Paige Thomley wrote:

You have a sh*t ton of photos. At least they are all in folders. Let's see if any aren't as awesome as the others...

In your clothed folder #6 should go. It's the same pose as #5 just a different location. Redundant. And #5 is cooler. Same folder...#10 is just bad. She looks like she's got cramps or something. It's boring. #64 is also boring. Boring is sometimes good, but this photo is just nothing special. Everything else in here should stay.

Nudes folder...#25 is also nothing special. Your work is so great that when a lame photo pops up it really sticks out.

Portraits folder...#4 should go. The background overtook the model. #21 is meh. #24 is so unattractive. And not in a good way. #27 is blah. #32 is meh.

Amazingly I can't find much to critique. You obviously know what you're doing and have a roster of supermodels who will get naked for you. Way to go!

Thank you. I have followed most of your observations. Good eye!

Norman Ding wrote:
Bring it on

Well I love your Ansel Adams quote!

Half of your work looks like snapshots and half of it looks like it belongs in a portfolio. #1 just looks like you were in a park and asked some random girl to pose quick. Lose it. #2 is meh. It isn't good and it isn't bad. #3 is a keeper but you knew this. #4 should be kept for now but her standing leg should have been straightened. Do you have any better photos of this session? #5 is okay. #6 is okay but I would lose it. #7 should stay. #8 should too. #9 looks great. Maybe this should be your avi. #10 can stay. #11 is meh. #12 and 13 are okay. #14 is meh. #15 needs to go. Again it looks like you were walking by and just took a picture of a girl.

Try to come up with a few concepts and then pick a model who can complete it. You seem to do better when there is a plan involved as opposed to just walking around and shooting.

Paige Thomley wrote:

Well I love your Ansel Adams quote!

Half of your work looks like snapshots and half of it looks like it belongs in a portfolio. #1 just looks like you were in a park and asked some random girl to pose quick. Lose it. #2 is meh. It isn't good and it isn't bad. #3 is a keeper but you knew this. #4 should be kept for now but her standing leg should have been straightened. Do you have any better photos of this session? #5 is okay. #6 is okay but I would lose it. #7 should stay. #8 should too. #9 looks great. Maybe this should be your avi. #10 can stay. #11 is meh. #12 and 13 are okay. #14 is meh. #15 needs to go. Again it looks like you were walking by and just took a picture of a girl.

Try to come up with a few concepts and then pick a model who can complete it. You seem to do better when there is a plan involved as opposed to just walking around and shooting.

Thank you for the sincere input! I totally agree that a shoot with concept would be more productive, and that's what I'm heading for.

Paige Thomley wrote:

I don't really like any of these photos except for #1 and maybe #7. You just need to practice and get a more experienced model who can help you along without doing those dorky poses. Also, the 'fashion' they are wearing is already outdated. Start simple. Naturally beautiful model (preferably with mucho experience) wearing a simple slip or something like that in a field or next to a brick wall. Nail that ,build from there.

Well said, thank you!

AaronPawlak wrote:

Paige Thomley wrote:
You've got some cool sh*t going on in here. And then you have some duds.

Lose em= 13,15,16 (You have at least 5 photos of this girl from the same shoot in the same outfit. Narrow it down to your top 2 and delete the rest. It's overkill and makes the good ones look like not as stellar.),24 (I just personally don't like it because it doesn't really make sense to me.), 25, 27,28.

#7,1,and 22 are rad.

at first I thought you meant 13, 15, 16 were the same girl.
16 and others are the same girl....
I have reasons for including 13, 15, and 16, but I agree with you, pretty much.

I like the clown falls one, some people don't, and for some it's their favorite.
I'll probably remove it, for other reasons having nothing to do with the image itself.

I'm glad I checked back on this thread before I rearranged and deleted/added photos (which I'll be doing soon).

Paige Thomley wrote:
Okay here we go dude!

#1-keep. 2-Get rid of it. Bad on all levels. Okay not ALL levels. I like the field. 3-meh. 4-lose it and keep #5 instead. 6-All I'm looking at is the incredible sunset. Oh wait there's a model there? If that's not your desired reaction from someone viewing that photo then lose it. 7 and 8 stay. 9-lose it. You were so focused on the model that you disregarded the background which kills the shot. 10,11,12 stay. 11 should be your Avi. Also for future reference if you're doing another shot like #12, have the model sort of kick out the leg she's standing on a bit.(not actually kick it but place it farther away so she's almost lunging a little) It will elongate her leg and both of you will be thankful for that. 13-16 should go. 16 is okay but the others are bad. 17-should go. She looks beautiful (shoot her again like this but not in this environment) but the couch doesn't fit the landscape. I've seen pictures where this really works and is awesome but this one doesn't. 18 through 23 should go. Either bad poses or bad backgrounds or a little bit of both. I do like #20's dress but unless she's completely lying down or standing she looks heavy. I would personally lie her down in a field of low flowers in the dress if she will shoot with you again in the same dress. Have her looking slightly away from the camera but with the side that has the cool hair thing visible. 24-stays. 25 and 26 should go. 27,28 and 29 stay. 30-should stay but if you have a better photo where her neck is in a slightly less awkward position it would be preferable. 31 should go because you failed again to note the backdrop. A pin-up isn't very effective if we are looking at a some street view instead of the model who is stunning! It ruins the shot and the vibe.

Thank you for this. It was very helpful and I will trim some of those shots out of there. 31 is from an early photo shoot and I've been meaning to get rid of it for awhile as the background was complete crap. I appreciate the advice on shot 12, with having her lunging forward a little, and will have the model do that next time. With 9, that was a from an early shoot, and I'm not overly happy with the background, but I do like the "California" feel to it. I'll probably keep it around until I get a better shot to replace it with.  With 6, the model, with her pose, being in slight shadow, contrasting with the bright sunset behind her was intentional.  Others will be trimmed. Appreciate the feedback.

(though I just added three new shots and deleted a couple that you suggested I ditch, so the numbering is completely off now).

Don

DAN CRUIKSHANK wrote:
Still going?

I like your bio.

And I love how you set up your photos in such a curated way! More people should take a cue from you on this. The placement of photos in a portfolio can either enhance your work or detract from it. In this case you nailed it! You have wonderful photos, work very well with light, and know what makes a great composition. Sorry I can't be more of a b*tch! If I had to nitpick I'd say you should try to bring a little bit more color into your work. The photos of the model in the green forest are very striking. Perhaps get some shots of the vibrant fall foliage.

DAN CRUIKSHANK wrote:
Still going?

And one more thing. Your avi doesn't do your work justice. Everything else in your port shows tits and *ss though so I can't really suggest an alternative.

Paige Thomley wrote:

And one more thing. Your avi doesn't do your work justice. Everything else in your port shows tits and *ss though so I can't really suggest an alternative.

Thank you for the critique!!
I have been flagged a couple times on my avatars... So I have to play it safe

Paul Tirado Photography wrote:
Take a look if you have time. Thanks for your opinion.

Your work is also quite wonderful so I'm going to go into nitpick mode and tell you what isn't quite as awesome as the rest. #11. Looks less like an editorial more like some hot chick hanging out by the subway. Oh and I'm distracted by the Chase sign. 22,23 and 24 are great achievements but I would put those last in your port personally. They don't make sense smack dab in the middle of the beauty and fashion stuff. Same goes for #25. #40 is still cool but isn't very convincing. Something's not as great as the others but I can't place what it is. Everything else is smashing.

Blimey Studios wrote:
apparently, there are two postings about this...
I'm a wee bit nervous about this, but maybe if you squint when you look at mine...

In your bio you say you're Vancouver based. We already know that by looking at the top of your bio under your name so it's redundant and just takes up valuable space. People have very short attention spans so the less clogging you do before you get to the really important stuff is preferred. I also think that you telling us in your bio about you sharing info with other photographers about models who no-show isn't necessary. It would be best if that was just brought up in a private message to the model during the negotiation process before a shoot. Something like, 'hey I've been burned before with no-show models and I just want to let you know that if you do decide to become one of them without a phone call or other contact before a shoot I will be informing the other photographers in my network about your flakyness. That being said, I also share how wonderful models can be!'

Okay onto the images...

If you've read any of my previous posts, you'll know that I hate it when people make folders of specific models. It just comes off as creepy and possessive. The only time that it is acceptable in my eyes is when you and a model obviously have a muse type relationship and shoot together multiple times over the years, creating images not from one or two shoots but many. In your case, this is not true to I'd get rid of the specific folders of Heidi and Maggie and put them in either a different folder or leave them unassigned.

Everything in the before and after folder should stay. And kudos for making it separate.

In the HEIDI folder...#5 is your slam dunk keeper photo. #1 is also great but not as awesome. #3 her bra doesn't fit properly and she's trying too hard. I'd lose it. #4 could be a good photo if there wasn't so much going on to distract from the model. Since you are a retoucher you could get rid of all the stuff on the left side of the frame and turn it just orange and it would greatly improve the image. #6 should go. The boob cover thing is not working here. Also, delete this folder and put her in your unassigned.

In the MAGGIE folder...#3 and 4 should stay. Everything else doesn't do her justice. Put her in your unassigned.
MATURE folder. Only keep #1,3,5, and 6. Everything else is either cliche or just not up to par or something else. Dissolve this folder as well and put them in your unassigned.

UNASSIGNED   #1 and 3 can stay. #2, although showing off a great rack, isn't special and should go. #4 should go. If this photo was shot on a beach or a bed then it would be wonderful. You chose to shoot it in a studio with a bad backdrop. Kills the mood and makes the photo look cheap. Can you get them to shoot this again somewhere that makes more sense? #5 and 7 are good but 6 and 8 should go. #8 is pretty but it looks like you just stopped some girl in the hall and asked her to smile. #9 is wonderful. Sexy without the sleaze. #10 and 11 are unremarkable. #12 is fabulous. #13 and 15 can stay. #14 is the winning picture of this chick and should stay. #16 should go. #17 is meh and should go. Go you have a better photo of her from this?

Blimey Studios wrote:
apparently, there are two postings about this...
I'm a wee bit nervous about this, but maybe if you squint when you look at mine...

oh and you should also change your avatar to #12 in your unassigned.

SinScum wrote:
Im game!

Your work is getting there. Some images are way better than others though. #1,3,6,7 are your killer shots and should be on your top row. #2 is okay but she's not there all the way in the face and it ruins the shot. #4 is okay too. #5 is redundant and should be deleted because #7 takes the cake, #8 doesn't really belong in your port. I like that you tried out this concept but unless someone edits it to take it to the next level it should just go. #9 is a cool shot. #10 through 15 are all mediocre and not up to par. They should go. You might have less work in your port but it will all be on the same level.

Paige Thomley wrote:

Pretty girl. You're getting there. I don't think you should get rid of any of them but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be trying to improve. You have such a stellar smile, really is wonderful. Why don't you whip that sucker out more often is beyond me. You really shine when you're outside as well but have a slight tendency to put your arm over your head so just be on the look out that you don't lean on that pose too much. Keep shooting and try to get a killer full body shot that shows off your legs. Maybe even using a fan to blow all that hair around.

Thank you for the feedback. I don't smile very often because most often I find it looks cheesy, I'm trying to work on that. Also I just added a new photo that shows off my legs, what do you think?

https://photos.modelmayhem.com/photos/1 … 7a7c75.jpg

ArtisticallySexy wrote:
I love feedback from a female point of view

#1,2,3,4 should stay although keep in mind for next time that in #4 she is fighting with the background for my attention. You want to focus to be just on her. #5 and 6 should stay but I wouldn't put them right next to one another in your port because the colors are so similar and they cancel out one another's awesomeness. #7,8,9 should all go. They are all trying too hard, the concepts although cool aren't working, and if that doesn't convince you, the editing is bad. Especially in #8. Try that concept with a different model who can pull it off. Maybe have her pouring the vodka on her boobies ala Dita von Teese. #10 is a good concept but really badly edited. It looks fuzzy. #11,12,13 are all bad or nothing special. Please get rid of the track track picture. Tacky. #14,15,16 can stay but by now I'm really getting sick of your angle shots. And dizzy. Is that all you can do? 17,18,19 can stay. Do you have a photo of #18 where she isn't bending her knees? She looks squatty if that makes sense. #20 doesn't even belong in here. #21 can stay. 22,23,24,25,26 are all blah. They should go. I do like the couples one but it just isn't all the way there. #27 should be the last photo in your port or deleted altogether. #28 and 29 should stay. Personally I think #29 is your best shot but it's badly edited and the shelf in the left corner is distracting. #30 through 34 are all duds. I like that you had a concept but you didn't get there. #35 is a good photo, she looks awesome, but again she's completely lost amid the other stuff in the house. #36 has got to go. #37 is cool. I would have liked to see more attitude on her face though. #38 and 39 should go. #40 is okay. Money shot if she were looking at the camera with those eyes of hers. #41 should go because 42 is your keeper. 43 is okay and 44 is nice. #45 is just ugh. Horrible pose. #46 can stay, 47 is good but again with the distracting background, 48 would be great if it weren't for the bad editing. #49 is f*ck yes! Nailed it. This is what you are capable of. Accept nothing less. #50 is lame. #51 is okay but #52 needs to go. Corny central. #53 doesn't really fit because your port has all beautiful women and then there's a guy in the middle of it. If you want to keep it I'd put it near the bottom or take more photos of men to make it not so out of place. #54 is money so #55 should go. #56 is meh and should go. #57 is hot. The only bike photo I like is #59. #61 and 62 should stay. #63 is bad bad bad. 64 should go because she's trying to hard and is now redundant. 65,66,67 are all great. 68 isn't as good and should go. 69 through 75 are all duds. #76 is money. Shoot more stuff like this. Sexy bohemian. 77 should go. 78 has a great smile. 79 is a nice angle, try that again. 80 is a really bad silhouette of her. 81 is more like it but it would have been better if she were naked because in a silhouette the bikini becomes bulk. 82 is nice but not very flattering on the model. 83 and 84 are duds. 85 is okay 86 is great 87 is okay 88 through 91 are fails. 92 is cute. 93,94,95 are okay. 96 what the f*ck kind of editing is this? Worst photo in your port. Redo the editing and it could be a strong and sexy image. 97 and 98 are duds. 99 is good. 100 is horrible. 101 and 102 are good. 103 is bad. 104 is one of your best. 105 and 106 should go because they make the money shot 104 look like a happy accident. 105 is wonderful. 106,107,108 all bad. 109 is great. 110 is horrible. 111 and 112 should go because 113 is the shot. 114 and 115 should go. 116 and 117 should go. 118 is awesome.


In summary, you need to either learn how to edit photos better, hire an editor, or fire your current one. When setting up a shoot do you get the model first and then come up with a concept or pick a concept and then get the model? I think it's the first option and it should be the second. There seems to be some miscommunication because it's clear you have an idea but you just are never getting that wow picture. So something should change. Maybe even go as far as to get right down to the exact pose you want beforehand and then just work on perfecting that pose until you nail it instead of having the model pose around and hope to get a shot. You need the money shot for your concepts to be believable and amazing! You have too many mediocre photos taking away from your money shots.

I took a LOT of time on yours so I hope you listen to some of the things I had to say and put them into effect.

Christoff Smit wrote:
Me please :-D

You have too many not awesome photos in here, some candids which definitely shouldn't be in here as well. Save those for facebook.

#1,3,4 should stay. #2 makes you look old and tired. #5,6,8 should stay. 7 is bland. 9,10,11 should all go. No one who wants to book you cares what you do in your free time. If these are professional photos, then they don't look it. 12 should stay. 13,14,15 should go. They look candid and if that isn't enough it's bad lighting/time of day. 16 can stay because it's cute and you're genuinely smiling. 17,19,20 should go. 18 can stay. 21 should stay,22 should go because you look not nearly as good in it. 23 should go. 24 should go. 25 should go. 26 and 27 should stay. 28 should go. 29,30,31 can stay if you MUST prove to people that you have a life otherwise loss 'em. 32,33,34 should all go.

Ann77 wrote:
I need to trim down my fashion folder.  But I'm hopelessly attached to my photos!  And just about the time I think one has to go, somebody will comment on it or list it.  And then I'm undecided again.  What would you trim?  Thank you! 

I have that same exact problem! With all this critiquing I'm doing of everyone it makes me want to delete most of my photos because I know I can be so much better. I'm just about to axe some and then people comment and make me second guess. I think you have to look at the people who are commenting and decide if their opinion is of any real value to you. Yeah so everyone says you have beautiful eyes in one photo. That doesn't make that photo worth keeping, it just tells you that you have beautiful eyes. So use your beautiful eyes to make a stunning photo next time and axe the one that isn't as awesome. I'll try to help.

Okay I'm only going to look at your fashion folder because that's all you've asked about. If you want me to further comment on any other folders just let me know.

At first glance, none of this is really fashion at all sweetie. It's commercial, catalog. So I would maybe re-title your folder because it's deceiving. Yeah, you're wearing clothes but they aren't all too fashion-forward. Or you could just work really hard at contacting designers and wardrobe stylists who will work with you to create a more high-end image. Because this is a fashion folder, the clothes and how you wear them are being scrutinized, so narrow it down to one image of each outfit.

Keep=2,6,7,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,18,20,23.

Everything else is either a bad pose or the outfits make you look huge instead of curvy. I will say that #5 is really a cool image if the clothing were to be different and if your face would have been more alive. You look kind of dead. I would try some more of that bohemian stuff, but choose different outfits next time.

Ariadne Photography wrote:
I'd love a critique:) be as bitchy as you want I need to get better at having thicker skin anyways.

Your work is wonderful, and well edited down. I wanted to work with you before when I was in Rochester too. I don't have anything bad to say but I will suggest that you shoot more fashion because if it is anything like #1 you might have something.

Shelly Foster wrote:

Thank you for the feedback. I don't smile very often because most often I find it looks cheesy, I'm trying to work on that. Also I just added a new photo that shows off my legs, what do you think?

https://photos.modelmayhem.com/photos/1 … 7a7c75.jpg

It's okay, but you're wearing boots so half of your legs are covered. Tan eels! Or tippytoe!

Paige Thomley wrote:

It's okay, but you're wearing boots so half of your legs are covered. Tan eels! Or tippytoe!

*Tan HEELS not eels! bahahahaaa!

I Ference Photography wrote:
This looks like a GREAT critique thread - since you're actually dishing out the constructive criticism in abundance.  Please, hit me!

Nice bio. Perfect amount of 'stuff'.

ooooo your work is awesome. This is going to be hard. Nitpick mode has been activated. In #5, the second photo is kind of a dud. #6-THAT's what she did with that awesome place?! Not worthy of it. #9-only like the third photo. If you're going to do these three image thingies then make sure every single image is as powerful as the other. #10 is another cool place but she isn't posing at all. You can sit in a chair and lean over and make it much more captivating. #13 is cool but it took me a second to find the model. Shoot there again if you can and make her more visible. #18 is meh. #21 isn't a very good pose. She should have put her lower leg down to tippytoe touch the ground. #25 is a cool pose, dead face. Maybe an arched back would've helped make it more dynamic. Try to get your models to do more than just sit, try to get them to emote with their faces a bit. Everything else is lovely.

I Ference Photography wrote:
This looks like a GREAT critique thread - since you're actually dishing out the constructive criticism in abundance.  Please, hit me!

Nice bio. Perfect amount of 'stuff'.

ooooo your work is awesome. This is going to be hard. Nitpick mode has been activated. In #5, the second photo is kind of a dud. #6-THAT's what she did with that awesome place?! Not worthy of it. #9-only like the third photo. If you're going to do these three image thingies then make sure every single image is as powerful as the other. #10 is another cool place but she isn't posing at all. You can sit in a chair and lean over and make it much more captivating. #13 is cool but it took me a second to find the model. Shoot there again if you can and make her more visible. #18 is meh. #21 isn't a very good pose. She should have put her lower leg down to tippytoe touch the ground. #25 is a cool pose, dead face. Maybe an arched back would've helped make it more dynamic. Try to get your models to do more than just sit, try to get them to emote with their faces a bit. Everything else is lovely.

Tuesday Hanson wrote:
Me please! I'm a newbie so don't be too hard on me (; Hah!

My hair is colored differently now then it is in these photos, I've just had it dyed a warm ombre. Just making sure everyone knows in advance in case you want to schedule a shoot. If you'd like to see current photos then please let me know! (:

^^^^THEN should e changed to THAN.

I'd get rid of #7 because the light flare totally ruins you. And #4 is the better image. #8 is a boring snapshot that shouldn't be in here. #12-only the top image should stay.
Smile more. It is beautiful. Do a bikini shoot that has a bohemian vibe. Keep going.

Paige Thomley wrote:

My hair is colored differently now then it is in these photos, I've just had it dyed a warm ombre. Just making sure everyone knows in advance in case you want to schedule a shoot. If you'd like to see current photos then please let me know! (:

^^^^THEN should e changed to THAN.

I'd get rid of #7 because the light flare totally ruins you. And #4 is the better image. #8 is a boring snapshot that shouldn't be in here. #12-only the top image should stay.
Smile more. It is beautiful. Do a bikini shoot that has a bohemian vibe. Keep going.

Thank you!

MartaBrixton wrote:
I would appreciate your critique.

I have been modelling since I was 16 and I’m here because I enjoy having photo shoots and I hope somebody will appreciate them one day.

^^^^Get rid of this. It makes you sound like you just want pretty pictures and aren't serious.

Okay onto the photos...

Out of 1 through 6 only keep #2. The others either make you look like you have a lazy eye or have a huge nose or are redundant. #10 should go. You're holding a sheet wearing heels and all I'm thinking is that you're just standing there holding a sheet in heels. #14 looks unprofessional. #16 shows off your great curves but your face is so dead that it ruins the shot. You're not being sexy, you're thinking about what you have to do later than day. #23 is the worst photo in your port. There is nothing right about this except your face. And he's still wearing his socks!! WTF. #26 is just as bad. What the h*ll are you doing? And your face looks old in this shot. #33 is blah. These are all bringing you down. You have a great face, make sure the makeup you wear doesn't make you look old. Smile every once in awhile. Keep going.

Paige Thomley wrote:
Nice bio. Perfect amount of 'stuff'.

ooooo your work is awesome. This is going to be hard. Nitpick mode has been activated. In #5, the second photo is kind of a dud. #6-THAT's what she did with that awesome place?! Not worthy of it. #9-only like the third photo. If you're going to do these three image thingies then make sure every single image is as powerful as the other. #10 is another cool place but she isn't posing at all. You can sit in a chair and lean over and make it much more captivating. #13 is cool but it took me a second to find the llama. Shoot there again if you can and make her more visible. #18 is meh. #21 isn't a very good pose. She should have put her lower leg down to tippytoe touch the ground. #25 is a cool pose, dead face. Maybe an arched back would've helped make it more dynamic. Try to get your llamas to do more than just sit, try to get them to emote with their faces a bit. Everything else is lovely.

And here I thought you were going to be mean to me!  Thanks for the thoughts; everything you said gives me something to think about when I cut down some stuff to fit more from last weekend in.  Danke schön!