C + C WELCOME! I asked Kari to imagine she was Ophelia from Hamlet, sad, dark dramatic stuff. The goal was to a find airy, dreamy feel and convey emotion. I didn't have any costume changes but I had several area and position changes, so that's why there are so many.

Have at it!

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

33 views and no comments? Critiques please

You have a very unique style , which I like !!!
My only nit pic is , she has gorgeous eyes , and I would have loved to see more emphasis on her eyes ...
In that aspect , #s 7 and 9 are my favorites !!!
Well done !!!

Originally Posted by WildWally You have a very unique style , which I like !!! My only nit pic is , she has gorgeous eyes , and I would have loved to see more emphasis on her eyes ... In that aspect , #s 7 and 9 are my favorites !!! Well done !!!

Thank you and I know. This was my first shoot with a model, period and I didn't know a whole lot. Luckily, we've become friends and we're going to do more photo shoots. I plan to get those teal beauties front and center from now on. The shadows got them at the park.
She has such emotion and such a wonderful face. Can you believe she hates her face in profile or semi pro?? I know it's crazy!

Allow me to take a stab at it...LOL. Generally, as a viewer (which is hard at times being a photographer) I like to see the subject connect with me. #9 is the only shot where she's looking at me (camera)....the others with the eye contact is under a "veil" so so speak...(1-4-5). Fabric over the face works on occasion but in this instance it isn't cutting it. Often times you may see the lips, nose, chin covered but the eyes are the main focal point and are right there.

#2 looks like she dozed off for a second...wake here up!

#6 isn't working....the setting is not complimenting her but rather takes away because of the bland water/bg.

#8 is a beautiful pose and expression. This shot begs to be cropped very tight bringing out that emotion/feel. Again, the in focus bland backgroud simply takes away....not to mention the desaturation over all. In PS you could crop, blur the background, bring out the color of her hair, skin tones and whala....a real beauty. Just a suggestion.

It may simply be me but #9.....I hate those poses...laying flat on the back looking at the camera....it just doesn't have any "pow appeall".

Overall, they're pretty sharp. Keep going..you'll know it when you see it.

Originally Posted by Swartzy Allow me to take a stab at it...LOL. Generally, as a viewer (which is hard at times being a photographer) I like to see the subject connect with me. #9 is the only shot where she's looking at me (camera)....the others with the eye contact is under a "veil" so so speak...(1-4-5). Fabric over the face works on occasion but in this instance it isn't cutting it. Often times you may see the lips, nose, chin covered but the eyes are the main focal point and are right there. #2 looks like she dozed off for a second...wake here up! #6 isn't working....the setting is not complimenting her but rather takes away because of the bland water/bg. #8 is a beautiful pose and expression. This shot begs to be cropped very tight bringing out that emotion/feel. Again, the in focus bland backgroud simply takes away....not to mention the desaturation over all. In PS you could crop, blur the background, bring out the color of her hair, skin tones and whala....a real beauty. Just a suggestion. It may simply be me but #9.....I hate those poses...laying flat on the back looking at the camera....it just doesn't have any "pow appeall". Overall, they're pretty sharp. Keep going..you'll know it when you see it.

Thank you! #8 I desaturated it, made it a more b/w without going all the way. If you want to see the original and all the photoshoot it's under the same name at my smugmug- link is in my signature.
#9 showed her eyes. I lost her eyes for most of the day.
#2 I thought looked thoughtful and it was conveying an emotion - "i'm cold and my temp is going down..."
#6 is just one of the poses with that particular angle. Maybe there's one that grabs you on the smugmug gallery.
Thanks for critiques. Kari and I are hoping to do much better with something more her style. Right now we're looking for a pool to ninja at night... wish us luck!

Nice series. The background looks a bit ordinary.
Have you considered a fast lens with shallow depth of field?

Originally Posted by Manfr3d Nice series. The background looks a bit ordinary. Have you considered a fast lens with shallow depth of field?

I have a Nikon D80 what would you suggest? Right now I only have an 18-55mm. It's not bad but not great. .

Any thoughts on making the background extraordinary?

Originally Posted by cmorganphotography Any thoughts on making the background extraordinary?

how about boosting the color up just a little? maybe use can use 'multiply' blend mode for the background.. then boost the greens a bit?

Originally Posted by rhommel how about boosting the color up just a little? maybe use can use 'multiply' blend mode for the background.. then boost the greens a bit?

The only software I have is iphoto. All the twigs and driftwood in the water and on the shore I personally blended out but it's not perfect, it just rubs the colors around and eliminates the stick or whatever. I'll rework these after it's been a while and repost them. Crops boosts any suggestions I"ll give it a ty and see what I get. With the software I have

What kind of flash are you using? #1 I think could've been if she was more lit up...she just looks dark in comparison to everything else. Same for #4 - which by the way, I looove how she mimics the cuve of the tree behind her. You might could save both of those with some software that has a fill light option.

And I personally love the one of her laying on her back - those eyes! I just wish that stupid hair wasn't across her cheek and mouth.

Originally Posted by sweet home claire What kind of flash are you using? #1 I think could've been if she was more lit up...she just looks dark in comparison to everything else. Same for #4 - which by the way, I looove how she mimics the cuve of the tree behind her. You might could save both of those with some software that has a fill light option. And I personally love the one of her laying on her back - those eyes! I just wish that stupid hair wasn't across her cheek and mouth.

I didn't use flash. It went off once and looked horrible. Plus, I didn't know how to dial down the flash at the time, so I just didn't use it. Are you talking about selective lighting because I can't so much do that... but I can lighten the exposure or the overall image. It was supposed to be a moody look... so i thought lots of shadows.
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!

I think you have a great model. I would like to see the hair and eye color pop more though. As far as that is concerned, 9 is my fave of the series even though the angle is weird. My second fave is 8.

I think it is a good start with a ton of potential.

Originally Posted by evoryware I think you have a great model. I would like to see the hair and eye color pop more though. As far as that is concerned, 9 is my fave of the series even though the angle is weird. My second fave is 8. I think it is a good start with a ton of potential.

Thank you. The analyzing and getting pointers is helping me find more and more things about her face and hair etc and what needs more emphasis and what not. I definetly feel more keen that I did when I first met her. Plus, reading all the goods on here has helped me out a lot. I have to get it right in camera because I don't have much for post production.
Seems beefing up the colours is an across the board request. *files in brain*

That's a personal creative choice for you to make.
For the color images, I think she should pop more.
#8 is fine but could have used a bit of fill in the eyes. I guess the black makeup makes them look even darker.
In color, B&W, sepia, or desaturated, there's still ways to make her eyes pop more.
Regardless though, my opinion is that she has beautiful complexion, eyes and hair color that would just help make her "WOW" out of the background w/ a different use of the available light you had or flash.
Not to single any photogs out, but I think of Yuri eyes when I see eyes like those. Search "Yuri Pautov" for threads on the people and technique forums for some inspiration.

Originally Posted by evoryware #8 is fine but could have used a bit of fill in the eyes. I guess the black makeup makes them look even darker. Not to single any photogs out, but I think of Yuri eyes when I see eyes like those. Search "Yuri Pautov" for threads on the people and technique forums for some inspiration.

I know who he is, are you saying her has eye popping portraits?? Or not popping.
She's a make up artist so I don't begin to tell her what to do with it but I did find a make up diagrahm of Marylin Monroe's set up... so we'll get going with that, plus she can change her eyebrows now that she doesn't do eyebrow make up anymore.
I'm open to suggestions and I'll give it all a try but I know it comes down to what makes me happy with my work. Thank you.

to be honest..the set is middle of the road. The lighting is bit flat, colors, don't pop, backgrounds are kinda muddy brown, and the compositions are not extremely compelling/dramatic.

de-focused background (wide open aperture), more dramatic lighting (side lighitng or shooting dusk/ dawn), and some more inventive PP would improve these I think.

Originally Posted by Qarik to be honest..the set is middle of the road. The lighting is bit flat, colors, don't pop, backgrounds are kinda muddy brown, and the compositions are not extremely compelling/dramatic. de-focused background (wide open aperture), more dramatic lighting (side lighitng or shooting dusk/ dawn), and some more inventive PP would improve these I think.

I will keep those in mind next shoot. Thank you for those tips, wide open aperture means an f-stop of 4 or 5 and a long shutter speed like 200 or so, right?

nah I don't think she needs to change the makeup, just get more light on the face.
f/2.8 would be wide. f/22 would be small.