Opinions wanted on photos from a pro

MarkJerling · 12-17-2019, 02:02 AM

I don't see an issue. It may not be how I would crop the images, but what do I know! They do seem like lovely images, regardless.

peggers · 12-17-2019, 03:54 AM - **1 Like**

Poor defenseless duck! Cut off in the prime of its life. IMHO this is a clear error by whomever cropped it. I do agree that the image would be stronger without the duck at all.

veato · 12-17-2019, 04:43 AM

Simply put - I think the framing/crops are terrible. In the first photo there's too much space above the head whilst omiting a bit of the lower body and in the second my OCD is triggered seeing that duck cut off

Jonathan Mac · 12-17-2019, 04:50 AM - **4 Likes**

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I've concentrated on the elements I'm not happy with but the photographer was very good at dealing with an infant, who seemed to enjoy the session a lot, and that's not easy to do.

Overall, we're reasonably happy with the results as a whole set, but these flaws niggle me, though my wife doesn't notice, and when we show them to the rest of the family I suspect they won't either. Looking back at the photos the photographer has online, these problems are common, though I didn't notice them until we had our own photos, looking back at the online ones they're very obvious now.

While I'm, of course, a photographer, I don't consider myself to be at the professional level and have never shot in this way - a fully staged photo shoot. I think I would have handled composition better and I suspect that my APS-C cameras (K-3 and X-T20) would have handled noise better than the FF 5DIII.

I don't think the photographer will get any return business from us, mainly because I'm not confident that she has recognised the problems and will try in the future to avoid them.

Many thanks everyone for your feedback.

Dericali · 12-18-2019, 04:38 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Jonathan Mac

Overall, we're reasonably happy with the results as a whole set, but these flaws niggle me, though my wife doesn't notice, and when we show them to the rest of the family I suspect they won't either. Looking back at the photos the photographer has online, these problems are common, though I didn't notice them until we had our own photos, looking back at the online ones they're very obvious now.
.

So basically, you didn't notice these 'flaws' which were there on the other photos on the website when you booked the photographer, but you notice them now.

You also don't expect that anyone else in the family will notice them....

Sounds like there's no real problem.

fsge · 12-20-2019, 05:08 AM

I wonder whether you gave this photographer some guidelines for the kind of outcome you were expecting. Not all photographers have the same technique and framing in mind.
I often shoot birthdays for my kids and those they are invited to. Pictures parents prefer are often "stolen" portraits, group activities, unusual attitudes etc

**Perfessor5646** · 12-21-2019, 05:32 AM

I agree with you on the cropping issues. The first one bothers me more than the half duck. Not that I haven’t made composition errors myself but I don’t bill myself as a professional and get paid.

Would I make a fuss about it? Probably not.

Jonathan Mac · 12-22-2019, 05:41 AM

I'm not making a fuss about it, but when you pay for photos, especially special ones like these, I suppose you expect them to be perfect.

Either we won't use that photographer again or I will speak to her and ask her to change the compositions or take slightly wider shots that allow more cropping. Though now I've seen how a pro works for this sort of photo I'd be willing to give it a shot myself.

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12-17-2019, 02:02 AM	#16
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,408	I don't see an issue. It may not be how I would crop the images, but what do I know! They do seem like lovely images, regardless.

12-17-2019, 03:54 AM - 1 Like	#17
peggers Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Endeavour Hills, Victoria, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 210	Poor defenseless duck! Cut off in the prime of its life. IMHO this is a clear error by whomever cropped it. I do agree that the image would be stronger without the duck at all.

12-17-2019, 04:43 AM	#18
veato Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Nottingham Posts: 543	Simply put - I think the framing/crops are terrible. In the first photo there's too much space above the head whilst omiting a bit of the lower body and in the second my OCD is triggered seeing that duck cut off

12-17-2019, 04:50 AM - 4 Likes	#19
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,904 Original Poster	Thanks everyone for your feedback. I've concentrated on the elements I'm not happy with but the photographer was very good at dealing with an infant, who seemed to enjoy the session a lot, and that's not easy to do. Overall, we're reasonably happy with the results as a whole set, but these flaws niggle me, though my wife doesn't notice, and when we show them to the rest of the family I suspect they won't either. Looking back at the photos the photographer has online, these problems are common, though I didn't notice them until we had our own photos, looking back at the online ones they're very obvious now. While I'm, of course, a photographer, I don't consider myself to be at the professional level and have never shot in this way - a fully staged photo shoot. I think I would have handled composition better and I suspect that my APS-C cameras (K-3 and X-T20) would have handled noise better than the FF 5DIII. I don't think the photographer will get any return business from us, mainly because I'm not confident that she has recognised the problems and will try in the future to avoid them. Many thanks everyone for your feedback.

12-18-2019, 04:38 AM - 1 Like	#20
Dericali Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Berlin Posts: 298	Originally posted by Jonathan Mac Overall, we're reasonably happy with the results as a whole set, but these flaws niggle me, though my wife doesn't notice, and when we show them to the rest of the family I suspect they won't either. Looking back at the photos the photographer has online, these problems are common, though I didn't notice them until we had our own photos, looking back at the online ones they're very obvious now. . So basically, you didn't notice these 'flaws' which were there on the other photos on the website when you booked the photographer, but you notice them now. You also don't expect that anyone else in the family will notice them.... Sounds like there's no real problem.

12-20-2019, 05:08 AM	#21
fsge Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Genf Posts: 1,138	I wonder whether you gave this photographer some guidelines for the kind of outcome you were expecting. Not all photographers have the same technique and framing in mind. I often shoot birthdays for my kids and those they are invited to. Pictures parents prefer are often "stolen" portraits, group activities, unusual attitudes etc

12-21-2019, 05:32 AM	#22
Perfessor5646 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Louisville, KY Photos: Albums Posts: 605	I agree with you on the cropping issues. The first one bothers me more than the half duck. Not that I haven’t made composition errors myself but I don’t bill myself as a professional and get paid. Would I make a fuss about it? Probably not.

12-22-2019, 05:41 AM	#23
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,904 Original Poster	I'm not making a fuss about it, but when you pay for photos, especially special ones like these, I suppose you expect them to be perfect. Either we won't use that photographer again or I will speak to her and ask her to change the compositions or take slightly wider shots that allow more cropping. Though now I've seen how a pro works for this sort of photo I'd be willing to give it a shot myself.