MPW

I'm trying to learn how to do better portrait work. Any comments or

helpful suggestions are appreciated.

Liz,

She is a very pretty girl with a beautiful long model's neck. You have focused very well on her eyes. She has very nice eye contact with the camera (viewer). Her eye make-up is very nice. She has very good skin tone. the background is nicely out of focus and not at all distracting. She is well separated from the background. Your compositional balance is very good. You have her turned at an angle which makes her appear thin, feminine and graceful -- good job.

I would like to see a little more color on her lips. Her lips kind of blend into the tones of her face. They have the beginnings of very nice specular highlights. If her lips were a little more shiny the highlights would be more pronounced.

Her expression is a little blah. It's pleasant, but I would like to see some kind of emotion displayed. Even a nice smile would be better than nothing. It's not that she really looks bored. Perhaps she just looks somewhat disinterested. She looks like she is putting up with you, but maybe for not a whole lot longer.

You have used your camera's flash as your main light. This will give you those tiny pointy looking little catch lights in the middle of her eyes. The ideal position for catch lights is close to the 10 or 2 o'clock position on her irises. To achieve this your main light should be above, in front and to the side of your subject. The camera flash will also give you very flat lighting. Judicious use of shadows can make your photograph much more interesting and create a very nice illusion of depth within your photograph.

Notice the neckline of her top. The viewer's eyes will go to the “V” formed by the sides of the neckline and follow it down and out of the photograph because there is nothing there to stop them. You should back up (or zoom out) and try to crop below where the “V” of the neckline comes together so that the viewer's eyes have a place to stop. You always want to keep the viewer's eyes within the photograph.

Her blue top is very pretty, but the color really doesn't go well with the colors in your photograph. You have subdued greens and warm tones in the background. Perhaps a warmer tone for her top would fit in better. I must say that she looks quite majestic in the royal blue. With a cape and sword it might work very well. Perhaps a crown and white horse? She might be a little young for a queen, but she would make an excellent princess.

Nice shot,

Mark

An afterthought -- After looking at this portrait again, I think her expression might look quite intriguing if you would incorporate some nice dark shadows. Interesting lighting usually makes the photograph better -- certainly more interesting.

After what Mark Chartrand had to say, I feel like a dumb whistle. I'll come back to this page for the exquisite workshop of his.

Its a fine photo of a beautiful woman. Please don't keep that face bang in the middle like this.

Very nice job on this portrait, Liz. I like the composition and depth in her face.  You captured her beauty well.  David

A very beautiful portrait.  I agree with Mark though about some more color on the lips and maybe a little cropping on the sides.  A very beautiful model with lovely eyes.  Have her try a few soft waves in her hair next time.  Congratulations, Linda

Estupendo retrato Liz. Preciosos ojos y magnifica mirada captada con una luz, enfoque y detalle sensacional.

Un cordial saludo -Tolo.