Allie

Thoughts please! I've learned a lot and am trying to apply what I've learned to each

session

Soft, informal-style portrait. Wish there was a little more space on the left, and I would apply a SLIGHT amount of skin softening. Subdued color works for this image, but it doesn't always :)

Ashley,

 

Allie is a pretty girl. You have focused very well on her eyes. She has very good catch lights. The lighting works well to create depth within your photograph -- good shadows on her face. The background is nicely neutral. Allie has a pleasant expression and good eye contact with the camera (viewer).

 

Be careful of burning the edges. You normally want the burning to be subtle and even around the frame. The burning on the right side is quite noticeable. The make-up on her eyes is very well applied, but I would have her add some blush and color to her lips. You have good skin tone, but Allie needs a little make-up. She looks a little bit pale. The way her head is tilted down looks awkward to me. It almost looks like her shoulders are hunched over or that her posture is not very good.

 

Do not pose your subject straight on to the camera. This is not a very feminine pose. Showing your subject’s widest areas (shoulder to shoulder or hip to hip) makes those areas appear wide. Your subject will appear thinner, more feminine and more graceful if turned at an angle to the camera. The lines you see from the side have more apparent motion, interest and grace.

 

You have too much head room. I would tilt the camera down and crop below the "V" form by her collar coming together. This gives a good place for the viewer's eyes to stop before leaving the bottom of the photograph.

 

You want to compositionally balance the left and right sides of the photograph. The compositional "rule" for this suggests that you position the tip of the subject's nose in the vertical center of the photograph. You should move Allie to her left a little.

 

You could soften the image a little to smooth out her complexion. If she was sitting up straighter or brushed her hair back a little you wouldn't have a shadow cutting through her right eye.

 

Nice shot,

 

Mark

Thanks guy (and again, thanks mark :) ) I will be meeting with her again on Sunday as shes my guinea pig. I'm trying hard to make sure to remember feminine posing and sometimes I get caught up in the expression with the face I over look the finer (but important details)