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Author Topic: Business Portrait  (Read 271 times)

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Offline Simon [aka springtide]

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Business Portrait
« on: March 18, 2010, 04:14:41 PM »
I haven't posed any photos for what seems like ages.  Not taken very many photos and have been very busy with life in general.

But I got a small photo job from a friend of a friend who was looking for a portrait of himself for his website.  He's a bereavement counsellor, so I was hoping that I could get an image that work professionally, but also give the feeling he was very approachable.

I found it pretty hard trying to strike the balance, but this is what I came up with.
Lighting: 
- camera right, a pair of umbrellas in a clamshell (hotshoe flash).
- ‘midnight blue’ hand dyed pop-up muslin backdrop, with hotshoe flash fired narrow to centre of backdrop.

Processing:
Blues pushed a little in LR using a combo of '-' Saturation & '+' Vibrance.

Current photo on his website for reference:
<removed>

And my attempt of his portrait:
<removed>

Feel free to give as ‘open’ feedback as you want - all feedback most welcome, positive or negative.  Trying to get an idea of whether you feel this works for a ‘bereavement counsellor’ or not.
I'm aware that he is biting his lip a little and plan to probably fix that in PS if directed by the ‘customer’.  The full set of images are with the ‘client’ and I’m waiting for feedback at the moment.

[hopefully you can see the images]
« Last Edit: March 19, 2010, 07:41:34 AM by Simon [aka springtide] »
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Offline Rob aka [minolta mad]

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Re: Business Portrait
« Reply #1 on: March 18, 2010, 04:40:08 PM »
Portraits are not my strong point ass you know.
The only thing i find wrong with the image is the background, could have been better with a different colour to what he was wearing or perhaps white. Other than that, it fine and i think he'll be pleased with it.


Rob
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Offline Clive

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Re: Business Portrait
« Reply #2 on: March 18, 2010, 05:46:49 PM »
Simon....like the expression and lighting. Great eye contact which is needed here. Good. This is a good shot and as Rob noted he will be pleased.

I do not mean to make a BAD pun, but I find the pose too stiff...too head on. I'd prefer a more casual pose and perhaps at an angle. Shoulders could be less square. With me? 

I prefer the angled portraits....see here....what do you think?

http://www.ballantynedentalspa.com/images/img-male.jpg
http://www.kingshead.com/images/cyberhair_male-dry.jpg
http://www.hnutiduha.cz/pics/Mikeska_male.jpg
http://www.datatel.com/uploads/bannerimages/rt_male_student_library.jpg







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Offline Sarie

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Re: Business Portrait
« Reply #3 on: March 18, 2010, 05:56:13 PM »
I am not an expert either, but just to share a view, I agree with Rob on the color of the background, moreover, although the idea is correct to separate the subject from the background by a light, but IMO it seems a bit strong, if not mistaken a bit of blue kinda of halo on the edges of the subject.
Sarie
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Offline Frank [aka Wires]

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Re: Business Portrait
« Reply #4 on: March 18, 2010, 07:14:59 PM »
I feel the same as the others that have commented Simon... although I don't have experience of doing such shots for business and I'm not always pleased with the ones I take of friends & family :(

Clive's suggestions are something to go from with #1 and #4 being the choices I'd be tempted to look toward. A difficult "occupation" to try to portray in the right way.
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Offline Stef.

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Re: Business Portrait
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2010, 09:40:26 PM »
The expression is fine but I don't like the background at all. White works best for business portraits IMHO. Also he should turn his body slightly and look slightly over his shoulder (but only slightly!) I am not sure about his choice of white t-shirt either...doesn't work that well with the shirt and pullover. I actually would ask him to put completely different clothes on...if I may be so critical...the pullover has some stripes in it and the shirt squares... I would suggest: white t-shirt; white shirt (no stripes or squares); blue or dark pullover would work fine for a bereavement counsellor IMHO. The other thing is- you could convert the image to b+w and see how this looks.
Should you consider re-shooting than I would also try and shoot slightly from below upwards.
Hope this was not too harsh :-[
Stef.
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Re: Business Portrait
« Reply #6 on: March 19, 2010, 04:02:48 AM »
I really like it. It seems to speak more of his personality, than the photographer. To me, his posture is normally like that, and conveys his personality... though a little more smile, smirk, something would be nicer. Choice of clothes and background? Hmm... I like it. I have to admit, thinking about it more, after reading Stef's comment, I think that background looks better suited for a biblical scene... but does match his attire. I still like it all. One more thing, I love that lighting and post processing. Wish I had the time to work on my own style.
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Offline chappo1

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Re: Business Portrait
« Reply #7 on: March 19, 2010, 04:35:14 AM »
I am a novice at most things but portraits particularly so will not comment at all on the pose.   My first reaction to the background was that it looked like a halo and I do not like it at all.  Solid colour or muted pattern for me....john
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Offline Simon [aka springtide]

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Re: Business Portrait
« Reply #8 on: March 19, 2010, 07:12:30 PM »

Thanks for the feedback.  All very useful.

I was very aware that these were pretty 'reserved' (and shot like this on purpose).  Going to look through the set and talk to the guy to find out his (and more importantly his wifes) opinion.  Shooting again is an option - just lives down the road so easy enough to do ... but I'm not sure that I'd go as far as suggesting that he changes his outfit (looking at his other photo, this is obviously 'his outfit')

Anyway thanks again.  Sorry for pulling the photos above - but I don't really like leaving photos of other people online for long peroids for privacy. 
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