First Self Portrait...

[Olivia Price]

Well honestly this is my first portrait ever, it just so happens that it is a self portrait. I'm brand new to this so any and all CC is welcome. I'm specifically wondering about lighting. This was natural lighting with a white foam board as my reflector since I'm waiting for my "real" one to arrive next week.



Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
Lens: Canon kit lens 18-55mm
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 44 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE

[MrJones]

for a first portrait you did really good
I really like how you got the catch lights in your eyes, can't believe it's your first portrait ever..

here are a two pointers for your second portrait:
1. your face is a bit underexposed, you can brighten it up a bit in PP. you could have used a higher ISO or slower shutter speed but that would might have overexposed the white umbrella. another option would be to use a silver reflector instead of the white foam board (just take tin foil and tape it to one side of the foam board) to get more light bouncing back and lightening your face.
2. my eyes keep going to those yellow flowers on the umbrella but it might be just because your face is underexposed. another distraction is green blurry background - either go closer to get the umbrella as your only background or zoom out and get a wider angle. this way it just looks like you weren't paying attention.

hope you don't mind but I've edited it a bit to give you a sense of how I think it should be. if you want me to take it off.. let me know.



overall, you did a really good job for a first attempt!

[Olivia Price]

Thank you so much!! This is the exact type of critique I am looking for! I will definitely try the foil idea if I get out again before my reflector arrives! I love the crop you've done!

Thanks again!!