You have a lovely model. She is naturally beautiful. Lucky you.
Since she looks like a young Natalie Wood, you might find it helpful to do some research on how Hollywood photographers portrayed Natalie. They share similar facial structure, color, and hair. Those similarities can work to your advantage as you consider lighting setups for your work with your lovely wife.
My general impression is that the image is good and pleasant looking as a photo.
The eyes and expression look nice and her face looks good (not overly PP).
What would I change?
1. I would reduce the amount of light. I don't think you need that "rim light" and the key light and the fill are so close in ratio that I think she looks a little 'over lit.' Of course this is a matter or taste and degree. I tend to like more shadows. I would also reduce the amount of light on the background too. The bright blue tends to 'grab' the eye with its vibrant color. My preference would be to keep the viewer's eyes focused on the lovely brown eyes of the model/subject.
2. I would change the format to "portrait" (tall) orientation.
I hope these comments help you.
Now, I hope you will help me too. A little "take and give" if you will. I do not have a "Global Impression" from South Africa yet, so I would like your help. I would like your Impressions on any of my work as described in the following link. Follow this link to learn more about my Global Impressions Project and how a few words from you can help. http://steadmanuhlich.com/globalforum/global_impressions.htm
thanks for the comments SteadyHand,
I've tried a portrait crop, but keeping the correct aspect ratio and keeping everything in the image did not work. I guess it because I shot this as landscape and left very little room for change.
I'll try and give feedback to you Global Impressions when I get home, at work your site seems to be blocked for whatever reason.
Technically speaking, I would have dialed down the light a little, but you have the ratio right. I'd also get rid of the flower - it's a little cheesy. The sigma flash behind also didn't do much since your mail lights were dialed up so high... but overall it's very close to being correctly lit (in my opinion).
I think the space I'm working in is to small. I could not dial down the fill light anymore and also could not move it back any further. to keep the ratio right I had to dial up the main light.
I'm going to try using a reflector instead of the fill light, that way I should be able to drop the main light.
If you can't dial down the light, you can close the aperture an f stop as needed.... At least on the web version, it looks like she has a little bit of blowout of the reds on her cheek
thanks for all the comments, since this was my first time using my little studio there is plenty room for improvement. I'm going to take all the comments given and try them out, the worst that can happen is that I spend more time in the studio taking more photos. now thats not so bad.
oh yes Steady Hand, I googled Natalie Woods. You're right, there is a resemblance.
