It's photoshoot season

zafirah · 07-24-2007, 02:52 AM

I also had a photoshoot recently with a guy that turned up to a hafla and i was impressed with his pictures her took.

He prefers to shoot performance rather than poses, which attracted me as i hate posing and feel some posed shots look a little like glamour photography - we are dancers not models after all. Anyway, I feel i didn't get any business card/front page of website worthy ones in Bedleh, I like a lot of the ones in a baladi dress. It's my own fault for not focussing on the task at hand due to life stress (I forgot to put on my gauntlets for the bedleh!!) and being more clear in my own head what shots I was looking for. I'm really grateful for the work he has put in, just angry with myself!!

Baladi - I really like this one it sums up how baladi makes me feel

Possibly usable bedleh shoot

The least silly looking saiidi shot

Something about the light quality makes me think this looks a bit tacky

Another nice one (I prefer my face when its looking down and you can't see it!!)

Bad face, but you can see what I was aiming for:

Again, better when you can't see my face. And my left hand has a droopy problem

Shame about the face

Cliché

I think this one looks like 'me'

Again, better wiithout my face!

Z

Nat242 · 07-24-2007, 03:07 AM

You're too critical! I think you look beautiful. I especially love the one second from the bottom - your little smile looks so mysterious!

firefly5 · 07-24-2007, 03:52 AM

I agree, they are all gorgeous, I do think you look cute looking down though.
I particularly like 'the one that looks like 'me'! If thats how you look, you've got nothing to be critical of -beautiful!

Bellydancingcaroline · 07-24-2007, 09:34 AM

I like the top one best, I don't like the background much though, any chance you can get him to a more plain looking background? He's the same guy (I think) that did my photos that I splashed over bhuz a while back and he's an amazing photographer.

danidance · 07-24-2007, 09:46 AM

I think you great in all of them. Looking down photos are a flattering angle for most people and those are nice but the straight on are as well!

If you can photoshop out the "tacky" background, then you're good to go for using them. (I say tacky because you did, but wood paneling half way down a wall never does much for anyone as a photoshoot background

)

Lesgemini_Zafirah · 07-24-2007, 10:22 AM

Repeat after me, "I have a beautiful face!" And write it on the chalkboard 100 times! I meant it!!! Z, I don't know what the heck you're talking 'bout: "...better without the face..."?!?!?! Nonsense!

You're gorgeous! Great photoshoot - Congrats! Can't wait to see the re-vamped website.

(the other) Zafirah

aazura · 07-24-2007, 10:43 AM

You have some beautiful shots here. I really like the beladi ones. I agree you should photoshop out the background -- too distracting. Pretty easy to do, though. Good job!

bethsoren · 07-24-2007, 11:16 AM

Time to go to Bart Simpson's chalkboard and write, "I am beautiful and will not be overly critical of myself." Once the chalkboard is full, you may leave!

laura 2 · 07-24-2007, 11:47 AM

I agree, several of these are very nice, and would be suitable for a business card or such if the background were just 'shopped out.

nasila · 07-24-2007, 11:57 AM

I especially like the first two and the last two, and that bedlah! :) I too think photoshopping out the wood panels and most of the wall decor would leave you something VERY usable for biz cards and such. Just leave the festive pillows in there at the bottom...they'll blend with your cozzie and brings the eye up to focus on you. Very pretty! :)

resullivan · 07-24-2007, 11:58 AM

You look great.

I know I have my favorite face angle too, but you don't look goofy.

zafirah · 07-24-2007, 12:27 PM

Hi everyone, thanks for your nice comments about my face :-). It's not that I think i look like a complete dog or anything, just the face I see in photos doesn't look like the face i see in the mirror.

I hadn't realised wood panelling was such a faux pas! I know nothing of culture beyond bellydance. Finding a venue was a problem - the photographer was up for an outdoor shoot but I didn't fancy that as its monsoon season here (although Edinburgh remains unflooded so far!!) and to be honest I think blatantly British countryside and bellydance costume would look silly together, so I went for a venue with middle eastern vibe. Its a learning experience!

If I photoshopped myself out onto a plain background wouldn't that look a little weird with the lighting all out of whack and a stark background? It would be fine for a business card size but not sure about bigger than that? Not really a photoshop expert although i discovered the magnetic lasso a while back.

Caroline - yes it was Stuart. I plan to maybe have another one with him in a month or so when I can focus as clearly my life turmoil is affecting me more than I thought! I'll have to think up a venue that has a fairly plain background. Although Calton Hill would be do-able in sunny weather with the fake acropolis thingy as a back drop. Hmm . . .any other suggestions?

Z

latriamou · 07-24-2007, 12:47 PM

if you can't find a suitable background you can always create one. hanging veils or saris or colorful fabric in the background may help and if it doesnt, it can always be cropped out.
i think you look great in this pictures. there have been some pictures that i hated, until it was mocked up as a business card then suddenly i liked it more.

Bellydancingcaroline · 07-25-2007, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zafirah

Caroline - yes it was Stuart. I plan to maybe have another one with him in a month or so when I can focus as clearly my life turmoil is affecting me more than I thought! I'll have to think up a venue that has a fairly plain background. Although Calton Hill would be do-able in sunny weather with the fake acropolis thingy as a back drop. Hmm . . .any other suggestions?

Z

I agree it looks a bit strange when you photoshop the background out, unless the background is really similar to the one that you put in. Zaphira, I was thinking of having another shoot with Stuart and was thinking of going to a beach that I know near Tynningham. You'd be welcome to come. I thought that I wouldn't mind freezing and would bring warm clothes and a towel and flask, golf umbrella etc. We could even help each other out (i.e. your hands look awful like that, oh that gives a double chin etc.) Stuart would be over the moon if you wrote a comment on his photo saying that his shot is how you 'feel' when you dance. Calton Hill might be nice too what with the pillars, though I tried that before and I looked cr@p (was not with Stuart).

beafarhana · 07-25-2007, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zafirah

If I photoshopped myself out onto a plain background wouldn't that look a little weird with the lighting all out of whack and a stark background? It would be fine for a business card size but not sure about bigger than that? Not really a photoshop expert although i discovered the magnetic lasso a while back.

Afra has a few pics on her website that have a photoshopped plain background, presumably because the actual background was less than ideal. They look fine.
http://www.afraalkahira.com/photogal.htm
Take a look at the studies in white.

zafirah · 07-25-2007, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bellydancingcaroline

I agree it looks a bit strange when you photoshop the background out, unless the background is really similar to the one that you put in. Zaphira, I was thinking of having another shoot with Stuart and was thinking of going to a beach that I know near Tynningham. You'd be welcome to come. I thought that I wouldn't mind freezing and would bring warm clothes and a towel and flask, golf umbrella etc. We could even help each other out (i.e. your hands look awful like that, oh that gives a double chin etc.) Stuart would be over the moon if you wrote a comment on his photo saying that his shot is how you 'feel' when you dance. Calton Hill might be nice too what with the pillars, though I tried that before and I looked cr@p (was not with Stuart).

Hey Caroline, it would be more fun with 2 of us to help each other out!! Plus I'd be less stressed if the venue etc was all in hand. Depends on the weather I guess? Wet sand and bellydance costume . . hmmm. We can discuss this weekend . . .my life may settle down sometime after the 8th August.

Z

lisazahiya · 07-25-2007, 08:06 AM

I like the pictures! I think you could photoshop just the wood paneling out, make that area the color of the walls and leave the cushions and floor

danidance · 07-25-2007, 08:57 AM

Wood paneling is just so....70s I guess, and always reminds me of acoustical ceiling tiles and mobile homes. But it is a fact almost all rental venues.

Zaf, photoshopping yourself out to a white background will probably give you photos for a lot of uses. Flyers, cards, etc. You can layer the cut out image over the existing background - I have an example of this here (I hope Roxxanne doesn't mind my using her).

original photo with busy background:

photoshopped out and "replanted" so text will show:

with layered in image:

yasmindiab · 07-26-2007, 02:31 PM

Just have to say this: I LOVE the baladi dress! WHERE did you find that?

I like all of the pictures...especially the fifth and tenth ones. :)

zafirah · 07-26-2007, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yasmindiab

Just have to say this: I LOVE the baladi dress! WHERE did you find that?

Hi, I got it second hand on ebay, but it is an Eman - i got it 18 months ago and that was 2nd hand so its probably quite an old design. I love that the bike shorts bit is beaded to match the er . .chest bit. I think Leila has a picture of her in a similar dress on her Helwa CD.

Z