Thank you for the response. It's nice to be back here. Things seems to have settled down a bit since I left last year. Seems to be a friendlier environment from what I've read so far.
Hope to contribute more in the future.
These we're shot with 1 AB800 about 1/4 power camera right and a gold reflector left. Nikon 85mm f/1.8 @ f/5.6 160sec. Processing is mainly healing tool/brush and some dodging and burning. If you're new to the game my best suggestion is to invest in a Wacom Tablet. There's just some things you cant do with a mouse.
Cheers
Alex
ps. #1 is my absolute favorite as well. Went to Costco today and printed out an 11x14 now hanging on our living room wall. I love it by the way when they ask if I have a written release from the photographer......... I just ask them for a pen and a piece of paper.
Good light and exposure, but I would probably ditch the gold reflector next time. Try using a neutral reflector (i.e. white/silver) and if you're looking for warm skin tones then do so with the WB/pp. The difference in light colour temperature between the strobe and reflector results in substantially colder/purpler skin tones on her tummy/leg in #3 than her right arm (hit by the gold reflector).
I like the processing on the first two, and those pp styles are much more forgiving to colour inconsistencies.
Good job overall, and congratulations! Welcome back.
I think #1 is gorgeous (well, the subject is in all of them ) but #2 really sums up the title of your post. She looks nervous and excited at the same time. Congrats to you and your family.
I agree with liam that #3 wins, but it is hard not to admire the beauty as she looks into the camera in #2.
#1 misses the mark, mainly because the other two are so good, and partly because the camera angle doesn't show the belly well.
#3 is the best in show, but why did you switch the background color? The beige would have been more effective than the cool gray that clashes with the overall warm tones.
A note for future sessions: When shooting faces watch the angles more carefully. #1 isn't a well balanced oblique view (far side is small / nose sticking out). #2 isn't quite full face which results in the eye being cocked slightly giving them an unbalanced look. #3 the face is turned into the camera a bit past profile which changes the look vs a clean "penny" profile which cuts the face down the middle.
The reason precise angles are more flattering is because they trick the brain into thinking the face is symmetrical. When one side of the face winds up looking out of proportion with the other the net effect isn't as flattering as a more balanced rendering. Its something best seen by comparing slightly different angles, so when shooting and selecting the facial angle move the camera a few inches from one side to the other after posing the face to the light and the most flattering angle will find its way into the viewfinder instinctively.
Truly beautiful images. I prefer #2 (though I might have cropped it a little different). It is the only one where we see her eyes. Good luck to both of you.
Thank you all for taking your time to respond. cgardner I see exactly what you're saying in regards to the facial angles. I will definitely have that in mind for next time.
#3 wins.