Hey!

I've been doing photography, mostly landscape and cityscape, for years now, but recently have had several opportunities to work on some portrait photography.

Having limited experience with portraits however, my editing/post production of them may not be on par as well and would love any critique from the general photo composition to post production tips/tricks. Youtube videos will only get me so far! :p

Thanks in advance!

I'd say you need to study lighting first. At the very least, get a model who understands what the light is doing to her features. She can show you some better practices.

There are many tutorials on how to use light. Check them out on YouTube.

I agree with studying light



-The empty space above her head makes her look short
-The shadow across her face makes her look older
-The bright white belly and dark shadows make her stomach seem bulky and extended
-The duck body by her leg is distracting.
-The angle of her head makes it look like she is looking in two different direction.

What is the focus of the image? My eye is drawn to her belly and the ducks.   

The hardest thing for me and most people is keeping an eye out for shadows since our brain is programed to NOT see them.  There is a big chance that you didn't even notice how severe it was while shooting.

Yes, lighting and composition need help.

#1 You've made it difficult for yourself by giving her a black and white outfit. Her face, chest and left bicep have a strange brown color cast - post processing?


#2 The lighting, facial color and expression, pose and man's watch make her look transgender. If model is transgender, fine, if not?


#4 Reflector needed to light her face, her eyes are practically swiveled out of her head.


#5 Great looking model, but she's totally overexposed and it's not her swimsuit. If she were not there would that have been the exposure you would have used? Shot the bridge that way?


#6 There are lots of videos online on how to and how not to shoot outdoor portraits, in full sun. In short - find or make open shade. Also, your background is really busy.


#7 Aside from the ducks and the bridge going through her head, you've managed to pose her or allowed her to pose herself in a way as to make her face unattractive. Did you notice the dark blob/shadow on her right side, rough skin texture and possible appendectomy scar? The blond hairs on her leg?


#8 Very good for what it is.


#9 Brightly lit elbow towards  camera distracting, other wise not bad.


Definitely do some research on portrait and outdoor lighting. Keep shooting.

Stop shooting in the middle of the day! You'll have to spend so much time compensating for the weird shadows when you could just schedule your shoot a bit earlier or later to avoid them completely.

Also, I'm not really sure what the intention is on most of the images. Are you taking pictures of pretty girls - in which case, they need to be more flattering in terms of angles and more engaging in terms of poses and interaction with the camera. If it's the clothes then the looks need to be more tied together and more interesting.

A lot of them look quite 'snapshotty'. It may help to do more planning prior to the shoot so you know exactly what you're planning to get and how.