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The sun was too bright and the wind was blowing when I shot this

one but I need critiques to learn by. Your comments are very helpful.

Thanks for looking.

Pretty good, actually. I like her smile a lot--'smile for the camera' isn't always bad. I wish the necklace were on a shorter chain.

I agree with Les' critique. I would also like to add that it appears that you lost all of the shadow detail in the hair beside your model's neck. You might try a reflector or fill flash. You did a very good job of capturing her smile, though.

Nothing more to add except "I like it".

Thank you for the critiques. Danielle is my neighbor girl and we are very comfortable with each other which made the smile easy and natural. Her hair is blond and underneath it is dyed a dark brown shade which makes it look like a shadow problem but that is her style. Your comments are very helpful and encouraging. Take care, Deanna

I think the uncontrived smile and the wind blown hair are the very essence of the image that makes it attractive, I think you have done really well considering the harsh light conditions, and my only suggestion is to maybe try using a polarising filter when such conditions prevail.

Kind Regards

Alf

Deanna,

Danielle is a beautiful girl. We should all be so lucky as to have her for a neighbor. You have focused very well on her eyes. She has very good eye contact with the camera (viewer) and a wonderful smile. Her skin tone is very good. She has good catch lights. The background is nicely out of focus and she is well separated from it. 

I like the Rembrandt style lighting, but the edges are a little harsh. Softer lighting would look better on her.

Yes, the sides of her necklace does draw the viewer's eyes down between her breasts. A shorter necklace would look better. 

I wouldn't crop her fingers off. I would also show more of the side (edge) of her right hand rather than the top of it. Showing the side (edge) of the hand works just like having her body turned at an angle to the camera -- as you have done. Actually, she could be turned even a bit more. This makes her body look thin, feminine, graceful and elegant. The same works for hands.

Your top crop is awfully close to her hair. I would give her a little bit more headroom.

I would either crop some off the left side or add a little on the right side. 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. 

I would like to see more light on the right (her right) side of her right eye. That part of her eye is in shadow. All the whites of her eyes could be a little whiter.

Her make-up looks very nice, but a little eyeliner under her eyes would frame them and make her eyes stand out more.

Nice shot,

Mark

Thanks for the suggestion of a filter. This shot was taken just minutes after receiving a new lens and my only polarizing filter doesn't fit this one. Budget pretty much shot on the lens but filter is on the list. Take care, Deanna

You are so informative with your critiques and I was hoping you would look at this shot. Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge of photography with us. I have learned a lot from you and that is from only two critiques. You are appreciated. Take care, Deanna