Thank you for your comments Thomas - much appreciated.
Regarding #2 - you are 100% correct in your comments. My explanation here is not to say you are wrong, but rather to make people realise the challenges with a "real couple shoot" .This is a real client shoot - not a model shoot - which means I do not have the time to correct every imperfection in studio - especially with a couple shoot and low key lighting - I have to shoot what I see, as I see it, and it is usually not a
moment I can re-create. It is often a moment between the couple, not a specific posed position for me. With a model shoot - you can set up and change lights and poses till the cows come home. With a couple shoot -they are there for the experience and images - therefor spending time setting each shot up as perfectly as possible - is not viable. I generally try to capture what is going on in front of me - and work with that, without interfering too much with posing. Once they interact - I run with it as best I can.
Theoretically I should shoot with 3 lights (and not 2) especially since the lady has dark hair. But setting up lights for 2 people is double trouble in terms of low key lighting. As is - this shoot took me 3.5 hours to get 20 images. Older clients (they are both 46 years old) causes another set of issues - I need to hide as much as her imperfections with light. That can be unbelievably challenging.
I teach studio lighting - but working with a model is a totally different kettle of fish. I don't think there is anyone in South Africa doing Low key fine art nude with older people like I do. It is just too challenging. I can't begin to tell you how much I have to hide with light, as there are a LOT you cant fix in post production. In a model shoot, I can photoshop the shit out of an image. With a client - I have to shoot as best I can to avoid manipulation in post.
Okey that is a long story - I am not trying to avoid the shortcomings of the image, I am merely explaining that this kind of shoot can not be compared with a model shoot. Not an excuse - just an explanation.
I know that we all just see what is presented to us in any image - we do not have privy to the whole scene and set up. I am the first to admit I also judge an image exactly like that. Sometimes I remember to think wider. But not too often
