Kayla @ the Park II

[Colin Southern]

Just a few more, if anyone's still looking!

[Sam Smith]

Colin you keep it coming. These are great as well. The 3rd one does it for me in this set. If that Mom and sister, Dad is going to have issues with the boys running around his house.

[Kiwi Ric]

great stuff mate, Im still grumbling that I had to work that day

[Donald]

Colin you keep it coming. These are great as well.

Ditto what Sam said. A superb set.

And this, for me is just outstanding. A wonderful set-up. Lighting is brilliant. Tones are gorgeous. God, you must have a wonderful camera!!

[Colin Southern]

Colin you keep it coming. These are great as well. The 3rd one does it for me in this set. If that Mom and sister, Dad is going to have issues with the boys running around his house.

Thanks Sam, although (and I could be wrong), but I don't think Dad hangs around anymore

[Colin Southern]

great stuff mate, Im still grumbling that I had to work that day

Hey Ric,

That's 2 out of 2 you've missed so far!

Work ... it's the curse of the drinking class! (or so they say!)

[Colin Southern]

Ditto what Sam said. A superb set.

And this, fro me is just outstanding. A wonderful set-up. Lighting is brilliant. Tones are gorgeous. God, you must have a wonderful camera!!

Thanks Donald,

Yeah ... wouldn't have got any of these with a Nikon

[Snarkbyte]

Yeah, we're still looking.
And looking...
And looking....

IMO, #3 is the real winner in this set. #1 is very nice, but just can't compete with the relaxed pose and expression of #3. #2 might have taken the prize if Kayla had just the slightest hint more of a smile. I really want to like #4, but a bit too much hair hiding the face, unfortunately. I know this a personal quirk, but I've never been a big fan of posed group shots, so #5 doesn't do much for me. I know group shots are popular, and often a must-have for paid shoots, but as far as I'm concerned, any time there are more than 2 people in a shot, those people really ought to be doing something other than just posing for the camera. (OK, I'll make an exception for 2 parents and a small child.)

[Colin Southern]

Yeah, we're still looking.
And looking...
And looking....

IMO, #3 is the real winner in this set. #1 is very nice, but just can't compete with the relaxed pose and expression of #3. #2 might have taken the prize if Kayla had just the slightest hint more of a smile. I really want to like #4, but a bit too much hair hiding the face, unfortunately. I know this a personal quirk, but I've never been a big fan of posed group shots, so #5 doesn't do much for me. I know group shots are popular, and often a must-have for paid shoots, but as far as I'm concerned, any time there are more than 2 people in a shot, those people really ought to be doing something other than just posing for the camera. (OK, I'll make an exception for 2 parents and a small child.)

Thanks Al,

I should bring you along to a shoot so you can tell me all these things BEFORE I take the shot

[Snarkbyte]

Thanks Al,

I should bring you along to a shoot so you can tell me all these things BEFORE I take the shot

Unfortunately, I always tell myself things like this... AFTER the shot. But you've definitely got a deal if you're willing to advise me before I shoot; I'd win out on that deal by miles and miles.

[Colin Southern]

Unfortunately, I always tell myself things like this... AFTER the shot. But you've definitely got a deal if you're willing to advise me before I shoot; I'd win out on that deal by miles and miles.

To be honest, I pick up on a lot of "would have been nice" things after every shoot, but the reality is there's only so much that can be controlled at the time - usually I'm too darn busy thinking lighting - texture - pose - composition - exposure - focus - lunch (ie just the usual!) - so smaller parts (expressions etc) are often in the lap of the gods.

[revi]

To be honest, I pick up on a lot of "would have been nice" things after every shoot, but the reality is there's only so much that can be controlled at the time - usually I'm too darn busy thinking lighting - texture - pose - composition - exposure - focus - lunch (ie just the usual!) - so smaller parts (expressions etc) are often in the lap of the gods.

You can actually 'direct' expressions? Not meaning the 'give me a smile' or 'just relax' kind of direction (the latter being especially nice...), but finer details, and that without getting them looking all artificial/cramped/forced?

I must say, that #3 now is a bit 'spoiled' for me by the visible make-up (after the exchange in the other "Ayla @ the park" thread)

Remco

[Colin Southern]

You can actually 'direct' expressions? Not meaning the 'give me a smile' or 'just relax' kind of direction (the latter being especially nice...), but finer details, and that without getting them looking all artificial/cramped/forced?

I do my best to get them smiling and laughing, but alas, I'm a better photographer than I am comedian

For this shoot, Kayla's Mum was there, so I delegated "get her smiling" duties to her. For some subjects this comes easy - for Kayla, not quite as easy - but we got there

[speedneeder]

God, you must have a wonderful camera!!

LOL@Donald!

FWIW, I think #3 is GREAT (I know how Colin loves for a series like this to be 'rated', )

[rosapearl]

My fave is #2 and #1 is very pretty and artistic...just don't like leather jackets. Of course, you don't get to choose the client's clothing I am sure. Number 3 is very nice, but I just can't get used to the trend of cutting off heads. Wish I had your knowledge and expertise Colin.

[Colin Southern]

LOL@Donald!

FWIW, I think #3 is GREAT (I know how Colin loves for a series like this to be 'rated', )

Hi Brian,

Luckily, the client thinks they're ALL great

Always makes me smile when people come visit me at my studio -- they always like to point out "which ones they like" ... the irony is that I like ALL of them, or they wouldn't be there

[Colin Southern]

My fave is #2 and #1 is very pretty and artistic...just don't like leather jackets. Of course, you don't get to choose the client's clothing I am sure. Number 3 is very nice, but I just can't get used to the trend of cutting off heads. Wish I had your knowledge and expertise Colin.

Hi Jeannie,

I like to know in advance what they're going to wear, but I pretty much leave it up to them (they know what they look good in, and as I see it, it's my job to work with that to produce the best result.

With regards to "cutting off heads", it's done all the time these days; I guess because it's really the face that we want to see (and it's position in the frame is also very important).