Just started "senior portraits", feedback please

[xxrayna]

This is one of my favorite shots from a senior session I did this weekend. I really liked it but am getting mixed feedback, so I hoped to get some specifics. This was taken in natural light, in the evening, just before sunset.

Nikon D7000 w/ Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 lens
f/6.3
1/160 sec.
Iso-500
Focal length: 48mm



Thanks!!

[scootermcq]

Beautiful girl.. The pose is nice.

The image appears slightly overexposed as the arms and forehead seem a little blown. The w/b seems a little cool or blue for this image, should be warmed up a bit. The crop is kinda akward, cutting her off mid arm and scalping her. I think the arms are more important than the head though in this image.

[Niresangwa]

I mostly agree with Scott, I'd just deviate in saying I don't mind the crop.

I will reinforce what he's saying about the image being too cold, it has a very desaturated look, especially with the predominance of paler blues in her sweater and eyes. Her forearms are blown, which wouldn't be such a huge issue if they're weren't a, if not the, primary feature in the shot.

Speaking of her eyes, (and maybe it's mine), but there seems to be a slight misfocus or softness. The settings don't betray a usual culprit, as the SS is fast enough, especially with the lens you're using. Maybe it's just me, but looking at the large size, her right eye is where I'm seeing it.

Why ISO 500 and f6.3?

Oh, and you might want to spot clone that zit on her chin. Not sure she'd love that included.

[Mischief]

I would agree with the above comments too. Warm the image up. I dont mind the crop, and your focus is FANTASTIC on her eyes.

Its hard to get the exposure just right, I often find forearms blown out.

Most importantly though.... does the client love it? :-)

[xxrayna]

I tried warming up the image a bit but I feel like it takes away from her eyes. Maybe it's just my taste though... does this look better?



The model herself is pretty pale (if someone could have WHITE skin, hers would be white). This made it difficult not to blow out her arms, though I did notice they were a bit bright, I'm not sure how to avoid that? I don't want to add artificial color either because she told me at her shoot that she thought her eyes were her best feature and how they stood out from her skin tone. I kind of feel like if I change her skin tone, which detracts from her eyes, then I'm changing the one thing she really likes about herself. Thoughts?

[scootermcq]

Much nicer. If you isolate the eyes, apply a high pass filter and blend with overlay, the eyes will come back and blow you away. I played with them for a few seconds and then deleted the image, but you did nail the eyes and they come alive with highpass

[scootermcq]

OK, I did it again.... I hope you don't mind, and I can delete my post if it offends you. I have removed it from my machine. I just wanted to show you what I was talking about with her eyes.