Eleanor R wrote:

Hey Nicole! May I just first say that I am extremely jealous of some of your images and some of the people you have had a chance to work with? Wow.

Your bio:
Very short and to the point, it would be very helpful to me as a photographer. It mostly comes across as professional, but if I didn't know you from the forums and/or was a prude the line about your boobies might throw me off a bit (this is not to say that I don't agree with it. )

Your portfolio:
Overall, looking at your work as a photographer, you appear to be a competent nude model, doing mostly art nudes but dabbling in some erotic and glamour. However, you also appear to have way to many images, and would have a far stronger portfolio if you cut it back. I struggle with this a lot myself.

Some of what I think should be removed:
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/p … 7#30479887 18+
Did Laura get any other images from this set? I love the idea of the two of you in this setting, but this photo doesn't impress me at all.

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/p … 7#28829660 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/p … 3#28829663 18+
These both look far too snapshot-y. I would take them out right away.

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/p … 1#28829661 18+
This also looks snapshot-y to me, but you look amazing in it. If you're looking to get more erotic or glamour work you *might* want to leave it until you get something similar.

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/p … 3#29024703 18+
This is a stunning image, but it does much more for Neil than it does for you. I think the other, similar image by him is far better for you. They're close enough that I would move this one to your Tumblr - I don't think you need it in your portfolio.

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/p … 3#29501502 18+
This also looks snapshot-y, and doesn't really do anything for you. You could easily remove it without missing anything, and I think you should.

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/p … 1#27787651 18+
As lovely as this is, your port has far surpassed it.

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/p … 6#29999256 18+
This, too, I think you have surpassed. It's an interesting pose but I don't think it does anything for you.

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/p … 8#30070208 18+
This is a lovely portrait but you have much better in your portfolio now.

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/p … 6#27242196 18+
This does nothing for your portfolio.

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/p … 6#27014806 18+
Again, this is interesting, but I think you could remove it.

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/p … 9#28617599 18+
This is lovely, but you're missing a hand.

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/p … 0#29050040 18+
You look cold, and the pose here is just kind of awkward. I would definitely remove this.

For the most part, your posing is great. I think your next step in order to go from good to great is to focus intently on improving facial expressions and hand posing.

Thank you so so much!

Jorge Kreimer wrote:
Critique it all, Eleanor!

Critiquing it all is very hard - there's a lot in your portfolio! Your work is also quite different than I am used to - you aim for raw honesty rather than ideals or aesthetics. That makes it hard to critique you based on my normal standards.

I have a love/hate relationship with your work. A good portion of it is either lovely or moving and makes me want to work with you, a lot I'm indifferent to, and the rest just makes me cringe. However because you don't aim for the same sort of idealistic images most people do I can't properly judge if the issues I perceive were intentional or not.

I do think that your portfolio could use a paring down. What you have, even when folders are viewed individually, is a bit too varied and messy for my tastes. I prefer a smaller and stronger sampling of recent work that shows me a concrete idea of what a photographer has to offer if I choose to work or trade with them.

Personally, I think these are some of your stronger images:







https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/33183911 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/33072769 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/30174711 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/33961098 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/32809920 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/31677517 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/30596740 18+ (My fave!)
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/29637631 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/29759050 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/27172586 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/30576970 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/31003902 18+

I think if you were to narrow down your portfolio to those and a handful of personal favorites it would be a lot stronger. These images show your style and a range of what you like to do and try.

The top images I dislike and would remove are these, but again take that with a grain of salt as I understand that your processes are different than I have come to expect:

I think that outtakes are good to show on blogs and such, but in your portfolio it sends a mixed message about your photography and style.

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/32161414 18+

Overall, your portfolio makes me think that I would very much enjoy working with you and that I would receive images that I would like and at least be able to use on my blog and as examples of that genre, but it does make me question whether they would be portfolio worthy for me. As your portfolio stands now I might trade with you if I was in your area and had some extra time free, but if you narrowed it down some I would probably make sure to keep time free to work with you.

Elaina Noir wrote:
Hi Eleanor, I'd be very appreciative of a full critique of my port and bio. Since you give such awesome advice, I'd also like my truth delivered harshly, please.

Hi Elaina!
Your bio is great - concise and covers all the information necessary

As for your portfolio, these are great:

This is lovely and delicate. A good photo for commercial and lifestyle angles.


I love the steampunk aspect, and your expression is spot on.

These I would remove:

The pose is awkward and the photo doesn't add anything helpful to your portfolio.


This doesn't show off anything other than your gorgeous face, which is already represented quite well in your portfolio. And the angle you're holding your head at makes your neck look broken.

Overall, you have a very promising portfolio. Your avatar is amazing - why isn't it in there? You have very striking features that I think would lend quite well to beauty work, and you should keep working on both the lifestyle type work and the heavily styled wardrobe work.

Your posing is generally good, especially with your legs. You point your toes nicely and give a nice strong figure. However in several of your photos you have your head at a strange angle that doesn't quite work. Start paying attention to that. Beyond that, the next stage in your development as a model seems to be to start paying special attention to your hands while posing.

Keep working and changing out old photos for new, but you're looking good. I look forward to seeing your portfolio in a year or two!

Eleanor R wrote:

Critiquing it all is very hard - there's a lot in your portfolio! Your work is also quite different than I am used to - you aim for raw honesty rather than ideals or aesthetics. That makes it hard to critique you based on my normal standards.

I have a love/hate relationship with your work. A good portion of it is either lovely or moving and makes me want to work with you, a lot I'm indifferent to, and the rest just makes me cringe. However because you don't aim for the same sort of idealistic images most people do I can't properly judge if the issues I perceive were intentional or not.

I do think that your portfolio could use a paring down. What you have, even when folders are viewed individually, is a bit too varied and messy for my tastes. I prefer a smaller and stronger sampling of recent work that shows me a concrete idea of what a photographer has to offer if I choose to work or trade with them.

Personally, I think these are some of your stronger images:







https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/33183911 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/33072769 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/30174711 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/33961098 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/32809920 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/31677517 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/30596740 18+ (My fave!)
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/29637631 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/29759050 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/27172586 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/30576970 18+
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/31003902 18+

I think if you were to narrow down your portfolio to those and a handful of personal favorites it would be a lot stronger. These images show your style and a range of what you like to do and try.

The top images I dislike and would remove are these, but again take that with a grain of salt as I understand that your processes are different than I have come to expect:

I think that outtakes are good to show on blogs and such, but in your portfolio it sends a mixed message about your photography and style.

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/32161414 18+

Overall, your portfolio makes me think that I would very much enjoy working with you and that I would receive images that I would like and at least be able to use on my blog and as examples of that genre, but it does make me question whether they would be portfolio worthy for me. As your portfolio stands now I might trade with you if I was in your area and had some extra time free, but if you narrowed it down some I would probably make sure to keep time free to work with you.

Thank you!