oqshoots wrote:
Hi there!  I am new to Model Mayhem and look forward to connecting and networking here.

I have a couple of pics posted and was interested to hear your feedback.

Thanks in advance!

Something to bear in mind about the responses you are going to receive here:
1.) Everyone's opinion about your photos is going to be based on their own personal tastes and styles, their perception of what you might have been trying to achieve since you didn't elaborate on that, and how they analyze the technical aspects of the image.

That said, the opinions given here will contain valid points and ideas, but you should not be discouraged if someone is harsh. Also, you should not take someone's praise as proof that your photos are great. It's all in perspective and depends on your intent for the photos.

I will point out a few technical things that you can consider for improving your techniques:

Consider shooting portraits (full length or cropped) with wide apertures of F2.8 or greater. This will blur the background and help the subject to stand out more, creating a more attractive, professional-looking image. If your current lens does not open up that far, you can buy F1.8 prime lenses in 50mm or 85mm for relatively little expense.

Be mindful of your composition when taking a photograph to avoid things like cutting off someone's feet, like this:


Also on the subject of composition, I suggest studying the Rule of Thirds and see if this helps you better frame your photos.

Lastly, experiment with lighting in your photos and the exposure settings on your camera. This photo is lovely, but it is a little dark:

A reflector or different exposure settings would have been of great benefit.

Best of luck to you! Looking forward to seeing more of your work in the future!