Honest Advice for YOUR portfolio. =] (name changed)

NSFW

go for it

First impression,

Your portfolio looks professional and creative. I am immediately drawn into your portfolio and want to work with you.

This is so creative and different which makes your portfolio memorable. It's good to see you experiment and understand how to use long shutter speeds and lighting effectively to produce such an interesting image. Not every photographer can do this which communicates your photographic skill and therefore engages models in your work.

This shot is not very well lit compared to some of your other work. The focus is on the ribbon of her top and her cleavage. There is little/no light on her face plus the background is so light that it distracts the eye to the out of focus shapes in the right hand corner. I think this set up had potential as the model is giving an intense expression and the viewpoint is interesting. Maybe balancing the light levels on her face with her chest would have made this image stronger.

I love the low view point and the lighting even with the little flare at the top as it is not too distracting. Excellent focus and depth of field and I love the use of the colour white throughout this shot. 

I love how natural this shot is and the styling of the model. It is a shame that the poster behind her is in focus and her face is not so much in focus.

I would consider removing either this shot or the other shot that is the same as this but with different post processing.

Your best work is definitely your more creative stuff.

I think overall your portfolio is good. BUT, I think if you were to narrow it down and keep your strongest images in your portfolio it would be excellent. I also think you need to sell yourself more in your notes.

If you would like help narrowing down your portfolio I am happy to help or alternatively you can start a thread to ask a wider audience of PP who may see something differently to how I see it. 

Hope this helps =]

Please reply with your thoughts.

Meh, I'm bored enough to do it... Hit me.

Yeah why not, I'm reasonably new to the game

Hi,

First impressions, I immediately clicked your cover photo after saying wow:

beautiful tones, composition, colours, lighting is nice and good connection from the model.

Scrolling down your portfolio I am seeing a good variety of images, plenty of head shots, full bodies, locations and studio work.

This image stands out the most to me when looking over your thumbnail images as the colours, lighting and post processing are so slick and clean. Good colour contrast and beautiful profile of the model. I love that you have kept her moles/freckles in the shot too it makes it more natural.

I would like to talk about your thumbnails also, when you crop the image to choose the thumbnail I think you should include the focus of your images in the thumbnail so for example this image;

has a nice composition but the thumbnail shows mostly just the field and a tiny tiny bit of the model which doesn't encourage the viewer to click it as all they see is a field. Quite a few of your shots could do with a quick re edit of the thumbnail to give that little nudge needed for viewers to open the image and see it in its entirety. I really think this would help your portfolio.

I love the angle of this shot and all the detail in the corn, it is great that with all this detail and distraction from the corn that your model still remains the main focus of the image and sees not even looking at the camera! that's awesome in my opinion.

some of your images are a little confusing in the messages/story they are trying to convey. for example:

This model has her hands chained up, but has still managed to write 'help' on the board that she is clutching to her chest. If this situation were to happen in real life, I don't expect she would need the board as most people would see the chains and realize the situation. I get that its supposed to be a fun image but think the chains would be enough. I also think the quality of the image could be better.  

The below image is one of my favourites of yours because it is quite in your face in a subtle way

I love the lighting, tones and her expression.

I have found it hard to critique your work, you have some lovely images of a good quality, then you have some where you have pushed the ISO up so high with the large amount of noise and I'm not sure what you are going for with those images. Then there are some images which are OK but don't really stand out. then some that in my honest opinion don't really do much for your portfolio. You also have a lot of images from the same shoot up which are quite similar. I would suggest narrowing them down so you have one image from each set up. for example the shot above you also have in colour, I personally prefer the b/w and don't think you need both of them in your portfolio.

This shot doesn't really do anything, the colours are nice on the tree and background but I don't feel a connection with the model and don't see a story, especially one that relates to the title.

When you shoot on location try and get your horizons straight as this makes a big difference to your images.

I hope you understand what I mean and I don't want to sound harsh I am just giving you my opinion. I think your portfolio overall is ok and think it would be better if you narrowed it down to your best work.

Your top row of images are your best in my opinion. If you agree with my thoughts maybe ask PP in a thread what images they think you should take down if any? 

Thanks for taking part.

Replies welcomed.

Always interested to know what others think and I have broad shoulders so feel free

I'd be up for some feedback :)

Sure, what's to lose? I'll take one please, no kid gloves required.

JCPhotos said

Yeah why not, I'm reasonably new to the game

Hi,

I don't want to be rude, just as honest as possible. First Impressions, POSSIBLE GWC I say this only because your cover photo is a nude image which only shows from breasts to bottom, no insight to who the model is and the pose is very simple laying down. The lighting is fairly good though.

I really like the idea of this photograph and I think you have edited it very well. the model scares me a little and I think she could have pulled a more fun expression to go with such a fun shot.

love the experimentation with the background colours and composition.

I'm not sure what you are trying to say with this image. It's a pair of boobs that is married.

There's no sign of who the model is or any interesting pose, concept behind the shot at all. It's just a pair of boobs.

What are you trying to say with your work?

I love how you have lit this photograph. The blonde model looks good but the brunette seems to be pulling a strange face with her mouth. I think it would benefit you to work with a really good model such as artemis fauna, ivory flame etc. Find a good model with a top notch portfolio and book her. It will benefit your portfolio ten fold. 

It's great that you have experimented with lighting and I am slightly jealous of this spotlight idea :P

I love the concept behind this shot I defo think you should experiment with this idea some more :D

I love the ideas you have for some of your images and think you should keep up your work with reflections, projecting images, and creative lighting and I think you should avoid photographing just breasts unless really beautifully lit and you can see the models face, curves etc something to make it really stand out or personalized to your model.

Hope this helps.

Replies are welcome

If you are bored then give it a go.

Donald said

Always interested to know what others think and I have broad shoulders so feel free

You are next, when I get back from lunch with my dad!

yes please. I'm due another one.

Would love a review too GemmieV :) Let me know what you think please!

Donald said

Always interested to know what others think and I have broad shoulders so feel free

Hello!

I was looking through your portfolio earlier and I have to say I'm loving your nudes. The top two rows of images are really nicely lit and posed well too. In particular I really like this shot;

I'm less keen on this image

because you cannot see the models face and also just because personally I don't think it is very interesting but has potential with the pulling the net stockings up. I would like to see a full body version of this if you have one?

love this shot as I have said recently in the image comments, good composition and nice lighting on your model I like that there is still a little detail in her tattoos too. I maybe would have liquified under her chin to give her a straighter jaw line.

I think this shot has loads of potential but I dislike the over exposed triangle of light on the right hand side and I think you could crop it to gain a better composition. 

I love this shot, the movement blur adds action and the light catches the material really well to show it off and add volume to the skirt. Her pose is gorgeous too. Is there a particular reason you chose to tone the shot blue? I'm interested to learn why =]

another great shot I would however, have edited out the dark line going down the right hand side of the image as its a bit distracting. A simple crop would do =] love her pose and expression and the colours too. This shot and the other of her plus the dancer who is jumping would look great in square format.

experimenting is always good for your portfolio as it shows your skills in photography. in this shot I refer to the lighting and shutter speed. 

Personally I am not so keen on your bum photos, the above is really nicely shot but i think it would be a nice image to show all of the model in. who is this photograph for? it doesn't show us who the model is, it doesn't show a particular skill of yours as a photographer, its just a nice picture of someones bottom.

I don't think this image has as much credit as it deserves

love the post processing and colours.

Overall I think you have some really strong images in your portfolio, I think it would be worth narrowing your portfolio down to the images that show off your model well and show your mad skills off well too. I personally would remove the bottom shots and upload the above as a full body if you have one. I love your experimentation with colour and your studio b/w images.

if you have time then count me in please :)