Post Your Best Portrait Shots!

[Mark Elberson]

From a wedding I shot this past weekend

5DIII + 85mm f/1.2L @ f/2

[Steve U]

It looks pretty bright and sunny there, nice exposure on her face. You must be happy with that lens and camera combo.

[clemmb]

I recently attended a model photo shoot sponsored by Sigma. They had 8 backdrops set up. 4 of the setups were continuous daylights with large soft boxes. 3 of the setups were tungsten. The 8th setup was strobe for shooting with their Sigma SD1 Merrill. I was disappointed that the setups were like this. The lighting was such that I had to shoot ISO 800 with lens wide open to get a decent shutter speed. If I am shooting wide open I want it because that's the depth of field I want, not just so I can get a good shutter speed. I asked one of the PROs that was there to help if she shoots like this professionally. As expected she told me she uses strobes for better control and lower ISO. I know part of the reason is it is difficult to allow 80 or 100 photographers to use strobes with their own cameras but I also think part of it is to sell people on their Sigma SD1 Merril. Each shooting setup had 12 to 15 photographers crowded in front of the model pushing trying to get the best spot for the capture. When those less experienced photographers get home and look at their photos at ISO 800 wide open and compare with the images shot on the Sigma at ISO 100 f\9 they will see a big difference and think they want to switch to the Sigma SD1.
Sigma had several lenses we could barrow. I barrowed the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM. Seems like a nice lens for the price but as I go through the images I feel that the focus was not consistent.
The models themselves were great. Beautiful and good at posing in many different ways. Here are a few of mine from the shoot.

IMG-0743 by clemmb60, on Flickr

IMG-0522 by clemmb60, on Flickr

IMG-0435 by clemmb60, on Flickr

IMG-0328 by clemmb60, on Flickr

IMG-0136 by clemmb60, on Flickr

IMG-1174 by clemmb60, on Flickr

IMG-0954 by clemmb60, on Flickr
See more here

[Steve U]

Great series Mark. Beautiful colour rendering and light across the whole set. I can see why Denise loves her Sigma glass.
But looking at your exif data did you use the 70-300L?

Do you always have beautiful girls falling at your feet like that?

About the only thing you needed at this shoot, was a wingman.

[clemmb]

Do you always have beautiful girls falling at your feet like that?

I wish

About the only thing you needed at this shoot, was a wingman.

You wish LOL

[clemmb]

But looking at your exif data did you use the 70-300L?

I took around 1300 images that day. I used a Sigma for some. used my Tamron 70-300 for some and my 24-105 for some.
I used the Tamron on the one you liked on flicker

[Steph]

Very nice set Mark and gorgeous subjects.

[Jayson]

Mark, great set of images! Beautiful models as well! I really like your processing on these as well. Did you use anything special for skin smoothing?

I bet it was challenging with so many photographers there getting into the right spot. Nice work on pushing your way around since it seems you had a great spot for each of them!

[ddt0725]

Very nice series, Mark and yes, looks like you managed to get a prime shooting spot in all of them!

[DavidEccleston]

Bella's new do. 1Ds Mark II, 50mm f/1.8 @ f/2.2, 1/250, ISO 1600. A bit of fill light added in ACR.
I like the juxtaposition of an $8000 camera and a $100 lens.


Bella's new do by namethatnobodyelsetook, on Flickr