Hey Aly---

* Your profile *

I think you have a great profile opening.  It's fun, interesting, and gives a good indication of who you.  All of your details appear to be listed, and I can assume they are accurate.  Nice job.

I would look to abbreviate your profile, although just a bit.  Edit out anything unnecessary to you.  The longer your profile is, the less likely someone is to read it.  And, watch your capitalization.  Some photographers don't care about how you write, others think it's a sign of laziness that may be an indication to your work ethic.

* Your portfolio *

As a new model, you have some decent quality photos in your portfolio.  I'm happy to see no cell phone pictures in there.  With a variety of poses, expressions and outfits, you're off to a great start.

This image:


really shows off your legs.  It's well lit, and has had some good editing done.  I especially like the tone, however, I'm not so sure of the junkyard scene.  Maybe the point was to contrast; i.e. "beautiful girl in a dump" but I don't feel it.

This one:


is definitely my favorite in your portfolio.  I love the soft lighting and tone, and the vertical lines and color all seem to work here for me.  The floor door is a distraction to me, and I would have framed you off-center to the left for this composition.  Your expression is a bit dull, but your skin looks great and I love the eye contact. 

My least favorite image:


Maybe the intent was to show off your body, and while yes...your tummy is certainly washboard flat, everything else is not good.  The light is terrible, the pose seems forced, the photo is blurry, and the background is way underexposed.  Your portfolio would immediately gain a few points if you deleted this one.

A quick comment on this one:


This one would have been much better if your hair wasn't covering your eye and if you had high heels on that would have accentuated your legs, calf muscle, and wouldn't have made them to look shorter.  Great urban scene, lighting and pose, though.

Here's my other favorite in your portfolio:


I love the composition, mood, pose, and lighting.  I wish a different top would have been chosen, that would have showed off your upper body lines.  Good expression, although I would shoot for a little more "thinking" than "looking on the ground" as you are trying to act this out again in the future.  Creating some space to separate your right arm from your body, and either separating your legs or crossing them further to prevent the "one-foot-look" would have improved this shot as well.

I would keep your 1/2 studio shot and ditch your full one.  Although your legs look great, the lighting is flat on your face, and your right toe is cut off.

I'm also not a big fan of your composite image.  While you do have some mildly different expressions going on, the compositions are all mostly the same.  It gets boring as the viewer looks through from one to the next instead of telling a story or getting more interesting.


All in all, you're a pretty girl, with a tall, slender figure many would kill for.  Practice your expressions and learn a few killer poses to show yourself off and your next shoot will be twice as good as your last one.

Maria --

* Your profile *

What a great profile!  I found myself enjoying the read, not just wanting to skim it.  I feel like I know you a little bit.

I'm glad to see all your measurements in the details pane.  The absense of your weight is not a big deal to me.  I would think how you look in your photos, and the fact your other measurements are listed would work.


* Your portfolio *

I really like your portfolio.  Let's start with a favorite:



Great eye contact, classic pose, great arch, and wonderful expression.  I'm a fan of the lighting and the shadow.  You make this look effortless.  I'm a big fan of red, and even in the subdued tone of this image, it works well.  I do wish the light didn't fall off on your legs so quickly; it would have been nice for them to be a bit lighter, although I do understand drawing more attention to your face, with it being the brightest part of the image.  I also wish the lighting didn't create such deep shadows in your side.

Now, my least favorites:

This one:


doesn't show off your body as nicely as your other images do.  While I do like it compositionally and like the soft lighting, I feel it's a bit underexposed and would have turned you a bit away from the lens, rather than taken a "square-on" shot.  I also feel as if your left hand is clawing a bit at your chest.  I also think a bit of additional sidelighting would help separate you from the background more nicely, and would have added some edge lighting around your hair.


Here:


I don't think this image does anything to improve your overall portfolio.  While the lighting is soft and your skin looks great, your expression seems lifeless to me.  This one:


takes on a similar angle and really shows you off much better.  Beautiful skin, much better expression and eye contact, great curves, highlights in your hair--it's all there.  I'd dump the other one from your portfolio as soon as you're done reading this.


I love your pose and expression here in this:

And, although I'm a big fan of B

Sibby S wrote:
Determined

I'll be back to finish up tomorrow, Sibby!

Sibby S wrote:
Determined

Hi Sibby!  Believe it or not, the first girl I ever asked out was named Sibby.  I had never heard it before then, and have rarely heard it since.  Regardless as to what happened shortly after will not have an effect on my critique.  But, I digress...


* Your Profile *

I like your profile.  It's clean, short, and upbeat.  It's inviting.  It only takes a few seconds to read, and makes it seem like you'd be fun to work with.  I'm happy to see your measurements filled out in the details pane as well.  The only thing I would consider changing would be your comment, "I'd like to get a better network of photographers..."  This could be mistaken by some that you are unhappy with some people in your friends list, or wish they were better at what they do (although, I'm sure that's not what you mean.)

I'm also happy to see you have open casting calls.  Maybe you really are determined.


* Your Portfolio *

When I look at your portfolio, it feels boring to me.  Know that I write this with only the best intentions.  The good news is that you do have a few good images in there.  And, the fact that you have some casting calls out to get some better images is great.

Get rid of this:


It's well composed, but your expression is dull and lifeless, the lighting is flat, and there is no catchlight in your eyes.  You do have wonderful facial features, but this image doesn't show them off for you.

This one is a much better representation:


Although, I would have liked to see this cropped a bit tighter.  The quality of this image can be greatly improved by some good editing.  The lighting is still a bit flat, but still way better than the first.


This one is good:


The lighting is better, although your left arm has blown highlights.  I can see the highlights in your hair.  I like the offset composition and the depth of field.  The weed on the right side is distracting.  Your expression and pose is "comfortable".


I like the location and the bathing suit here:


Although your expression is the same.  Also, a simple grassy location like this could certainly have been improved by the photographer, including a much deeper blue sky.  I also feel that being able to see your hands and feet would have improved this image.  Your body should have been shown much longer; instead you look like a double-amputee.


This one is of much higher quality than your others:


Great lighting and contrast.  Deep shadows.  Finally showing off your legs.  One problem here though: the male model seems to have a much more comfortable pose than you.  Your left arm seems "stuck" on the chair.


Here's another high quality image:


Great light and contrast.  Nice couples shot.  But, your expression leaves more to be desired.


I like this image:


Good pose and composition.  Watch your hands, though.  Even though they are not cut off by the edge of the frame, they are both hiding.  The photographer should have caught this and had you move them.  There was likely no way for you to know that the camera angle would have hidden (at least your left hand.)  I do think you have an improved expression here, but I'm not fond of the "instagram-ish" post on this.


In summary, you're a pretty model, with great stats.  Learn 2-3 great expressions by practicing in front of a mirror until you can nail them without thinking.  Pare down your portfolio to only the best 5 images to entice better photographers to work with you.  Practice 2-3 killer poses that show off your legs/length and your curves.


Keep #'s 4, 6, 9, 11, 12.  Dump the rest.

Take only the advice here that makes sense to you, and take that determined attitude and make it happen.


- Mike

Sarah_ wrote:
I'll hold my breath with #4.

Quirky

Really, Sarah?  What are you doing in this thread?

Why would you want some shmuck like me critiquing your work?  Well, qualified or not, you asked; I'm sorry you had to hold your breath so long...


* Your profile *

Your "About me" section reads nicely.  It shows you off as a successful young woman, and let's others know what to expect in terms of your response time.  You sound thankful and sweet, but this line, "although I have been signed both domestically and internationally previously" comes off a bit cocky to me.

I'm happy to see your details filled out, and I love the "real me" photos in your profile.  It really gives photographers an excellent idea what you look like without makeup and/or Photoshop.  I never would have guessed you are 21 in a million years.  You better get used to getting carded every time you choose to set foot in a bar for at least the next 15 years...

Since you had the video link there, I checked it out.  It's a great idea; one that you could have executed far more powerfully.  You should market yourself in this video much better.  Show off your height and slenderness for more than the last few seconds.  Give a little taste of the expressions you can pull off.

* Your portfolio *

I must say, I truly enjoyed viewing your portfolio.  You've clearly worked with photographers who are much better than me.  First of all, there isn't a single photo that I didn't like.  That being said, you'll have to accept the fact that I will need to nit-pick at your photos, simply because you need to be held to a much higher standard.

Let's start with my favorites:



I just love this sun-flared look.  Your porcelain skin, soft expressions, lovely poses, and sunlit backlighting on your hair make me want to shoot this style.  I've got nothing bad to say about either of these, from a modeling or photography standpoint.


Another favorite:



Beautiful expression and hair, and amazingly large, captivating eyes make this a winner.  However, I don't like the front-focus problem here--your hair in front of your face to camera left is in focus and your eyes are not.  This image would be much stronger if the focus was on your eyes.  And, the white on your shirt is blown-out.  But, a great composition for a head-shot.


And this:



Really lovely.  Beautiful dress, effortless pose... Hair, makeup, expression, lighting... it's all perfect.  But, I don't like the horizontal shadow cutting through you at hip-level.

Now I'm not going to go through all the "stuff in the middle".  As I mentioned before, I love all your work.  So switching gears to... let's call them simply my "least favorites":



This one doesn't do it for me, although, I am a bit torn between an expression that's "something good, but I can't put my finger on it" and one that's just "plain."  The highlight on the hat is blown out way too much for me, and the lighting on your face is flat.  But there's still something in your eyes that I can't figure out that pulls me back in.
This one:


I like better.  Even though the hat is blown out even more, it has an "aged photo" tone to it that somehow makes that fact acceptable to me.  And this expression is killer.

Here:


We have beautiful hair, makeup, posing, lighting... all wonderfully done in this series.  But, UGH... why were your toes cut off in the middle shot?


All of your images that depict movement, with the turns and hair-flips are inspiring.  You've been blessed with multiple book covers and the opportunity to travel around the world all by age 21.  What will you do next?

Mike Mango wrote:

Really, Sarah?  What are you doing in this thread?

Why would you want some shmuck like me critiquing your work?  Well, qualified or not, you asked; I'm sorry you had to hold your breath so long...


* Your profile *

Your "About me" section reads nicely.  It shows you off as a successful young woman, and let's others know what to expect in terms of your response time.  You sound thankful and sweet, but this line, "although I have been signed both domestically and internationally previously" comes off a bit cocky to me.

I'm happy to see your details filled out, and I love the "real me" photos in your profile.  It really gives photographers an excellent idea what you look like without makeup and/or Photoshop.  I never would have guessed you are 21 in a million years.  You better get used to getting carded every time you choose to set foot in a bar for at least the next 15 years...

Since you had the video link there, I checked it out.  It's a great idea; one that you could have executed far more powerfully.  You should market yourself in this video much better.  Show off your height and slenderness for more than the last few seconds.  Give a little taste of the expressions you can pull off.

* Your portfolio *

I must say, I truly enjoyed viewing your portfolio.  You've clearly worked with photographers who are much better than me.  First of all, there isn't a single photo that I didn't like.  That being said, you'll have to accept the fact that I will need to nit-pick at your photos, simply because you need to be held to a much higher standard.

Let's start with my favorites:



I just love this sun-flared look.  Your porcelain skin, soft expressions, lovely poses, and sunlit backlighting on your hair make me want to shoot this style.  I've got nothing bad to say about either of these, from a modeling or photography standpoint.


Another favorite:



Beautiful expression and hair, and amazingly large, captivating eyes make this a winner.  However, I don't like the front-focus problem here--your hair in front of your face to camera left is in focus and your eyes are not.  This image would be much stronger if the focus was on your eyes.  And, the white on your shirt is blown-out.  But, a great composition for a head-shot.


And this:



Really lovely.  Beautiful dress, effortless pose... Hair, makeup, expression, lighting... it's all perfect.  But, I don't like the horizontal shadow cutting through you at hip-level.

Now I'm not going to go through all the "stuff in the middle".  As I mentioned before, I love all your work.  So switching gears to... let's call them simply my "least favorites":



This one doesn't do it for me, although, I am a bit torn between an expression that's "something good, but I can't put my finger on it" and one that's just "plain."  The highlight on the hat is blown out way too much for me, and the lighting on your face is flat.  But there's still something in your eyes that I can't figure out that pulls me back in.
This one:


I like better.  Even though the hat is blown out even more, it has an "aged photo" tone to it that somehow makes that fact acceptable to me.  And this expression is killer.

Here:


We have beautiful hair, makeup, posing, lighting... all wonderfully done in this series.  But, UGH... why were your toes cut off in the middle shot?


All of your images that depict movement, with the turns and hair-flips are inspiring.  You've been blessed with multiple book covers and the opportunity to travel around the world all by age 21.  What will you do next?

Wow! Thank you!  I think you were very generous and kind with your critique.  I really appreciate the time you took to do this.  I'll be keeping your comments in mind when I'm revising my profile and making room for new photos.  Again, thank you!