Your opinions?

Question

about this portrait and the model
http://fotku.ru/img--i-78515-w-640.jpg

Answer 1

Sorry, But I think it needs work.
1 Lighting It is over lit, There is a difference between light and illumination. So yes it is illuminated and the contrast ratio is proper but the quality of the light is too harsh. I see the small light is the key light and the Umbrella is the fill. Try flipping that around. Make the soft light the key light. Personally I would still use a soft light for the fill.
The color of the light is also important. It looks as if this picture is perfectly white balanced. There is a time and place for everything to be balanced and a time for a tone. Color sets the mood. Color helps tell the story about the person. Since it is a simple head shot we are talking about,not much color change is needed. A very slight warming filter or a tweak in photoshop is all that is necessary

2 Makeup..
The light and makeup needs to work together. If one had a very diffuse light then the makeup would need more to be more glossy and vice versa. If the light is poppy then the makeup should be flatter, unless one is designing a certain effect.
Makeup should compliment the light source. In this case the texture of the skin demanded the use of makeup that is less glossy. Look at the highlight on the lip from the refection of the light. It becomes one of the focal points of the picture. The eyes in relation to the white skin are way to strong. They can be this strong IF the rest of the makeup is strong. But by themselves they become too much of the focal point.

3 Composition. I am a big fan of unique angles. This one is just a tad to extreme. When one looks up so far one see the whites under the eyes. What most people do not know is this is a sign of ill health when one look at someone straight on.(Usually eating disorders in women) I doubt if this is the case here. But innately most will pick up that something is not quite right


Background. The rule for any background is that if it doesn't add to the shot then it subtracts form the shot. In this case the white top is now background. Because it is light it is now competing for attention with the face. In this context the top should of been darker or the light should of been feathered so as not to bring so much attention to that area.

Now that said I really do not waste time on pictures that do not show any promise of talent. You clearly have talent. But it is like playing the piano. Just because you can hit the notes doesn't mean you are good yet.
Keep practicing to make things better. Study pictures you love to see what makes the great
Good luck

Answer 2

Very pretty. From the reflection in her eyes, I'm assuming you're using a soft box. Well whatever the light source you're using, you need to bring it closer to the subject because the light is a little too harsh and 'metallic'. Yes, closer. The further away, the harsher the shadows. One more thing, try adding a little warmth to the white balance. It's a great shot though. I love the angle. Good exposure too. Watch the glossiness of the lips though. Try using a make-up pencil rather than lipstick/gloss.

Answer 3

A softer light source would have improved her skin.

A "soft focus" filter would be a good alternative.

I might try cropping off the area below her chin. Its out of focus and, to me, distracting.

I like the way she is posed. Although having the model looking directly into the lens is considered a "no-no" it can be very effective.

Its good to know the "Rules of Composition" so you can ignore, bend or break them and photograph your way. I've always considered them as "Guidelines". They will help the beginner as they learn but they aren't chisled in stone.

Answer 4

Good shot....the model is fine. Think of photographing people and faces with a "Long" lens. It keep the parts of the face in perspective without giving you a wide angle effect. Even a normal lens for the camera that you are using is to wide for "Proper Portraiture".

Answer 5

Your focus is exactly where it should be: the eyes. In my own experience I have kept Murine eye drops around if the model has some bloodshotness to her eyes. I use the kind specifically for getting rid of the red lines. Of course you can fix this in photo editing as well.

Answer 6

Hi Sabrina,
I like the angle and height that you shot from, it usually does not work but for her it does. What is your photography experience, do you know photoshop and anything else I may need to know. I could open it and fix it up a bit but have no way to get it back so you can see it. Email me if you wish.
Chris
[e-mail]

Answer 7

did you blur it with any software? ... to me it is nice ... and about rules ,,, there is no such a thing in photography

it is all a matter of taste ...
now talking about the photo, pictures that are remarkable, and engraved in memories are those which are meaningfull .. this picture is commercial, tons of it exist. so why not trying to enhance it with meaning?

what is meaning! well it is relative :) do your best

Answer 8

Dear daughter it's nice of you. Congratulations. Best of luck.

Answer 9

Her make up is horrible. It needs to be done alot better and it could work

Answer 10

fantastic
your focus draws attention where you wanted it
beautiful!