Hi, I appreciate your time! I've been photographing models for about 18 months now (profile is older but I was not active), and want to get your honest feedback, positive and negative, about the presentation of my portfolio page (the text), the selection of photos and the photos themselves.

I am seeking to work with the best models I can find, and the best talent like make-up artists. I shoot mainly classical (vintage themed) beauty and artistic nudes. I'm looking for feedback that will make me a desirable photographer to work with.

Bob (yes I looked through you port, great stuff, makes your comments especially meaningful) thank you for taking the time and providing lots to think about. Experimenting does carry the risk of failure. Your critique of the Hawaii themed photo is interesting and valid. It was meant to be kitschy, like a postcard from the 70s. You've given me a few things to think about it, I appreciate it.

I think your port is overall pretty good, and generally better than mine, so I don't have much I can say.

The one thing that stands out to me is I feel the level of photoshopping is a little too in-your-face at times. In particular, the 'face brightening' feels unnatural in many photos.

It's interesting that *I* would say that, because I like my faces to be well-lit, and I find myself often using the radial tool in lightroom to give them just a little more exposure, since for some reason the model's chest seems to often attract more light than her face, leaving the face in a shadow. But if I'm not careful, this can easily result in an unnatural look.

I feel that unnatural look has happened in a number of your photos, and it's evident even from the thumbnail. One clear example of this is here:

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/44735267

In your older work, there is a shot that isn't over-photoshopped at all. It has a really great, natural look, and yet, still looks very GOOD! That's because it's well-lit, and any photoshopping that was done, was done very well:

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/43015560

Personally I prefer an approach more like that. Just add a more interesting background and boom you're in the money.

I like the creativity here:
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/44936277

For some reason this feels like a photo that only an 'old man' would take:
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/44739147

I like this a lot:
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/44735274

This is nice:
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/44735270

but then towards the middle of your port we hit a lot of photos that to me feel a little too over-photoshopped:
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/44639679

For instance, the eyes are just very unnatural looking here:
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/44735264

I could critique other individual photos again in another message if you want. There are some that probably shouldn't be in your port. For instance here the eyes are dark due to the light being a little too high, yet it looks like you're trying to go for kind of a beauty look:
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/43015598

or here the pose looks awkward:
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/43191034

But overall your port is pretty good.

Impressive!
I would love to see more outdoors shots from you.