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

NSFW

Aurelie Anais said

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

Heey!

Lets start with this one:

This is interesting to show that you have worked on a project but the images don't show you off very well as a model. Maybe a link on your notes to a website about this project would help the viewer understand more of what this is about?

The image above. This is a good pose to show off your figure.

This next image I really dislike. The background is so unflattering, the editing is really bad and those pants are too small. The idea doesn't work at all. I know it's not down to you but this really doesn't do you portfolio any good.

This next shot is the kind of image I took when I had just started photography and didn't really know much about lighting. 

because the lighting is so harsh there is a shadow surrounding your right side and your cheeks are super shiny. This image tells a story of you being a prostitute as titled. But why would you want to convey that message when you could be a high class elegant lady with fancy underwear in a lingerie shoot? What happens if someone googled 'prostitute' and finds a picture of you? out of context but with that title it could go a little bit wrong!

This next image is from the same shoot, it is really out of focus and really sleazy! I'm sorry but I am just being honest!

I love the intensity in your eyes in this next shot and it is also really well photographed!

This is the kind of stuff that will get you work, nicely shot nudes by creative photographers not out of focus shots that are sleazy and badly lit.

Another lovely shot is this one

beautiful colour tones and nice soft lighting. 

loving your pose in the next image, its engaging and makes the viewer want to see whats behind the door. =]

the above image is really classy whereas some of your images are like soft porn. What are you trying to achieve with your modelling? soft porn, conceptual stuff or high class top model stuff? its good to be able to model a variety of genres but do you really want a name for yourself in regards to prostitutes, soft porn etc? 

As a model one of the most common mistakes is wearing a hair band in around your wrist in photographs, you have one photo like this. 

My suggestion to you is to work with some professional photographers who have a strong portfolio and to narrow down your portfolio to your strongest work. I can help you narrow it down if you like.

I hope my advice hasn't put you off working with me! I look forward to photographing you a strong set of images to use for your portfolio!

Thanks for taking part. 

Replies welcomed.

If you have time...

nigel kent said

if you have time then count me in please :)

Hi! 

First impressions, good strong portfolio nicely lit and a good selection of quality images!

I like the harsh lighting in this image it fits the scene well. The composition of the image is good also. Maybe a little more light on her right eye would have been good for this image.

Love the spot lighting and great model and background. This would also look cool in square format.

The composition of this shot is nice, the building on the left, the plant and the branch above the model frame her well. She is also posing well and the light shows off her body beautifully.

Love the pose lighting and the composition. I cannot fault this image.

This shot is nicely composed the only thing about it that I'm not sure of is the lightened line around the models back and the back of her legs. This image also appears to be a little over sharpened in the foreground.

This image has such an impact on the viewer and what a brave model! loving this shot the only problem I have is that it appears over sharpened especially in the water drops. 

Overall your portfolio is very strong! Your work has such a high impact on the viewer and you can tell you really go out of your and your models comfort zone to produce something amazing. All of the models you have worked with know their stuff and your lighting and composition is spot on. Are you going to stick to nude black and white images or will you eventually do some colour work too? 

Your work is a perfect example of quality over quantity.

Thanks for taking part, some beautiful images in your portfolio.

Yes please, I think *gulp*.

Oh behave.....er go on then I can take it squeaky bum time!!

Edited by Chris T

simply done but nice said

Yes pleaseplease

Hi!

The lighting in this shot is perfect, great composition and model and styling! awesome shot :D

This photograph has some great colours in it the only thing that bothers me about it is that her eyes are so white they look a bit unnatural.

Lovely colour tones and lighting however your model looks a bit fed up/annoyed. Do you have any more like this maybe with a nice natural style to suit the lighting?

A little more lighting on your model would have been good also what have you done with her toes!?

I like the creativity with the flare as it adds to the image being a bikini shot helps you to imagine being on a beach with the sun glaring down and girls in bikinis!

Overall I think your portfolio is good. You have some good technical knowledge and have worked with some experienced models. One of your models however has exactly the same expression in every shot of her and she just looks fed up. This is obviously not down to you all I can suggest is to carry on working with really good models and I look forward to seeing your new work. :)

One last thing, when retouching try not to overdo the eyes they need to look as natural as they would when lit in the same way as the face is lit. You should also try and get your models to sign up and give you some references! :D

Thanks for taking part.

Gemmiev said

doodyone said

I'd be up for some feedback :)

 

The majority of your work is really strong and you have a good variety in location, props, models etc. I do however think that you have some images in your portfolio that let it down. I would be willing to give my opinion on a few to remove if you wanted it.

Replies welcome.

 

 

Cheers, and yes if you want to point out the ones to remove I'd be grateful. No guarentee that they'd go though. :)

And thank you for taking the time to do a thoughtful critique.

Sure, why not? Go for it :o)

please take a look.

Russ Freeman said

Me me meeeeee!

Hello, 

Hope you're sitting comfortably! haha just kidding :P

Interesting image, tells a story, good tonal contrast and dramatic sky as well as dramatic use of shadows. It's nice to see a male model also as there aren't many on the site.

This shot is cool but that finger just distracts my eye so much! it makes you scan the bottom of the image as a pointing finger is supposed to change your eye direction. Other than that a really cool viewpoint and pose. great location and a good detailed sky as well as nice lighting. 

I love this shot, the models pose is awesome I love that she has got mucky for the shot and that it adds to the contrast in the image. Her expression is captivating and I like how the light shows detail in her hair.

your landscapes, although nicely done, don't really fit with your portfolio in my opinion.

Love the leading lines in this image and the contrast is really good. The pose is interesting and the composition is ace.

I absolutely love the emotion on Artemis' face in this shot, the lighting, composition and focus are perfect and the little details such as the raindrops on the window and the detail in the material add to the overall scene.

I also love how subtle your composite images of Artemis are. very nicely done.

Critiquing you has been hard as you are one of the strongest photographers I know. 

I'm not so keen on the shot with the axe, seeing as the setting is the beach I don't really get the link between the prop and the setting. I like that you have photographed male models. Your lighting is very good. 

My suggestions would be to work with more new models and get some fresh faces in your portfolio and also to create something different, for example vivid colour images maybe with a more urban feel to them. I would also like to see some more lingerie images.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for taking part. 

I will be interested in your thoughts :)

Gemmiev said

 

I'm not so keen on the shot with the axe, seeing as the setting is the beach I don't really get the link between the prop and the setting. 

It was shot in a quarry, not a beach. :)

These always make me nervous..but go on then....

thankyou, though one-i don't like smiling in my photos due to the fact it makes me look awful! I either looked stoned or demented, hence always being the last one to have my school photo taken and two-i have been copying photos I've seen online in other models portfolios. Just recently I did a shoot the other day, the photographer told me to smile-I did, he told me to go back to looking moody as the smile ruined the picture. I hear it all the time when I try to smile. My big buck and crooked teeth ruin my smile.

The one of me 'suffocating' is just me with an open mouth....it was something different I suppose other than being moody.

Compared to when I first started, these are all such an approvment. And other people seem to love my images so I'm happy.

Kalygulina said

thankyou, though one-i don't like smiling in my photos due to the fact it makes me look awful! I either looked stoned or demented, hence always being the last one to have my school photo taken and two-i have been copying photos I've seen online in other models portfolios. Just recently I did a shoot the other day, the photographer told me to smile-I did, he told me to go back to looking moody as the smile ruined the picture. I hear it all the time when I try to smile. My big buck and crooked teeth ruin my smile.

The one of me 'suffocating' is just me with an open mouth....it was something different I suppose other than being moody.

Compared to when I first started, these are all such an approvment. And other people seem to love my images so I'm happy.

Expression comes in many forms, you can avoid smiling by pouting, having a slightly open mouth etc. There are loads of different positions you can try. (not sure where you can get examples) trying expressing yourself with body language using varied poses. 

I'm happy that you're happy with your images.