers prefer working with a 70-200mm lens for that nice, good distance from your subject to "breathe". I am no portrait photographer so kindly take all that I have said with a grain of salt. Even better, make that a spoonful of salt!

Hmmm... Magenta? I'm not seeing it... so, it must be my monitor. I'm not quite sure how to deal with that but I'll work on it. But, maybe it isn't my monitor because I don't see the same cast on your previous edit? Must be the white balance?

Shannon's smile... I 'think' for her, that is natural, but I don't know her that well, just what I've seen from other pics of her... I'll ask Tye.

We were rushed since the sun had set, but honestly... even if I'd had hours the shots would be similar. Practice. Practice. Practice. Tye's shirt is on her face... those little details I didn't notice at the time.

Thank you for your comments. I'll do some more reading, and find some more models. Shannon went back to Minnesota.

[oldgeezer]

If you use Photoshop or Elements, finding and correcting a colour cast is simple.
This is just about as simpler way as any.

[ilovelucydog]

If you use Photoshop or Elements, finding and correcting a colour cast is simple.
This is just about as simpler way as any.

Thank you, Pete! I'm using CS5 and Lightroom 3.