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I realize there are other flaws, such as pose and colour, but I'm

focusing on trying to get the shadowing right so I can incorporate

this look into my senior portraits.

What can I do to make this better?

Curt

The white balance is off, but it works like a creative effect warming up the picture. The light souse is a bit to low in position but a gain it give you the shadow you aim for. From a technical point there are some errors but from an artistic effect seeking perspective it creative and spot on.

I guess that Its only you that can tell what your goal was with this shoot, if you want it color correct shoot raw and do the white balance in the raw handler, if you want the light "natural" put the lamp on something higher. If you want that "arty" shadow and the warm "mood tone" just keep on practice to fin tune poses and so on.

Sense you posted it I guess you like the "arty" effects so keep up the creative work and continue experiment. maybe a try to boost the contrast even more would be a nice effect.

Best regards Tore

I would say raise the light to about 45 degrees. You're right on with the hard lights for this style and the obvious shadows.

Thank you for the responses. It's encouraging that you think the technical aspect is acceptable.

I doubt myself too often, so it's hard for me to accept that you think it's about right on my first try. And, I see the flaws more than I see the good about it. Do you think the effect would be more dramatic if I used a subject I'm trying to apply this to? High school seniors - maybe a fedora, a tighter crop? Do you think the texture of the blinds is appropriate or should I use a flat (white? gray?) background?

Curt

Is this were my photo, I would convert it to black and white and adjust the contrast and sharpness. I would get rid of the polo lettering and make the whole shirt black and then crop from the waist and blur and darken some of the background. If I were to reshoot, I would avoid the blinds and pull the model six or eight feet away from the background.