jonsommer Loc: Usually, somewhere on the U.S. west coast.

so a friend, knowing that I've been bitten by the photography bug told me that his neighbors daughter had been assaulted in school by hormone driven boy, and as a result, she was feeling ugly, dirty and un-pretty. He asked me if I would be willing to do some 'beauty' type shots of his neighbors daughter. Of course I said yes, but I have never done a beauty shoot before so I'm wandering deep in unknown territory here and would really appreciate some guidance from you all. This photo was taken on tuesday last week, just 2 days after her 14th birthday. She hasn't seen this yet, is it good enough to show her, what can I or should I change before I do. Anything you say will be considered appreciated. Thank you for looking.

(Download)

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

People photography is way out of my realm but I think you've done a very nice job with this. She is a very beautiful young lady but the expression and the eyes are so sad. I'm sure she isn't feeling real joyful after what she's been through but a smile would have gone a long way toward showcasing her beauty.

Walt

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Jon, As a friend, I don't know what there is not to like about this photo, but from here, there is a white booger hanging from her left nostril. Other than that, I see nothing worth nit picking. I would try one thing though. Get another session with her and get her to crack a sincere smile almost to the point of a laugh. I am sure that would also help bring her self esteem up.

Tom

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

All it lacks is a smile.

However, at age 14 the young lady probably has sensitivities that we can only imagine! She may be absolutely aghast at something everyone here thinks is the cat's meow. Or the other way around.

To counter that, and to work more towards the actual goal of giving her reasons to feel significant, you might take a different approach if at all possible. Instead of you choosing which images to process, have a "work session" with her as the Art Director. Let her choose which ones to work on. That may require a good bit of instruction though, and this image is a good example for that. Start by showing her the before and after images, explaining what can be enhanced and what can't. Try to encourage her imagination; let her run wild!

Ideally you'd have a printer running off example images that she can compare, and mark up with comments and suggestions. Then take a day or a week, whatever is needed, to try getting production prints that she specified. And then have another work session! I'd think that dragging this process out to as many work sessions as you can talk her into would be a good idea. And it might also work well if a studio session for more photography was scheduled between about every two works sessions.

If resources are available, one more step would be a "wardrobe" excursion! Let her buy at least a couple of outfits that are specifically for pictures.

(Of course at the end you have created a Queen of Shiba. That works really well with girls from 3 to 8, but after that they have longer attention spans and don't give up the crown very easily.)

jonsommer Loc: Usually, somewhere on the U.S. west coast.

Walt, thank you for the 'smile' suggestion. During the shoot I was trying to get her to smile and had to threaten to come up and tickle her, she threw her head back and laughed, and I didn't catch it at its best. When she looked at the ooc download, she told me she didn't like her smile and thought it made her look 'goofy'. So, back to the poofy, pouty lips. Thanks you for your suggestion.

jonsommer Loc: Usually, somewhere on the U.S. west coast.

Tom, who but you can I count on to point out the booger. So, I enlarged the photo and I didn't even see a little nose hair, much less a white booger. So, I took a step back, after all, who wants to be close up to a girl with a booger, and I looked again. I think I might know what you mean though, I see a highlight under her nose (camera right) that on second look doesn't look quite right. I'll adjust it - and thanks for the comment and keen eyesight, enjoy it while you're still a young buck, 'cause it don't last forever. But seriously, thanks for taking the time to comment.

jonsommer Loc: Usually, somewhere on the U.S. west coast.

Apaflo, great suggestions, all of them. When my own daughter was the Queen, who is now an all grown-up manager of the endowment for a large and well known university, I remember trying to pry the title from her strong little hand, and I still have the emotional scars from the encounters, I wish I had had your sage advice back then, but it's good advice and I'll remember it for future use. Thanks for commenting.

Rick36203 Loc: Northeast Alabama

Very nicely done, Jon. I'm sure she will love the shot.

There are a couple of tiny specks of what appears to be errant makeup below her right eye that I'm sure you will address.

Also, the color cast from her hair on the right cheek seems to make her makeup appear unevenly applied. It's a minor detail that really does not make a significant adverse impact. And, if it does bother either of you, the shot also translates into what would be a timeless treasure in B&W.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Yeah, I was just being humorous. The highlight under her nostril does need a little toning down from what I see here on my monitor. You did good though!

Rongnongno Loc: FL

I hope this helps her but she has lost something precious that will never be replaced: Her insouciant youth.

This photograph reflects that.

****

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

jonsommer, First, I hope you pass on to your model that she is a beautiful young lady! Your capture here is very well done. I like the pose and the low key background. The lack of smile is fine with me. I see in the download she has braces on her teeth maybe the reason for no smile. I do have one suggestion that has to do with the eyes, they seem dark to me. I have been following this video on my portraits lately, I hope you find it informative (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-GZUVbjZ8g). Keep us informed if you make any of the changes suggested here in your post, I'd like to see the results.

rlaugh Loc: Michigan & Florida

Fine work my friend, and it's encouraging that you make your shot downloadable so that people can give you the advice you seek! Many say they want critique, but won't make their shots downloadable so that all the flaws are really visible! I too see on the download what looks like braces, which would be easily removed in PP if that was a problem for her. Along with the few minor corrections already mentioned, this is a great shot of a beautiful young lady!!

jonsommer Loc: Usually, somewhere on the U.S. west coast.

Hi Rick, Your comments are truly appreciated. I've probably looked at this photo for an hour and did not notice the tiny white specks of something around her eye nor did I notice what could look like unevenly applied makeup. My Photoshop skills will be stretched to the max in trying to fix the makeup, but I'll certainly give it a try. Another genius suggestion from you is to convert to B&W - with my limited and declining cognitive skills, I hadn't even thought of that. I'll give that a try as well. Thank you for looking and for your comments.

jonsommer Loc: Usually, somewhere on the U.S. west coast.

Hi Rongnongno, Thank you for your thoughtful comment and observation - although I have a slightly different take, if you (or she) loses something, it's implied that she can find it again and be made whole - however, in her case, something precious was forcibly taken from her against her will, and although it's said that time heals all wounds, she can never undo what happened to her and be made whole in the same way.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Just a thought....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SINosl8McV0