Forums > Critique > would love some serious critique on my portfolio

Photographer

Michael Kerrek

Posts: 1427

Orlando, Florida, US

Feel free to be generic, or specific- I'm just looking for some solid, honest opinions and criticisms. Are there particular photos that should absolutely go, and where am I weakest? Thank you for your help, I look forward to your input.

Nov 14 12 12:25 am Link

Photographer

Drew Smith Photography

Posts: 5214

Nottingham, England, United Kingdom

Michael Kerrek wrote:
Feel free to be generic, or specific- I'm just looking for some solid, honest opinions and criticisms. Are there particular photos that should absolutely go, and where am I weakest? Thank you for your help, I look forward to your input.

1. Too many duplicated images. Pick one from the 3 or 4 similar images you have in each set. I am guilty of this but not quite to the extent you are. You can easily lose 25% of your port and it would improve it.

2. The backgrounds in some of the pics are very 'busy' and distract from the main subject area.

3. On many of your shot the colours and/or contrast seem very 'flat'. There's no 'pop' to them.

4. Many of the llamas look scared, worried or just plain uncomfortable.

Worst image:

https://photos.modelmayhem.com/photos/090825/07/4a93f348ce731_m.jpg

Look at the hands, the facial expression, the composition, the LAMP yegads!

Best image:

https://photos.modelmayhem.com/photos/1 … b95e_m.jpg  18

But I think the llama is helping a lot here. smile

Nov 14 12 12:43 am Link

Photographer

Michael Kerrek

Posts: 1427

Orlando, Florida, US

I took that one out, thank you. Scared/uncomfortable? Is it because they're not smiling, or something else about their facial expressions?

Thank you for your input :-)

Edit: i also just got rid of about ten images, for the reference of others, moving forward

Nov 14 12 12:59 am Link

Photographer

255 West

Posts: 6468

New York, New York, US

I feel the weak spot in your collection is that you are showing WAY too many photos.
Shave it down to between 20 and 30 (Max).

I don't think you want the viewer to (even subconsciously) say to her/him self, "Is there something different and exciting coming up as I scroll down, down, down, then feeling disappointed that it's al too much the same.

You have some fine work, just cut it down.

SECOND, many of your shots appear repetitive to me. Sometimes it even seems you are showing two consecutive frames f a single moment seconds apart, but for which there is really no difference in the two.

I counted ten shots of the
same llama shot in the
same scene, with roughly the
same pose,
same lighting,
same lens,
same expression, ... and so on.

Just pick one or two of each llama, that's it.

Don't worry that you may not have enough shots to fill out your portfolio. ONLY SHOW THE VERY BEST! Selecting IS difficult, but you must, must, must be merciless.

Imagine a magazine editor saying to you "Give me your three best (representative) shots, and I'll select ONE from them for publication." That's a 100% realistic scenario.

Pick your 20 best, and if you think you have too few to show, then get our lazy ass out there and shoot some more. wink

Nov 14 12 01:15 am Link

Photographer

255 West

Posts: 6468

New York, New York, US

Drew Smith Photography wrote:
2. The backgrounds in some of the pics are very 'busy' and distract from the main subject area.

100% YES!
You make many excellent points, but in my opinion, this may be paramount.
The background is every bit as important as what's in the foreground, and sometimes even more. (No joke).
How a photographer handles the background is a huge part of what separates the mediocre from the great shooters.

Train yourself by looking at the background of the best professional photos, and remember to look at the background BEFORE you set up the model in front. Seriously, do this.

(Every time I see an otherwise good photo with an electrical socket appearing to be MORE prominent than the model's voluminous and unconcealed breasts, I slap my forehead and say to myself "Holy fuck! How could he have missed that?")

Nov 14 12 01:32 am Link

Photographer

The Gross Bite

Posts: 3966

Lansing, Michigan, US

Michael Kerrek wrote:
(Edited)

Scared/uncomfortable? Is it because they're not smiling, or something else about their facial expressions?

It's more in their eyes, IMHO. A slight something that says "I'm not sure about this..."

I know NOTHING about you other than you have a camera. Am I going to get nekkid in front of you... not likely, but you are asking your models to.

So, BEFORE you start shooting... sit the model down and have a little discussion. Talk about yourself, talk about what you intend to shoot. Let her get used to you, and learn something about you. Hey, even if she's being paid... she still wants to know something about you and what she's in for.

Yes, if you are paying her by the hour, it may cost you some money... but I'll bet you are happier with the images you get!

And if it's TF..., all the more reason to reassure her, even if there's an escort sitting there.

Oh, and do the same thing with models who DON'T get nekkid!

Nov 14 12 01:59 am Link

Photographer

Michael Kerrek

Posts: 1427

Orlando, Florida, US

I'm not sure where the "uncomfortable" vibe is coming from, but ok. I've always had positive experiences and positive professional relationships afterwards... and I'm quite meticulous about defining the parameters of shoots beforehand, there are never any surprises. Anyhow, thanks for the input.

Nov 14 12 02:23 am Link

Photographer

The Gross Bite

Posts: 3966

Lansing, Michigan, US

Michael Kerrek wrote:
I've always had positive experiences and positive professional relationships afterwards... and I'm quite meticulous about defining the parameters of shoots beforehand.

Your perceptions don't matter much, it's hers that show up in her eyes. You can outline the shoot down to the most meticulous detail before hand and she still may not be sure about YOU!

And after the shoot, who cares? The images are in the camera and ain't gonna magically change just because she's relieved it's over.

Won't happen with all models, but it WILL happen...

Nov 14 12 02:48 am Link

Photographer

Drew Smith Photography

Posts: 5214

Nottingham, England, United Kingdom

Michael Kerrek wrote:
I'm not sure where the "uncomfortable" vibe is coming from, but ok. I've always had positive experiences and positive professional relationships afterwards... and I'm quite meticulous about defining the parameters of shoots beforehand, there are never any surprises. Anyhow, thanks for the input.

Michael - nobody, least of all me, is saying you are creeping anybody out, it's just that certain look on some of the faces that suggests they are slightly uncomfortable.

It's quite possible that they are just new models and unsure of what they are being asked to project in their pose or facial expression.

Edit: Okay, here's an example; below is pic from your port where, to me, she looks a little 'unsure' (of what we may never know) but when I click on her Credit on your pic (well done Sir) and look at her port, she doesn't look like a newbie and her expression/poses are quite varied and accomplished.

Can you see the difference?

https://photos.modelmayhem.com/photos/100716/04/4c40410f5f79e_m.jpg

https://photos.modelmayhem.com/photos/121026/05/508a87fe551fd.jpg

Nov 14 12 02:58 am Link

Photographer

Neil Snape

Posts: 9474

Paris, Île-de-France, France

The last two rows are unnecessary.   

You have very nice models, especially Amber.

Show your best not just what you think is passable.

Look at shooting more character in the models, I'm sure they have it, you are not letting them let it out.

ou are worried too much about producing perfectly made pictures, meanwhile the sessions go buy and technically you captured the notion perfectly but missed the point.

Avedon, Satoshi, etc, albeit not so glam as you are doing are about the portrait first.

Even glam photography can have the portrait first, the rest is accessory.

Overall you are doing well. Yet if you want to stand out, jump higher run faster scream louder some uniqueness.

Nov 14 12 03:04 am Link

Photographer

The Gross Bite

Posts: 3966

Lansing, Michigan, US

This image displays that 'unsure' look we are talking about, IMHO.

https://photos.modelmayhem.com/photos/0 … 4ebd20.jpg

Nov 14 12 03:11 am Link