tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Believe it or not, this is just a snapshot. I have known her since she was 17. She is now closing in on 32 and is a mother of two boys. The only thing I really did was to blur the background and soften the lighting just a bit as it was very harsh even with I filter on the speed light. She has always photographed extremely well and she has a beautiful personality with a great sense of humor (she has to since she still puts up with me).

It's all in the cheek bones. I wonder why the download is always better?

(Download)

jaredjacobson

She is very photogenic. You did well with this.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Thank you, Jared!

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Loving her mauve eye shadow... Beautifully shaped and groomed brows...

"...lighting just a bit as it was very harsh even with I filter on the speed light..."
Have you considered a shoot through umbrella? Very cost effective and simple in a studio scenario (but not wise on location unless you lock down it's stand with sandbags.)

Only suggestion might be to stop down your lens a tad more, the only razor thin zone of critical focus is on her right brow, even then her right eye is outside critical focus... Remember in portraiture it is all about have at least the near eye razor sharp.

Oh, if you want to take this to the next level a "Kicker" light(s) from behind to separate Rachel from the background would do wonders here. You have a fabulous model, step up you game just a tad... It's all about effective illumination to carry the narrative.

Hope this helps tainkc or is at least food for thought.
Best wishes for a joyful Holiday Season.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Thomas, I always appreciate your critiques. You have no idea how much! Thank you! With that being said, My wife and I were at my daughters house for Thanksgiving dinner. So, all I had was my Sony A77ll camera with a 16-50mm F2.8 Sony lens. Why Sony? I already had a bunch of Minolta lenses, a couple of which are Carl Zeiss.

Oh, and I do have a couple of shoot thru umbrellas along with octa boxes and I am also in speedlight heaven. So, no problem there.

We shot this in the unfinished garage complete with one, dual tube fluorescent light overhead. Obviously, this was one step above a standard snapshot. I did try my hardest to arrange the maximum (best) lighting scenario under the conditions.

And yes, now that you mentioned it, I should have stopped down the lens some more. I think I had it wide open. Also, the lens has a secondary ring on it that I could have, and should have used to fine tune the focus. I was lucky to keep her attention as long as I did. She is a very good sport about it. Her husband is also very photogenic.

Once again, thank you sincerely for your critique!

Tom

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

Well done

Chuck

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Thank you!