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I had my first one-on-one model shoot last weekend and transformed a friends living room into a mock studio. Also had a Make Up Artist come in to assist a girl who is looking to start her folio for interviews with agencies.

Comments and Critique more than welcome... don't hold back, I want to learn

These are just 2 of the shots... quite similar, but want peoples views on both

Thanks

Not my field, but I'll put in my 2c
You are shooting down on her. Up or level would be better.
The nose piecing is a distraction. As is the thing (bag???) on the far side. Lose it.
I can't help thinking the side of the dress without the zipper would be better.
Her eyes look very bloodshot. A little PP might help here.
Her hair! reminds me of mine, but I'm not a model. Nor do I want to be.
Lighting looks good. Perhaps a little hot on her forehead in #1 and perhaps a reflector to bring out a little more detail in her dress at the front.
Bags under the eyes in #2

I think I would angle her a little more to you, she looks like she is twisting uncomfortably, also the arm pose is not the most flattering.
Also, watch your white balance, she has two different skin tones.

She has Venus de Milo .... arms? Not really the best look, imho.

As pointed out, your angle of view is looking down towards here ... having a lower angle of view would be better.

Were you shooting auto wb? If your light source is constant, then set your camera accordingly. This will avoid the wb issues that Ant has correctly pointed out.

Your lighting balance, however, is quite good. Very good for a first effort.

Nice lighting =)

my 2cents include :

1. Her underarms were the first thing i noticed, might want to heal those wrinkles there, also note that the shadows will have to be blended in here.
2. Personally i find the angle of which her shoulder is at to be disturbing.. it's too forced in my opinion, but this isn't your fault =)

all in all, great model, good setup, good photographer, great MUA, just practice more i guess =D

Ant wrote:she has two different skin tones.

gstark wrote:This will avoid the wb issues that Ant has correctly pointed out.

is this WB or exposure issue, the first image appears more correctly exposed and the skin tone seems correct and to me more pleasing, whereas the second is mored exposed, also given the white BG on my monitor anyways appears to be a consistent white (not necessarily exposure) in both too. thoughts?

I agree about the armpit thing, the eye does get drawn straight there, its an easy fix though, crop tighter or as Marcus mentioned, one could PP it out easily.

I don't find the pose that bad, I actually reckon it looks like a typical model pose and, for me, did not jump out as strange.

All in all I find teh first image more pleasing...

If this was really your first studio type shoot, then I am really impressed.

Very nicely lit.
The makeup is great (dunno if any was photoshopped).
Nice model too.

Where to from here?

If I may suggest... Try experimenting by just having one light source to the side and putting a flag to prevent the light from illuminating the backdrop. After that, experiment with some different backdrops (lit separately), then add a rim light. You get the idea, start with one, then introduce one more at a time - experimenting all the way.

Hey Splesh ,
Congratulations on having the courage to move into this area - looks like your off to a great start and am receiving some helpful feedback . I guess I'm noticing the tiny things because youv'e got the technical side of the shot pretty close to the mark.
I prefer the side lighting in the 1st as it gives more dimension and warmth and would crop almost square showing just the top on the dress neckline and start of the arm curve, perhaps PS the forehead a touch to smooth and clone out the redness in the eyes . The second has a nice expression perhaps crop a little tighter than the first and go more high key for a different look. Really just getting into removing the models imperfections (mind you I'l love to have so few of them)

I like the dress and think it would look great with a longer shot in poitrait orientation and a different positioning of the arm to elongate (perhaps hand on hip ). Perhaps browse the girlfriends fashion magazines for some posing ideas ?

It's the little details that let these shots down a little (the armpit, top of the zip, slight shadows under the eye etc) and they are the hardest to notice at the time (especially as you are probably concentrating on lighting, dof, wb and all the tech stuff) - I think a your off to a great start
Deb

I think everything has already been covered in previous posts. For a first time studio shoot you have done very well, far better than my first time attempts.