Had my first shoot a while back but just now got around to posting it on my profile. Also pretty new here in the forums so forgive me if I am not doing this correctly. Any thoughts? The location we did the shoot at was sub par but we made the best out of what we could. I am aiming towards more elegant conceptual stuff than this. Kind of like dresses in a forest and all that. One of the main things I took away from this shoot was that looking straight forward to the camera and smiling like a high school picture is very boring and it made my pictures lifeless in that sense. Also posing was not that great because it was my first time directing. Either way, I know my thoughts are all over the place but any kind of tips or info is much appreciated. I prefer the sunset soft lighting because of my lack of equipment but this was taken obviously when it was really bright out.

I'm not a photographer, but I have sure worked with a lot of them in the past 28 years as a model and I learned a long time ago what to look for as far as details that could be improved upon.

I think you make some good points in what you learned already from the first shoot.  The thing to do is keep at it and practice more.

I really like this photo, because it shows you have good potential,  and I will tell you what I see wrong with it

A few things immediately come into discussion, her fingernails don't look clean, and the hair falling in front of her eye should have been pushed aside. Also the tilt of her head and her gaze is nice, but we can see a little too much of the whites of her eyes, and she should probably have tucked her bra strap under the yellow top.

I like the overall pose and think you should go back and redo this until you have it right in your own estimation. Take a closer look at the small details when you are setting up the poses, before you pick up the camera.

Some photographers are probably going to come along and say other things about it as well but if those simple things were corrected at the time you took the photo, it would be a great shot instead of just a good one.

For the most part, your colors are either off, or too saturated or overexposed or not complementary.

#1 The young lady is in a fetching pose (that's a good thing) There's eye contact and she looks relaxed. Her right eye is too far over but that's almost minor. Did you lighten the white of that eye, because it's way too bright for the light she's in.

Her skin color(s). Her facial color bears no relation to the color of her arms, hand or, especially, her chest which is close to her face which makes it very noticeable. I assume that's makeup on her face. Her hand looks like it has been washing dishes for a week and is red and raw.. It need to be somewhere else, not near her face. Her arm is a different color than her hand.
Taking pictures in a lovely green area has a major drawback: Skin gets a green cast that's just about impossible to get rid of.

Speaking of her hand, did you notice that it is in perfect focus, showing us that her face is not. The background is too much in focus which means that you may need a wider aperture lens to throw the background out of focus.


2. Lighting - harsh, throwing bad shadow on the side of the nose, color off on skin, harsh reflections from eyes.


3. Re grass and skin color: the defense rests its case. Model's makeup doesn't help. Less is more. Up the nostril shots are usually not the best angle.


4. The girl's got a great "wild child" look and a figure. What possessed her to put on that shapeless whatever that clashes with everything else in the shot? A severe crop down to a little bit above her head and up to her chest (showing greenery above her head and a bit to the side of her arm) leaving out that great blue mass and distracting background..


5. A really good shot. Her nostrils don't bother me here because her skin color is natural, her face has been slimmed by stretching out her neck and the flare here is a nice effect. Looks like you cropped out a distraction. If yes, good work.


There's a very simple rule about shooting outdoors with models - YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE OF EVERYTHING. Sorry for shouting but basically, that's it - lighting, focus, background, foreground, pose, makeup, wrinkles, etc, etc, etc. It come s with practice and maybe assistants (I wouldn't know, I don't have any assistants). Oh yes, and breathing - don't forget to do it once in a while. It helps the model think that you know what you're doing. If you're not breathing, it makes them nervous and it shows in the pictures. Good luck! Keep trying.

There seems to be a color cast to this image, an up the nose angle is not the most flattering, and the top does not seem to be fitting well around models neck
Eye position appears natural in this image [they are looking in the direction the nose is pointed]
Do you see how the white part of the eye appears blue?
Hand position seems static


Blasting the camera with the whites of the eyes in not the greatest of looks
Composition seems off as well, model too far to photo left
Undergarment strap showing on shoulder, and dress hanger strap by models right armpit

Direct reply to your post:
“”The location we did the shoot at was sub par””
You selected the location, which means you are in control, actually the location looks ok, it’s what is done at the location that matters

“”One of the main things I took away from this shoot was that looking straight forward to the camera and smiling like a high school picture is very boring””
Having the whites of the eye blasting the camera is not showcasing the model. Having great eye contact and a connection with the camera will go a long way to show case the model

“”because of my lack of equipment””
Reflectors are cheap, heck you can even use a piece of white foam core to add to lighting dynamics.

I wish you well

Your best photo so far is: https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/38735011


Most of the things you took away from this experience make sense, but direct eye contact can be an EXCELLENT thing... I myself go for that very often (check my portfolio, if you'd like).

I'd say: start with better lens and move, move, move until you find the right angles. I am usually sore and dirty by the end of a Photoshoot and I think that's how ideally it should be

Welcome to the wonderful world of Model Mayhem!

Couple of questions;

You stated limited equipment.  Are you shooting digital or film?  Dedicated flash or one that is built into the camera?

~ Dennis