Paige Thomley wrote:
I've got nothing better to do on a Saturday night so I guess I'll give this a shot. Any takers?

Hi,

I've searched the thread and don't see my post to join, (if I overlooked it and your response I apologize.) Your critiques and dedication to the thread are fabulous.

Me too?

Thanks!
Jen

Paige Thomley wrote:

I think you've got some good stuff going on. You should try to do some fashion shots. Suits, sneakers, something like that. Try out a few different expressions.

Added a few more.

MyrnaByrna Jen B wrote:

Hi,

I've searched the thread and don't see my post to join, (if I overlooked it and your response I apologize.) Your critiques and dedication to the thread are fabulous.

Me too?

Thanks!
Jen

Okay darling here we go...

You've got a pretty diverse port and look quite good for your age so kudos on that! Some photos are much better than others and some could be good with just a bit of editing. I'll go through them one by one.

#1-Great photo. Great composition,wardrobe,hair,stance,everything is wonderful. Definitely should remain towards the top of your portfolio.
#2-Good photo, but a tad bit blurry. You want the closer shot to be in focus and the farther one to be blurry. This isn't your fault, it's the photographers, but it takes the image down a notch.
#3-Awesome.
#4-There are a few things wrong with this one. Besides the fact that it's just not a very good image because you seem disengaged and bored, whoever photo shopped you made your face look plastic and not in a good way. And if that weren't enough the photographer slapped her unprofessional looking 'logo' (if you wanna call it that)  over half of the image. Personally I would can this one or ask to have the original image (good luck) and have a professional editor fix it.
#5-Can it. Way too 'posey', bad (cheap-looking) wardrobe, you look old.
#6-It's pretty good. I even like the blurry hand, it's a cool touch.
#7-It's alright, nothing worth keeping though. Seems too candid.
#8 Bad editing, bad cropping. Can it or at the very least don't have it as your avatar anymore. Cool eyes though.
#9-It's alright. It's a horrible crop though and because of this it totally ruins the shot. Can you get the un-cropped image?
#10-Your face is blurry. Can it.
#11-The only thing I like about this shot is the street. You seem really insecure and the photographer shot you too far away so the viewer has to search for the model in the shot. It's not a very strong image of you.
#12-Also not a very good image. Your pose is forced, your face is too dark and your attire looks really dated.
#13-16-All wonderful. You are good at outdoor nudes and should do more of them. You can tell that your soul is happier and you are more confident.
#17-Great. You clearly excel in natural settings. The only thing I would change is to brighten you up a bit in photo shop so you shine more compared to the water.
#18-Great image as well but your face kind of ruins it a bit. You look tired and kind of old here. Some photo shop could fix that too.
#19-I really want to like this image but the fact is that your face is ruining it. Everything about the face is off really. Your eyes are squinty and your mouth is closed self-consciously, your make-up is horrible. Your neck is at an odd angle that comes off as uncomfortable. And on top of that the photo doesn't even seem to be edited at all. 
#20-Cool picture of your tattoo, bad picture for your portfolio. This is something that belongs on facebook.
#21-Yay, you're smiling for once! You should do more of it.
#22-I personally don't think this should be here because although you're doing runway, it is quite clear by the venue that it's an amateur deal. You look great though so if you want to keep it I would move it to be the last photo in your port.
#23-Your eyes are squinty here as well and it takes away from the shot but it's still nice.
#24-Beautiful.
#25- Candid, horrible, delete.
#26-Good shot.
#27-Great shot. Move this to the top of your port.
#28-Good shot.

Overall I think you need to work on opening your eyes (even if the sun is shining!) and relaxing your mouth. You will come off as more relaxed and beautiful I promise! Try to work with some wardrobe stylists because some of your photos look really dated based on outfits you choose. Work a bit on your posing too. Try not to do so much 'fashiony' posing. It looks too forced. Work with photographers that can bring you to the next level, don't work with them just because they want to work with you. Be more picky basically. Keep going!

Greg DAE wrote:
Added a few more.

I like all of them but #3 in the red hoodie thing is the weak one. #4 is much better and you're wearing the same thing so I would get rid of #3.

Razeal  wrote:
Tell me what you think

Well what I think is that you need to get a lot of practice in. You have a pretty face and a good body but so do millions of other people. If you want to actually go anywhere with this modeling thing you should really focus on working with people that can bring your port to the next level, basically work with professionals. Maybe even pay them. You need a good head shot, you need a good full body shot, get a good bikini shot because the ones you've got aren't cutting it (although the suit is great). Start simply and build from there. Work on posing. I do like #3 and #5 though.

Paige Thomley wrote:

Well what I think is that you need to get a lot of practice in. You have a pretty face and a good body but so do millions of other people. If you want to actually go anywhere with this modeling thing you should really focus on working with people that can bring your port to the next level, basically work with professionals. Maybe even pay them. You need a good head shot, you need a good full body shot, get a good bikini shot because the ones you've got aren't cutting it (although the suit is great). Start simply and build from there. Work on posing. I do like #3 and #5 though.

Thank you and I know you are right. I wanted to get that together before I started the page but everyone was saying I needed to just get started.

pho-TOTO-graphy wrote:
let me hear your thoughts if i'll keep the fantasy shots and just continue working with regular portraits

You're obviously trying out lots of different genres of photography, which is great, it's how you figure out what you're good at and most passionate about. The problem is that your different styles are also different skill levels. So much so that they seem like they were taken by different people. How can the photo of the aerialist be taken by the same photographer as that cheesy photo of the girl with the bad makeup in the bubble wrap?! I'm not going to go through them all on here but if you want a photo by photo critique PM me and I'll be happy to oblige. To answer your question of if you should keep your fantasy shots, I don't know. Some are good some are not. I will tell you that your strongest shots are of the women in nature. You really can capture the vivid beauty of the outdoors while not losing the model, which is surprisingly hard.

Paige Thomley wrote:

I like all of them but #3 in the red hoodie thing is the weak one. #4 is much better and you're wearing the same thing so I would get rid of #3.

Thanks!

Paige Thomley wrote:
I've got nothing better to do on a Saturday night so I guess I'll give this a shot. Any takers?

Bitch away

Jared Jinkerson wrote:
show me some love!

Well darling your bio is a tad bit confusing. You're listed as a model but then say in two short sentences that you don't necessarily want to be the model. So what do you want to be then? Tell us in your bio a little more specifically. Do you want to be an assistant, wardrobe, do you want to be the guy that calls Jimmy Johns for us in the middle of the desert? I get that you don't want to narrow yourself into the box of 'model' but you're hurting yourself by not being more specific.

As for your photos, they're nice. Nothing special. You have a good face, great smile. Try to work with better photographers on actual themes. I think that's what you want to do based on your bio but maybe you should be more proactive about it and bust your butt to make it happen.

FBY1K wrote:
Love it, hate it but bring it.

FBY1K

You seem to be a foot fetishist, or at least photograph for that genre. That's cool but if you're going to do it, you have to do it well. Work with better models who can actually pose. You'll probably have to pay them to do stuff like this since most of them won't need or want photos of their feet in their port. Learn how to light better and work on your composition a bit. Most of the photos of the whole model should be dumped, they are too amateur and posey.

Derek Bennett wrote:
If you're still critiquing please have a look. 

Even if you like my current stuff, suggestions about what to add are welcome.  I have my own ideas but an outside perspective is really helpful.  Thanks!

I like photos #1 and #5. Everything else should go in my opinion. I think the studio setting is hurting you, the models don't have anything to interact with and seem too posed and uncomfortable. At the very least try to play music or something. For the most part these seem like amateur photos of a amateur girls in their underwear. Maybe try to start with something else. I tell most people to start outside in a field or forest with the light coming through a bit and to get a model who can move and pose. Have her be in a silk slip or something equally timeless and graceful. See how that works.

Jay Van-Stry wrote:
Me, please.

I like your newest set with the little red riding hood theme. She's beautiful, comfortably posed, well-edited, great outfit. Overall it seems well planned out. Aim for more of this. I would also narrow it down to #1 and one other from that shoot because having four shots of virtually the same thing is kind of excessive. The rest of your work is ho-hum. I get bits and pieces of good stuff from you but you just have to bring it all together. You excel in an outdoor setting because you have an eye for the light. Shoot outside for awhile with models and see where that gets you.

kane wrote:

Bitch away

You're all over the place stylistically and your skill level isn't consistent from shoot to shoot. Some shots are great (the one of the nude in nature sitting on the stump) and others are just bad (the Polaroid of the girl in the white dress). It makes us models wonder which photographer we are going to get if we set up a shoot with you, or if the photos we love in your port were actually shot and orchestrated by you. I suggest weeding out the bad photos to make your better ones shine and attract the types of models who will make your work grow. Especially since you're trying to put out a book. If you want my humble advice on what to drop just PM me.

Randy Potvin wrote:
Me?

I would get rid of your top four images altogether. They aren't helping you. Aim to shoot with better photographers. You want to be an actor? Try conveying some emotion. I'd love to see a striking head shot in black and white with your eyes piercing the camera. You're getting there.

Bomb Kid wrote:
Im very new lol but ok go

You're cute but I can't critique you until you actually do some photo shoots.

Paige Thomley wrote:

You seem to be a foot fetishist, or at least photograph for that genre. That's cool but if you're going to do it, you have to do it well. Work with better models who can actually pose. You'll probably have to pay them to do stuff like this since most of them won't need or want photos of their feet in their port. Learn how to light better and work on your composition a bit. Most of the photos of the whole model should be dumped, they are too amateur and posey.

Thanks,

I am a foot fetishist but keep my photographic interests broad.

Starkey

MVK Photography wrote:
I would really love to know your thoughts.  Thank you!

I like your bio but think that you should put where you are/will be toward the top of the page. I also think that you should remove the photos on your bio page and put them in your profile. Oh wait, they are already in there. So why are they on your bio page too?

That being said, I am in love with your work. You really can capture movement, feeling, color and style in a unique and appealing way. I'm usually not a fan of multiple images in one photo but in your case it really works. There are a few instances where the stand out image is lost in the mix though, or one image isn't nearly as strong at the others. If you want me to get specific, PM me. Also, if you want to collaborate PM me! I've got a killer wardrobe.

Kasey LeeAnn wrote:
Ok... Here we go.

You need to practice your posing a bit because you're pulling a lot of the classic newbie model dorky poses that don't usually work unless you commit to them. Hands on the hips in half of your photos and none of them look very good. So work on that. You need a straight on head shot and a good full body shot. (No, the photo of you tugging on your shirt doesn't count. In fact, it's your worst photo.) You've got killer curves so flaunt them! Study classical paintings and photos and try to emulate them often until they become second-nature and look convincing. Maybe try working with a woman photographer and tell her that you want to look curvy and sexy but not overtly so. Try doing a shoot outside, implied nude if you're comfortable with that in some tall grass. Because you have a lot of ink it's important to look to photographers that have either taken great photos of inked women before or who can really work well with color because in some of your shots your ink looks really dull. Personally I would only keep photos #2 and #10.

Seek out people who can bring you to the next level. Don't settle for mediocre photographers!

Quentin Skyking wrote:
Would you please critique me?

In your bio you sound a tad bit crazy, but it's the good kind of crazy so it works!

Your photos are alright, you seem to shoot a lot of different stuff. My favorite is the Alice picture. I've seen most of these photos in other people's ports before so maybe try to be a bit more original.

Carlos Godfrey wrote:
Please be a b*tch to me

Most of your photos make me laugh at how cliche they are. I'm not going to critique you because this is just not my style at all.

Keith Aleksoff  wrote:
Do me!

You have a lot of photos, some of them are surprisingly great for being lifestyle shots too. I say this because a lot of times when I go to critique someone and read on their bio that they are a 'lifestyle' photographer I groan because really it means they just go outside and take random pictures of people without having the skills to do it well. But your really seem to do it well. Some of your lesser photos are just clogging up the space though. I'd be happy to tell you which ones those are via PM if you're interested.

Paige Thomley wrote:
You're obviously trying out lots of different genres of photography, which is great, it's how you figure out what you're good at and most passionate about. The problem is that your different styles are also different skill levels. So much so that they seem like they were taken by different people. How can the photo of the aerialist be taken by the same photographer as that cheesy photo of the girl with the bad makeup in the bubble wrap?! I'm not going to go through them all on here but if you want a photo by photo critique PM me and I'll be happy to oblige. To answer your question of if you should keep your fantasy shots, I don't know. Some are good some are not. I will tell you that your strongest shots are of the women in nature. You really can capture the vivid beauty of the outdoors while not losing the model, which is surprisingly hard.

Thanks Paige!

Will try to update my port this weekend