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Very nice photo and model.

I remember when I was corralled into a photo studio as a high school senior. They slapped some ill-fitting clothes I wouldn't be caught dead in on me (caught me in a photo, though), and snapped my picture in about fifteen minutes.

 

Yeah, you got it with this one. Rich tones, good body position, pattern of bricks contributes to recession, the denim came out well, good color variety to the background.

 

With the position of her hips, spine and model's left arm at the elbow and left knee pointed toward the camera, I think you narrowly avoided some body position problems; especially with that knee bent toward the camera. Any time there is a body part bent so that the bend faces the camera, you are risking an odd optical illusion. You made it through okay with those here.

 

Photo's very good. I would maybe suggest, to improve, cropping some down from the top; but, you'll lose rooftops if you do; I just think a little more compositional compression might make it a little stronger. But, it is good already.

 

Suggestion attached. Cut from a low-res PDF of your photo; idea is to cut in to keep more of the photo's surface area active, but still retain some of that strong background color and the compositional elements of the foreground that build your already strong photo.

One more suggestion: normally I would say cut hard in to full-front that subject. This would mean, drop some of that brick and inactive area on the left. But, when I did, it called attention to her body position, so that may not work out too well.

 

I guess this would serve to point out that some of that brick area on the left is balancing. The hip and torso position problems stand out more in this tighter cut.

That hand on twisted back and the elbow locked (model's left hand and forearm) would have come out a little better in 2D if her hand were pointed more out away from her side, so that her hand would have been in profile. And, the locked elbow is a weak point in 2D illustration.

 

All this said, of course, I think it is a good photo; but, I notice these types of posture problems more and more among younger women. I don't know why; but, I saw this, and so, I went ahead and told you.

 

It's an awesome photo. I'm sure she'll love it.

Wow John, thank you so much for all of your helpful critiques. I definitely need moe help in the posing area and will keep in mind all of the things you suggested.