People Portrait from not a portrait guy

Portrait from not a portrait guy · 08:17 PM

I am sooooooo not a portrait guy, but I snapped this pic of my wife last night and I LOVE it! There is just so.... honest and natural about this shot that I love. Thoughts??

**Des** · 05-08-2015, 09:27 PM

It is a warm and intimate shot. I agree with your adjectives, honest and natural. Your wife is looking at you and not thinking about the camera. Short DOF works well and you got the focus right.

If you are being technical, you would probably have preferred her eyes to be slightly better lit, and could maybe take the highlights down on her nose. But, hey ... and I'm not really a portrait guy either.

K McCall · 05-09-2015, 04:46 AM

Originally posted by mr tibbs

I am sooooooo not a portrait guy, but I snapped this pic of my wife last night and I LOVE it! There is just so.... honest and natural about this shot that I love. Thoughts??

Well, I'd say I'm a portrait "guy," and this is exactly the kind of portrait I hope for. Her smile reaches her eyes.

I agree with Des about the highlights on her nose. Some people subscribe to the idea that a black-and-white photo should have both true black and true white in it, and not just shades of grey, so that's another idea you might want to play with. A bit of dodging and burning could change the way different features are highlighted, especially if you shot in RAW.

Regardless, it's a beautiful shot, and one I'd be thrilled with, both as photographer and subject. Great job!

**joip** · 05-09-2015, 07:07 PM

I love that you love your wife! You show her beauty.

**MSL** · 05-09-2015, 07:29 PM

I'm not sure I'm much of a photographer, and portraits were never something I pursued... so you can ignore my comments.
You got the composition right for reasons others have stated. It is a good shot that draws the viewers to her eyes and face.
Is there scope to play around a bit with the highlights and/or contrast etc. Sure. Some of that will also depend on the calibration of your monitor vs mine - so it could be that the photo is perfect already and that the normally dark settings I use for my monitor aren't showing the photo in its best light.

mr tibbs · 05-09-2015, 08:27 PM

Thanks for the comments! I was actually taking pics of this guy on our back porch,

when I noticed the wife sitting on the floor just inside the sliding glass door and I snapped this pic. The lighting and composition just happened to be right and I think the photo turned out great! In fact, I think this is my favorite picture of her I have taken to date!

**MSL** · 05-10-2015, 04:19 PM

Nice story, but whatever you do, DON'T TRY TO COMPARE the two photos

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05-08-2015, 09:27 PM	#2
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	It is a warm and intimate shot. I agree with your adjectives, honest and natural. Your wife is looking at you and not thinking about the camera. Short DOF works well and you got the focus right. If you are being technical, you would probably have preferred her eyes to be slightly better lit, and could maybe take the highlights down on her nose. But, hey ... and I'm not really a portrait guy either.

05-09-2015, 04:46 AM	#3
K McCall Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 808	Originally posted by mr tibbs I am sooooooo not a portrait guy, but I snapped this pic of my wife last night and I LOVE it! There is just so.... honest and natural about this shot that I love. Thoughts?? Well, I'd say I'm a portrait "guy," and this is exactly the kind of portrait I hope for. Her smile reaches her eyes. I agree with Des about the highlights on her nose. Some people subscribe to the idea that a black-and-white photo should have both true black and true white in it, and not just shades of grey, so that's another idea you might want to play with. A bit of dodging and burning could change the way different features are highlighted, especially if you shot in RAW. Regardless, it's a beautiful shot, and one I'd be thrilled with, both as photographer and subject. Great job!

05-09-2015, 07:07 PM	#4
joip Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 1,793	I love that you love your wife! You show her beauty.

05-09-2015, 07:29 PM	#5
MSL Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,749	I'm not sure I'm much of a photographer, and portraits were never something I pursued... so you can ignore my comments. You got the composition right for reasons others have stated. It is a good shot that draws the viewers to her eyes and face. Is there scope to play around a bit with the highlights and/or contrast etc. Sure. Some of that will also depend on the calibration of your monitor vs mine - so it could be that the photo is perfect already and that the normally dark settings I use for my monitor aren't showing the photo in its best light.

05-09-2015, 08:27 PM	#6
mr tibbs Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Utah Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 303 Original Poster	Thanks for the comments! I was actually taking pics of this guy on our back porch, when I noticed the wife sitting on the floor just inside the sliding glass door and I snapped this pic. The lighting and composition just happened to be right and I think the photo turned out great! In fact, I think this is my favorite picture of her I have taken to date!

05-10-2015, 04:19 PM	#7
MSL Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,749	Nice story, but whatever you do, DON'T TRY TO COMPARE the two photos