Model Headshot Portrait

[AmyMarieBoyd]

Hi All

I would like advice as to how this portrait could be improved, Lighting, Composition ect ect

Camera: Cannon
F Stop F5
Shutter Spead 1/200
Focal Length 64 mm

Thanks in Advance

[nmajmani]

My only advice would be to crop the negative space on the left hand side of the image out, so that the model occupies the entire frame. Other than that, this shot seems well balanced in photographic terms.

[Bruce A]

I agree with nmajmani only because of that distractibg blue area on her right shoulder. I'm getting a slightly yellow-greenish tinge on her neck and my monitor has been recently calibrated (hopefully correctly), otherwise I really like this shot and she's a gorgeous model also.

[MrJones]

besides the crop that was mentioned, I feel you over did the PP on the skin and eyes.
the eyes are just too sharp in contrast to the skin which gives the feeling of fake look instead of a more natural look.

[NicolaB]

Gorgeous model and lovely light you have found here. Really nice image, just a couple of tweaks.

I have had a quick play (let me know if you would rather me take it down)

1 - colour good but to get rid of yellow colour cast, turned green primary saturation down in LR
2. sharpened/enhanced eyes by 30%
3. sharpened skin on face
4. straightened and tightened crop. I think it would be better wider if you have room on picture right from your sooc. I didn't have enough room in this edit
5. Took to CS5 and added soft light

If I was reworking from your side, I would go easier on the skin softening on the face (and even it up with a little more on the neck) and easy on the iris whitening.

ps my screen isn't calibrated for this time of day, but I think it should be pretty close?



also strong image in b&w

[Doug Sundseth]

The lights seems quite flat to me. A bit more directionality would, I think, help this shot quite a bit.

I don't mind the existence of the background, but you might benefit from moving the model forward just a bit, which will drop the illumination on the background and also blur it just a bit more. Both will add separation of model from background.

The model's expression seems a bit off, especially the juxtaposition of the expression around the eyes and the angle of the mouth. That said, I don't know what you were going for, so it might be exactly what you were seeking.

Since you're showing so much of the model's neck, I think I'd like to see the crop at the top of the frame above her hair. With a tighter crop, I don't think that would be important.

HTH

[sk66]

I played with it a bit, messed with the eyes/crop, but the biggest change was the strange color cast to her neck. I copied it to a new layer and adjusted it separately.
There's more one could do, but it's good as is other than the color on the neck.

[Hill Country Hack]

I do like the composition of the original if the background a bit more blurred.

The asymmetrical eye brows and eyelashes are a bit distracting to me. Otherwise I like it.

[yulchick]

Originally Posted by NicolaB

Gorgeous model and lovely light you have found here. Really nice image, just a couple of tweaks.

I have had a quick play (let me know if you would rather me take it down)

1 - colour good but to get rid of yellow colour cast, turned green primary saturation down in LR
2. sharpened/enhanced eyes by 30%
3. sharpened skin on face
4. straightened and tightened crop. I think it would be better wider if you have room on picture right from your sooc. I didn't have enough room in this edit
5. Took to CS5 and added soft light

If I was reworking from your side, I would go easier on the skin softening on the face (and even it up with a little more on the neck) and easy on the iris whitening.

ps my screen isn't calibrated for this time of day, but I think it should be pretty close?



also strong image in b&w

Great edits! And I agree that the black and white is pretty awesome for this shot!

[fais54]

It's amazing what a simple crop could do. Great picture!