My wife hired a pro...and she's ticked!

**darylk** · 10-24-2015, 06:51 PM

Originally posted by K57XR

My wife hired a pro to take some portraits/headshots she needed for publication. We got the photos today and...is it us or these photos aren't exactly professional quality? Her eyes are dark on all of them, some appear to be not in focus at all? These are the finished products he sent us. In retrospect, the two shots below I took on a whim on the front porch while she still had her makeup on - (Yes, that is a wind chime and flag post in the background, LOL). I did it with a K5/DA*50-135. I used a Metz-48 bounced on wall – I may have overpowered it a bit though. He shot with a D610. What do you guys think, are we being too picky?

I first thought that maybe the photographer slid the clarity slider way left trying to soften things, but as I study it further, I think the camera focus calibration is way off. In the first shot it appears that your wife's bracelet is in focus, indicating to me that the camera was front focusing by quite a lot. Shooting at such wide apertures (especially f/1.4 on the pro's last shot) on full frame makes things even worse. I think the only remedy would be a reshoot - these photos aren't salvageable unless downsized and used as little thumbnails on a web page.

That's my 2 cents...
Daryl

VisualDarkness · 10-24-2015, 06:58 PM

Focus is too far infront on every one of the "pro" shots, on the first one it is acceptable but not good. The full body one is amazingly blurry and a weird compostition.

micromacro · 10-24-2015, 07:17 PM

Originally posted by K57XR

My style is more in the documentary and sporting events that's why we decided on a pro for her portraits.

Unforgivable.

Change the style and do fashion shooting of your beautiful wife.
If she has paid for a pro makeup, that was a waste with a pro photographer. Seriously, why bother to put a makeup with such a result. Your work is definitely better. I like however the third picture, perhaps you can come back to that place and do better job.

**macman24054** · 10-24-2015, 07:18 PM

Originally posted by Sliver-Surfer

Looks to me like his camera front focuses. Ask for retakes. Could be focus screen issues if he was shooting manual.. or AF is off a bit if he used that technique. I don't think eyes are too dark just out of focus and no definition so the dark parts run into each other.

That seems to be the case. I shoot for a living and the first thing I do when I get a new lens is test the lens focus and do fine tune adjustment if needed. Work like this is what hurts those of us putting time, effort and money into bringing the the best quality work to our clients.

aleonx3 · 10-24-2015, 08:02 PM

Sorry to say that I am not impressed of the work done by the professional you hired, I guess expect more IMHO.

K57XR · 10-24-2015, 08:07 PM

Originally posted by slip

I feel that the first one would have been better if the hands weren't cropped out.
Catch lights in the eyes would have gone a long way in all the pics IMHO. As a pro he should have know how to position her to have catch lights or used a tiny bit of flash to put a bit of sparkle in her eyes.
F4 would have been a wiser choice.
I find your first shot was excellent and the only thing that could be improved in the last one is if you put her further away from the background and at least give it some blur. Maybe a simple background?
Anyways by the looks of these pics yours stand above the pros

BTW I looked over the pros pics again and the shadows in her eyes are not the most flattering
Randy

Thanks, Randy. On my second photo, you're right. She was leaning on the fence and almost got the slats in focus. Our blue trash bin is also visible in the background between the slats

Originally posted by sergysergy

The ones you took look definitely sharper than the others.

I wish I brought the 50-135 with me during the shoot.

Originally posted by darylk

I first thought that maybe the photographer slid the clarity slider way left trying to soften things, but as I study it further, I think the camera focus calibration is way off. In the first shot it appears that your wife's bracelet is in focus, indicating to me that the camera was front focusing by quite a lot. Shooting at such wide apertures (especially f/1.4 on the pro's last shot) on full frame makes things even worse. I think the only remedy would be a reshoot - these photos aren't salvageable unless downsized and used as little thumbnails on a web page.

That's my 2 cents...
Daryl

Thanks, Daryl. Unfortunately you're right, these photos aren't salvageable, maybe if he converts them to B&W? I don't know.

Originally posted by VisualDarkness

Focus is too far infront on every one of the "pro" shots, on the first one it is acceptable but not good. The full body one is amazingly blurry and a weird compostition.

....I can't get past that door....

Originally posted by micromacro

Unforgivable.

Change the style and do fashion shooting of your beautiful wife.
If she has paid for a pro makeup, that was a waste with a pro photographer. Seriously, why bother to put a makeup with such a result. Your work is definitely better. I like however the third picture, perhaps you can come back to that place and do better job.

Unfortunately yes, she did pay for a pro makeup. Actually, we're thinking of re-shooting at the same location with me doing it instead - changing my style

---------- Post added 10-24-15 at 09:10 PM ----------

aleonx3 - don't be sorry. I heard the disappointment in my wife's voice when she mentioned she got the photos. Sure enough when I saw them...

**MSL** · 10-24-2015, 08:34 PM

There are clear reasons to be disappointed with the first 3 shots. Each one has something that isn't right, and makes the shot not usable for the reasons it was taken.
The issues with the shots aren't minor.

Whether your shots are good enough for what your wife needs, or if they first need a bit of tweaking is a separate issue. But they at least are good enough to make something usable out of them.

stevebrot · 10-24-2015, 09:08 PM

Nice photos from the pro, but he missed focus on all of them, either that or screwed up badly in post.

Steve

DHA · 10-25-2015, 05:20 AM

Hmmm...I certainly hope you didn't pay that pro imposter for your wife's images. Hell, they're terrible...OOF, terrible light, etc., etc. Yours are better...a little strong on sharpness in the close up, but definitely better. Don

TaoMaas · 10-25-2015, 06:44 AM

Originally posted by slip

Catch lights in the eyes would have gone a long way in all the pics IMHO. As a pro he should have know how to position her to have catch lights or used a tiny bit of flash to put a bit of sparkle in her eyes.

That's what I'm thinking, too. Plus, the backgrounds aren't quite right in any of the pics. Close...but not quite there.

K57XR · 10-25-2015, 07:47 AM

Update: The pro said there's not much he can do to salvage the shots and offered a re-shoot plus refunding 75% cost of the second makeup. He mentioned if we encounter the same problem again he'll offer a full refund. Realizing the issues one can hope he can address and correct them, fingers crossed...

**jpzk** · 10-25-2015, 07:58 AM

Have you paid for this "pro" assignment?

I would also be quite peeved with those results and you have done a better job than the "pro".
.

TaoMaas · 10-25-2015, 08:11 AM

Originally posted by K57XR

Update: The pro said there's not much he can do to salvage the shots and offered a re-shoot plus refunding 75% cost of the second makeup. He mentioned if we encounter the same problem again he'll offer a full refund. Realizing the issues one can hope he can address and correct them, fingers crossed...

That sounds more than reasonable. However, you might give him some of your specific concerns so he can deal with them.

Rupert · 10-25-2015, 08:29 AM

Yours are much better, more full of life and better poses too.

Lovely wife!

Let this be a lesson to those that hire O.T. Squirrel..Ote Squirrel...Otie Squirrel... or any of the other many aliases used by Otis Squirrel to make a buck. Whether it is buying camera gear, truckloads of roasted peanuts, or any of the other many products and services he offers, you have to know you are being scammed.

I have posted warnings here many times, yet a few remain that haven't seen them or simply ignore them thinking they are getting a bargain. PM me and I will do my best to get your lovely wife a refund....although Otis' refund process can take over a year to complete.

Regards!

Murfy · 10-25-2015, 08:32 AM

I too thought the clarity slider was overused but then it looks like her sweater is in focus on one shot. I think your photos are much better, mostly because I see a personality and I like the coloring better. And the lighting

And I don't know if anyone has commented about the windchime, but that is kind of neat because it frames her head. Maybe it is a huge no-no, but I like it!

Just think though, he handed those over as being acceptable, and that is a shame. I am no pro, but I would not hand over photos that looked like to a paid client.

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10-24-2015, 06:51 PM	#16
darylk Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Blue Hill, Nebraska Photos: Gallery Posts: 494	Originally posted by K57XR My wife hired a pro to take some portraits/headshots she needed for publication. We got the photos today and...is it us or these photos aren't exactly professional quality? Her eyes are dark on all of them, some appear to be not in focus at all? These are the finished products he sent us. In retrospect, the two shots below I took on a whim on the front porch while she still had her makeup on - (Yes, that is a wind chime and flag post in the background, LOL). I did it with a K5/DA*50-135. I used a Metz-48 bounced on wall – I may have overpowered it a bit though. He shot with a D610. What do you guys think, are we being too picky? I first thought that maybe the photographer slid the clarity slider way left trying to soften things, but as I study it further, I think the camera focus calibration is way off. In the first shot it appears that your wife's bracelet is in focus, indicating to me that the camera was front focusing by quite a lot. Shooting at such wide apertures (especially f/1.4 on the pro's last shot) on full frame makes things even worse. I think the only remedy would be a reshoot - these photos aren't salvageable unless downsized and used as little thumbnails on a web page. That's my 2 cents... Daryl

10-24-2015, 06:58 PM	#17
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	Focus is too far infront on every one of the "pro" shots, on the first one it is acceptable but not good. The full body one is amazingly blurry and a weird compostition.

10-24-2015, 07:17 PM	#18
micromacro Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,722	Originally posted by K57XR My style is more in the documentary and sporting events that's why we decided on a pro for her portraits. Unforgivable. Change the style and do fashion shooting of your beautiful wife. If she has paid for a pro makeup, that was a waste with a pro photographer. Seriously, why bother to put a makeup with such a result. Your work is definitely better. I like however the third picture, perhaps you can come back to that place and do better job.

10-24-2015, 07:18 PM	#19
macman24054 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Axton, VA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 461	Originally posted by Sliver-Surfer Looks to me like his camera front focuses. Ask for retakes. Could be focus screen issues if he was shooting manual.. or AF is off a bit if he used that technique. I don't think eyes are too dark just out of focus and no definition so the dark parts run into each other. That seems to be the case. I shoot for a living and the first thing I do when I get a new lens is test the lens focus and do fine tune adjustment if needed. Work like this is what hurts those of us putting time, effort and money into bringing the the best quality work to our clients.

10-24-2015, 08:02 PM	#20
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Sorry to say that I am not impressed of the work done by the professional you hired, I guess expect more IMHO.

10-24-2015, 08:07 PM	#21
K57XR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 830 Original Poster	Originally posted by slip I feel that the first one would have been better if the hands weren't cropped out. Catch lights in the eyes would have gone a long way in all the pics IMHO. As a pro he should have know how to position her to have catch lights or used a tiny bit of flash to put a bit of sparkle in her eyes. F4 would have been a wiser choice. I find your first shot was excellent and the only thing that could be improved in the last one is if you put her further away from the background and at least give it some blur. Maybe a simple background? Anyways by the looks of these pics yours stand above the pros BTW I looked over the pros pics again and the shadows in her eyes are not the most flattering Randy Thanks, Randy. On my second photo, you're right. She was leaning on the fence and almost got the slats in focus. Our blue trash bin is also visible in the background between the slats Originally posted by sergysergy The ones you took look definitely sharper than the others. I wish I brought the 50-135 with me during the shoot. Originally posted by darylk I first thought that maybe the photographer slid the clarity slider way left trying to soften things, but as I study it further, I think the camera focus calibration is way off. In the first shot it appears that your wife's bracelet is in focus, indicating to me that the camera was front focusing by quite a lot. Shooting at such wide apertures (especially f/1.4 on the pro's last shot) on full frame makes things even worse. I think the only remedy would be a reshoot - these photos aren't salvageable unless downsized and used as little thumbnails on a web page. That's my 2 cents... Daryl Thanks, Daryl. Unfortunately you're right, these photos aren't salvageable, maybe if he converts them to B&W? I don't know. Originally posted by VisualDarkness Focus is too far infront on every one of the "pro" shots, on the first one it is acceptable but not good. The full body one is amazingly blurry and a weird compostition. ....I can't get past that door.... Originally posted by micromacro Unforgivable. Change the style and do fashion shooting of your beautiful wife. If she has paid for a pro makeup, that was a waste with a pro photographer. Seriously, why bother to put a makeup with such a result. Your work is definitely better. I like however the third picture, perhaps you can come back to that place and do better job. Unfortunately yes, she did pay for a pro makeup. Actually, we're thinking of re-shooting at the same location with me doing it instead - changing my style ---------- Post added 10-24-15 at 09:10 PM ---------- aleonx3 - don't be sorry. I heard the disappointment in my wife's voice when she mentioned she got the photos. Sure enough when I saw them...

10-24-2015, 08:34 PM	#22
MSL Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,749	There are clear reasons to be disappointed with the first 3 shots. Each one has something that isn't right, and makes the shot not usable for the reasons it was taken. The issues with the shots aren't minor. Whether your shots are good enough for what your wife needs, or if they first need a bit of tweaking is a separate issue. But they at least are good enough to make something usable out of them.

10-24-2015, 09:08 PM	#23
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Nice photos from the pro, but he missed focus on all of them, either that or screwed up badly in post. Steve

10-25-2015, 05:20 AM	#24
DHA Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: The Tarheel State, North Carolina Posts: 91	Hmmm...I certainly hope you didn't pay that pro imposter for your wife's images. Hell, they're terrible...OOF, terrible light, etc., etc. Yours are better...a little strong on sharpness in the close up, but definitely better. Don

10-25-2015, 06:44 AM	#25
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	Originally posted by slip Catch lights in the eyes would have gone a long way in all the pics IMHO. As a pro he should have know how to position her to have catch lights or used a tiny bit of flash to put a bit of sparkle in her eyes. That's what I'm thinking, too. Plus, the backgrounds aren't quite right in any of the pics. Close...but not quite there.

10-25-2015, 07:47 AM	#26
K57XR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 830 Original Poster	Update: The pro said there's not much he can do to salvage the shots and offered a re-shoot plus refunding 75% cost of the second makeup. He mentioned if we encounter the same problem again he'll offer a full refund. Realizing the issues one can hope he can address and correct them, fingers crossed...

10-25-2015, 07:58 AM	#27
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Have you paid for this "pro" assignment? I would also be quite peeved with those results and you have done a better job than the "pro". .

10-25-2015, 08:11 AM	#28
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	Originally posted by K57XR Update: The pro said there's not much he can do to salvage the shots and offered a re-shoot plus refunding 75% cost of the second makeup. He mentioned if we encounter the same problem again he'll offer a full refund. Realizing the issues one can hope he can address and correct them, fingers crossed... That sounds more than reasonable. However, you might give him some of your specific concerns so he can deal with them.

10-25-2015, 08:29 AM	#29
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Yours are much better, more full of life and better poses too. Lovely wife! Let this be a lesson to those that hire O.T. Squirrel..Ote Squirrel...Otie Squirrel... or any of the other many aliases used by Otis Squirrel to make a buck. Whether it is buying camera gear, truckloads of roasted peanuts, or any of the other many products and services he offers, you have to know you are being scammed. I have posted warnings here many times, yet a few remain that haven't seen them or simply ignore them thinking they are getting a bargain. PM me and I will do my best to get your lovely wife a refund....although Otis' refund process can take over a year to complete. Regards!

10-25-2015, 08:32 AM	#30
Murfy Veteran Member Join Date: May 2014 Photos: Gallery Posts: 803	I too thought the clarity slider was overused but then it looks like her sweater is in focus on one shot. I think your photos are much better, mostly because I see a personality and I like the coloring better. And the lighting And I don't know if anyone has commented about the windchime, but that is kind of neat because it frames her head. Maybe it is a huge no-no, but I like it! Just think though, he handed those over as being acceptable, and that is a shame. I am no pro, but I would not hand over photos that looked like to a paid client.