Portrait Photography with tight cropping

During my recent Taiwan trip, my travel buddy Tiffany has asked me to help her photograph some photos for her project on Essilor’s Crizal lenses.

I am not doing a review on those lenses, if you want to know, you can check it out on her blog {{HERE}}.

I am pretty envious that she got a sponsorship for glasses. The irony is that she does not wear glasses but I do. Anyways, let’s talk about photography instead.

I don’t have formal education in photography, so everything is really trial and error and sometimes just winging it. I usually try to capture whatever I want first, then do majority of the work post-processing. While the photos will still eventually come out the way I want it to be, I can never have it in full-resolution straight out from the camera.

Iย still have a long way to go in this learning journey. So here’s four shots I have, out of the tons I have taken that I like the best and I think had made the “cut” or, sort of..

Tiffany and her sunglasses

 

In these photos, I really like the concept of tight cropping. I felt like it was like capturing or freezing a moment in time on the actions she did. Much like a screen capture of a video.

I had post-process more light to fill the top left hand corner of the photo (above) to make the photo feel more airy. Did I manage it or did I not?? I would love to hear comments.

Also, this above photo too is featured in Tiffany’s blog on her review the lenses.

 

Tiffany and the glasses (2)

I had also done tight cropping on this above shot, cutting away the top of her head and a little of her torso. I wanted that in-the-moment, “hello, I finally see you now” kinda moment.

Tiffany on the phone

 

Tiffany on the phone pose. I did post process on this photo to make her smile happier.

 

Tiffany and her sunhat

I like this shot the most.

It was suppose to be a full length shot taken on a winding staircase but when I was tried to zoom in to adjust some colours in post process, this cropped version filled up my screen and I got an Eureka moment! So, I cropped in from her full length shot to a close-up shot and suddenly the entire mood of this photo changed immediately.

All photos were taken almost to noon and the light flooding into the stairwell and some areas of lobby was pretty uneven. Some places were dark, some were extremely bright. It was pretty difficult to work without the magic hours in the morning. Nevertheless, it was an experience, no doubt.

 

I love taking photos but unfortunately I can never be that pretty model in front of the lenses. Friends like her made it easier for me to experiment (She is very patient too!) and with free time in my hands I was able to made these shots happen.

I would love to hear your critiques or comments on the photos, so I could learn to be better.

Special thanks to Tiffany for being the model!

 

All in all, I’m happy.

Till next time,

pingerrain

 

27 thoughts on “Portrait Photography with tight cropping

  1. Louise

    I personally love the first and last photo. You captured the right moment. I enjoyed using tight cropping too because it somehow allows us to appreciate the moments in a closer perspective.

  2. 3xhcch

    Very nice photos. The close cropping suited your pretty model. Might not be the right or most flattering technique for all models. – Fred

  3. Tiffany Yong

    If we’ve taken the photos earlier before the sun’s all out and warm, it’ll be a much better experience. And yes, that’s usually what happen in photography. Only a handful in hundreds will make the cut…:)

  4. rochkirstin

    I also didn’t attend formal classes in photography. I have friends who are into photography who gave me tips and the best lesson of all: practice. These pictures are great!

  5. MapleMouseMama

    This is a timely post for me as I have been trying to learn how to use my new Nikon. It is challenging, but seeing how well my photos can look, by viewing yours, makes me want to work at it..

    1. Pingerrain Post author

      Hi MapleMouseMama,
      I always like to advocate content over technical know-how. I’m still novice in using those knobs and dials on the camera but as long you capture the moment I find it is acceptable to crop it anyway I want it later on.
      And with the digital camera technology we have today, it is very easy to experiment because the film is endless with digital.

  6. sikat101

    I love how you captured Tiffany. Oh I will try tight cropping! You are giving me ideas. I love how the light illuminates her pretty face. What time of day was this taken? – katrina centeno

    1. Pingerrain Post author

      Hi Katrina,
      The photos were taken indoors at noon time. That’s why I mentioned that it was a lil difficult to control the lighting even though it was indoors. Cheers~

  7. sinyee0504

    Hey, you got great shot!!! I am going to Taiwan soon. But it is mid-autumn, turning to be winter. Hope can capture sunshine photographs too..

  8. Sam

    Can you take more photos of her? I like your photos of here… They are the “A picture speaks a thousand words” type of photo!

    1. Pingerrain Post author

      Thanks Sam!
      I am so encouraged!! Sure! They are many opportunity to work with Tiffany in the future.. I had also worked with her on other projects before this but i never post the photos.. however, you can also check her blog at tiffanyyong.com. She is an actress/blogger.

  9. Ling Tan

    That makes two of us babe – I hate being in front of the camera too! My husband enjoys photography, and accordingly to him, getting me to pose is like striking gold! You are luck, that you have a friend who enjoys being IN Front Of the camera ๐Ÿ™‚

    Great shots, great editing work too ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Pingerrain Post author

      I don’t mind being in front, but I am just not photogenic. Sometimes I cringed when i see my own photo, so I thought, ah, just heck, be the one taking the photos than the one in the photos..

      Pingerrain.

  10. Charlotte Anne

    Wow the photos are just stunning! My boyfriend enjoys photography, and I, on the other hand, don’t know photography and I am not even good at it. Hope you can share your camera tricks and tips to me.

    1. Pingerrain Post author

      Hi Charlotte,
      Thanks for your comment. I must say it takes a lot of trial and error and looking at other people’s work and copying them. I copy the style and pose and figure how it worked on my camera and needless to say, it’s much easier than theory books.
      Hope that trick helps.

  11. Jas

    whoa you’re really good!! The photos look great and professional *~* anytime you need a model, I volunteer HAHA *bhb* :p

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