So, this is new for me and it was a blast. We worked late into the night, but everyone stayed working hard. I've always wanted to try my hand at this and it's way more work intensive and the lighting is finicky stuff to get this right, or at least what I had imagined.

C&C always welcome.

1

Nice start!

I feel that #3 is your best shot here.. and a way it could have even been better (IMHO) would be to have framed her a little more camera right.. and have her look up into the light, and maybe open the mouth *slightly*. But it is also very nice the way it is..

The harsh shadow in #1.. not my speed.. but nice BG!

#2 is okay.. she is looking a little greasy on the face.. and I would maybe want to process it it a bit more (wrinkles)

and lastly, #4.. is not working at all for me...

If you have the pixels.. I would crop in #3 and use this as your "keep" for the portfolio!

- T

I also favour #3, although I think a portrait shot would have helped you fit in the rest of her hair. I don't see the extra dead space helping the pic much. In pics where she faces left but is looking right at the camera, the dead space rarely looks good, IMHO.

#4 has green hair around the top edges. I suppose it matches the makeup, but was this intended?

Here is an example of where I would crop it... I agree with Jim.. and if she was looking up into the light on this one (camera left) it would have been even a bit better... but like anything it is subjective to your goals / intention...

lighting is a little harsh IMO for this type of work.

#3 my Fav.

Josh Evilsizor wrote:
lighting is a little harsh IMO for this type of work.

My thought as well. Sources should be bigger, or closer. And avoid the lighting from below, such as in #1.

Thanks for the comments, it's appreciated.

Travis: Good call on the crop, I tightened it up a little.

Jim: Green hair is just unfortunate mix from the background which was white, but I shot a green gel at it for color. This was the [last] weakest set in the bunch due to many reasons. Lesson learned: shooting at 1am after everyone was up at 6am that day was a bad move. This makeup was suppose to be way more involved with swirls and the whole deal... think poison ivy. This is also why the hair is the way it is.

Todd: Can you back up your reasons why to avoid under light? This was a large umbrella from high camera right and what you see is the reflector bringing light back in from lower to avoid loosing the eyes and more so, the makeup. Short of loosing the shoulder, I think the light suites the hair/makeup.

Cheers.

I'm sure it was fun, but IMHO, ya, missed the mark.

Not so much you, but the MUA did..

BUT, if your happy, then.....

Hey Spencer!

Nice attempt. I'm with the crowd on #3 being the stronger one here, and I tend to agree somewhat with Pfiltz on the MUA. I think that the light is a little over-cooked for the style, and there are some hard transitions on the cheek in #2 which appear to be more makeup related than lighting, but could be a bit of both.

But you have some lovely ladies there and it looks like you're off to a good start - certainly better than my first attempts. Keep at it and make every opportunity you can to work with different faces and stylists, and it helps to have a solid theme and the time to execute it... but you've already learned that lesson!

Cheers neighbour!
njw
PS - in your area this afternoon - passing through mainly but if you have time... call.

I can never get ALL of the girls to go topless for head shots...usually it's just one.

The girl in #4 looks like, with the right setup (and maybe not at 1 AM), she would be gorgeous. I say you learned some good lessons such as avoiding late nights and bleeding backgrounds, and GO SHOOT HER AGAIN!

spink wrote:
Thanks for the comments, it's appreciated.

...
Jim: Green hair is just unfortunate mix from the background which was white, but I shot a green gel at it for color. This was the [last] weakest set in the bunch due to many reasons. Lesson learned: shooting at 1am after everyone was up at 6am that day was a bad move. This makeup was suppose to be way more involved with swirls and the whole deal... think poison ivy. This is also why the hair is the way it is.
....
Cheers.
There's a school of thought that says: "Only show your best."

That way you don't show the green tinge shot or others that didn't quite turn out the way you wanted. Just keep them in your lessons learned pile and show the good ones.
That advice (from Steady, I think - maybe others too) will help you.