Informal Portrait Attempt
Oct 22, 2018 11:00:24 #
Generally it's very good. You could shoot it again with some of the suggestions already given, but let's talk about what you can do with the image you have.
To me, the color looks slightly warmer than real life. This is fine, but letting the color shift to the warm side also warms the color of the teeth. I would whiten them slightly while still trying to keep them a natural white. Like others have suggested I would eliminate the vignetting. I don't care for it on outdoor portraits. If this is a cropped image and the there is real estate to be had above her head (without adding something busy in the background) I would shift the entire frame upwards to put her boots closer to the bottom of the image and put more space above her head. It's picky, but I think the spacing of a portrait is more natural with more free area above than below. I also think the free space side to side should be biased to put more on the side the model is facing.
To me, the color looks slightly warmer than real life. This is fine, but letting the color shift to the warm side also warms the color of the teeth. I would whiten them slightly while still trying to keep them a natural white. Like others have suggested I would eliminate the vignetting. I don't care for it on outdoor portraits. If this is a cropped image and the there is real estate to be had above her head (without adding something busy in the background) I would shift the entire frame upwards to put her boots closer to the bottom of the image and put more space above her head. It's picky, but I think the spacing of a portrait is more natural with more free area above than below. I also think the free space side to side should be biased to put more on the side the model is facing.
Oct 22, 2018 11:00:57 #
I think this one is nicely done John. The light seems good without too much contrast, there's good clarity, the background isn't too distracting yet gives a sense of time and place, and best of all, you've shown a very nice connection between the two.
Oct 22, 2018 11:11:09 #
Oct 22, 2018 11:11:26 #
Oct 22, 2018 11:33:48 #
Oct 22, 2018 11:34:26 #
Oct 22, 2018 11:36:44 #
jaymatt wrote:
I like the photo of Tracy, very nice looking. The lady looks good, also. Tracy and Buster
Oct 22, 2018 11:38:26 #
Oct 22, 2018 11:44:58 #
John, there is always something that you do to improve a portrait, but I believe this one is very good. Certainly worthy of printing.
Oct 22, 2018 12:40:28 #
Oct 22, 2018 12:58:32 #
bertloomis
Loc: Fort Worth, Texas
Very nice of them but I think the background, with its light streaks in the grass, detracts from the overall appeal of the image.
Oct 22, 2018 13:44:48 #
Oct 22, 2018 13:51:06 #
Oct 22, 2018 14:42:31 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
jaymatt wrote:
Thanks--a portrait photographer I’m definitely not! 
I don't know about that. This shot is a very good start. No real mistakes, definitely presentable. Good expressions capture on both the lady and the dog. My "food for thought" was just that; something to think about the next time you get a chance (and if you keep doing photos like this, you will get a chance).
Oct 22, 2018 15:13:14 #
Lovely lady, handsome dog. Wonderful photograph. It all fits. Any criticism from me would be picking nits to the extreme. Good job!
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