Second portrait session. How'd I do?

[Copyright]

Back in February, a friend of mine posed for my first portrait shoot. I made some mistakes, but I think I did okay for a first try.

Here's the thread for reference:
First portraits of a friend. How'd I do?

Today, another friend of mine posed for my second portrait session (I know a long time has passed, but I've been really, really busy)

So here are today's pics. Comments, criticism, and suggestions are much appreciated.

[patterfr]

So many different looks hard to comment on them as a group. Pretty model and she looks comfortable with you. White balance exposure and focus all nailed. Individually:
1. Nice use of fill to soften the shadows from the sun, but i think it'd still be best to get out of the direct sun if possible.
2. Sultry look, hair across chin is a little distracting, and bright areas from sun distracting.
3. Interesting expression but shadows and lighting from below i dont think work well here.
4. Nice main, kicker and bg light levels and exposure. If you turned her 90 degrees to main and had her brought her face back to main for short lighting and hadher stick her chin out just a little more and get her arms away from her side i think would work better. Watch the eye edge touching the edge of the face
5. Spontaneous smile and fun shot just not quite enough of her face showing.

Just one man's opinion.....

[Rain Lily]

+1 to Fran's comments.

I'd also suggest being careful about your subject's head/chin position when leaning back on a wall or tree or whatever - it seems to shorten the chin and add a little bunched flesh underneath that would disappear if the chin was held at a normal position.

[lticknor]

My favorite is the last. Nice, natural capture. I cannot speak to the technical quality, but as a "viewer" that one is my favorite.

[Bobby Deal]

I appreciate what you are looking to accomplish here and think overall you are off to a good start. As I know from prior communication you really want to learn to do this well so my #1 suggestion to you is shoot, and shoot a lot. Nothing will make you more familiar with what is flattering and what is not. I suspect you already know a lot of the short comings these photos have and are simply looking for confirmation.

#5 the candid shot is far and away the best of the bunch. It shows a natural ease and catches her in a slightly vulnerable but flattering moment.

#1 Has too much head room. All the negative space above her head is of little interest. Splitting the difference and giving just a touch more of her body would bring a little visual balance to the shot. Depth, #1 and #2 both feel a little one dimensional due to the head back pose. Bringing the models chin forward a little would help with that as would getting the fill light off axis. By the catch lights it looks like you were using a shoe mounted speed light which has definitely contributed to the overall flatness of the shots.

On the plus side these shots have a nice bokeh that does help to separate them from the deep background though the near background is still a little sticky.

As with all the shots some attention to post production is warranted as color and saturation are definitely cold and flat. A little skin smoothing and whitening and brightening of eyes and teeth would go a long long way here.

#3 Ugggh what can I say, this shot simply missed. The combination of the chin down and the bulk of the cowl neck sweater combine to make your subject look thick and heavier then she is. Then the attempt at post here was taken too far. The eyes are over whitened and there is too much sharpening of the eyes especially when contrasted against the unprocessed skin. By over whitening the eye it looses is curvature and becomes flat and cartooninish.

#4 you were really close on this one. Turteling the chin forward and rotating the left shoulder back just a few degrees would have given her a much more flattering silhouette and would have helped to center her eyes a little better in the socket.

Again over all you are off to a good start for only your second shoot. Keep shooting, keep posting asking for C&C and keep improving.

[Copyright]

I really appreciate all the comments/criticism.

[Benji]

"Shooting a lot" won't make you a better photographer. I've seen people shoot for years and never improve. Some never improve because they think their images are "art" and since art is subjective they think they have already arrived and they have no need of critique or of improving. Others submitted their work one time and got some constructive critique and couldn't handle it so they quit asking for critique and therefore continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. Some don't want to get better. They are happy with snapshots.

I suggest mastering ONE pose then move on. Most newbie image makers shoot multiple images in multiple poses and never get good at any of them. Start with the basics first just like you did in school. You started in the first grade and learned the basics, then you went into the second grade and added to what you already learned and then you advanced to the third grade and so forth. Same in portraiture. No one ever took advanced trig before first grade mathematics.

Benji

[meinster]

+1 on all comments. The one I like the most is last one.. so natural not posed.

[moonshadow]

#5 is a really nice moment. I also like #4. #3 however is not flattering, she is a very pretty girl but you have her at a bad angle there.

[starfinder]

The last one looks the most natural and relaxed. Very nice.