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

NSFW

Oooo why not always helpful to hear critique, spec as i have major cutting down too do as loads more to add :/ !! so if you have time would be glad to hear!

Feel free to run the rule over any of my shots.

oh go on then ! :) 

Rob Golding said

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

Hello,

Lets start with this one which strangely, when I click on your cover photo this one opens instead of the cover photo that's on your profile page!

I love the soft tones of her skin and how they contrast with the detail and multi tonal background. The composition is lovely too. 

The perspective and composition in this shot work really well together. The contrast is great and her pose is interesting also. 

Great colour tones and natural light in this shot, I think it could be better compositionally if she was facing the other way, so her legs are pointing into the image and not out of it. This would make the whole image flow a little better I think.

Nice angle and depth of field shown where you have shot next to the wall. Nice contrast and tones. 

This shot isn't as strong as your others in my opinion as the background catches the light and is quite distracting. You also have another image that is very similar to this one that you could do without (or just choose your favourite to keep the variety in your portfolio)

This next shot would be better without the green and opaque blur top and bottom of the image as it is a bit distracting in my opinion. Other than that the models pose and expression are good and the tones and depth of field are lovely.

This next shot has loads of impact. Love the B/W effect and the wind blowing the models hair adds drama to the photograph.

This next one is probably one of your weakest images, the composition is ok but fairly plain. The model has no connection with the camera either. Her skin looks a little over softened also.

Another beautiful image, below.

Not so keen on the composition in the next shot. One of your weaker images in my opinion.

You have some really beautiful, strong images in your portfolio but you also have some which aren't that strong at all. I think it would do your portfolio good if you removed the images with less experienced models and those that don't work so well.

Other than that, keep doing what you are doing! Your natural shots are beautiful and you have worked with some great models. If you want my opinion on which images to remove/hide I am happy to help just let me know.

Replies welcomed

yeah give mine a go

Phil87 said

Oh go on then, why not :)

Hello!

Lets start with your avatar,

Why have you put a vignette on this image? It is taken outdoors on a bright day and the vignette looks odd. I usually find dark vignettes only work on black and white images or images with a fairly dark background or when they are more graduated as it helps draw the eye in, but only when it suits the image. This image would be better without the vignette in my opinion. =]

I really love this next image the black and white suits it perfectly, not sure how sharp it is on her face, (I need a bigger monitor!) but overall a lovely shot and good lighting and depth of field.

The lighting in the next image isn't very good I'm afraid. You have lit the left hand side of the backdrop and there is no light on your models face. Your model also looks quite bored and a bit messy in regards to her hair and is wearing little or no makeup. 

This next shot needs work. the background is so overexposed that the highlights make you squint. The vignette decreases the highlights but it doesn't fit the image and your model is underexposed. I would suggest buying a speedlight or a reflector and working with the light when on location to light your model and balance the light levels more evenly through all the elements of your image.

this next shot is quite nice, the colour tones work well together and the location is interesting.=] You just need a tiny bit more light on your model's face or simply up the brightness a small amount in photoshop to improve this image. 

Overall I think you need to work with lighting, experiment and see what works for you. Use the histogram on your camera to see if you have too many highlights in your images, or you can use a light meter. I would also suggest going along to a studio day and make the most of a lighting workshop as this will benefit your work hugely. =]

Hope this helps 

1910 Photography said

This could be interested. Do my portfolio

hello!

Lets get started, 

This shot is cool, love the location, model and vivid colours however I would reduce the saturation on her skin as she looks a little orange from over saturation. 

A really bright background in the next image lets it down. So many people use gas masks in their photography and I think to work with it as a prop you would have to do something incredible to make it stand out from the other gasmask photos. This shot is ok but doesn't make me think original idea or photo.

As the comment above says, using a gasmask as a prop works best with an original idea. This next shot is much more interesting with the lighting and umbrella but is too shadowy in my opinion and lacks detail. It would have been nice to have a slightly lighter background so the mask stood out a bit more in the image or some light on the side of her face. To show some more detail or some light on her eye to give more of a connection to the viewer.

This next shot is overexposed with the highlights really blown out. Using a light meter would benefit your studio work.

Next shot. Very striking image good use of composition, contrast and lighting. I also like the negative space.

Overall I think the creativity in your work shows through and you have some awesome ideas I think if you were to watch out for missing details in over and underexposure when shooting your work will improve.

Thanks for taking part.

Photorol1 said

Also interested in your views

hello!

Beautifully lit image:

Love this shot great location, model and lighting.

This next shot is emotive and has a good impact on the viewer. The black and white works well with the image.

I also like how the background has a gradient from light to dark but you have lit her hair so that it doesn't blend into the background.

This next shot has a beautiful glow to it and the lighting is nice, there is a really bright triangle of light under her back and arm which is a little distracting and I'm not sure about her fingers being out of the edge of the frame.

This next image is really cool love the lighting, contrast, styling and quirky pose from your model

her arms look a little short though. 

I'm not so sure on the next image I don't think there is enough light on your models face or body and the wall behind her is distracting and seems to be equally or more in focus than your model.

this next image is nicely framed, I think it would be better if brightened just a little.

Overall I think you have some really strong images in your portfolio. You also have some weaker images that could be removed as you add more new stuff. Keep going as I would like to see some more of your work! 

Your lighting is pretty good I would just suggest working with more models and experimenting more with your lighting and location. 

Jason Smith said

Yes please, if you have a minute...

hello!

Lets start with this one as it stood out the most to me in your portfolio.

I can see what the idea is behind this image but I am not sure the lighting/post processing work as well as they could have for it. Maybe using a snoot and spotlighting her face would have worked better. I'm not sure how you have lit this but it looks to be quite heavily photoshopped to get the desired effect. It seems blurred around the edges also which gives the impression of post processing, I would like to see you use lighting to get this image as I think it could be slicker with a wider depth of field to give some detail to her hair, especially on her fringe which technically should be in focus as her face is.

This next shot is awesome, love the makeup, colour tones and styling. A good fun image .

Love the idea behind the next shot and it is well executed a little more expression from your model would have been good and if her arm hadn't gone out of shot it would have been even better. 

I think you have some really good ideas, good post processing skills and an awesome array of props, I think every one of your images would have been better with a more experienced model who could give you more expression and a variety of poses as some of your models look a little bored or unsure. Try putting out a casting call and see if you can find a really expressive model to work with on your awesome themed photos. 

I love your creativity.

Thanks for taking part.

Please try mine if you have time?

   Doug

Hi, i've just joined PP and would like a critique :). Thank you very much!

UPDATE. I am still doing critiques. There is quite a waiting list as I'm a busy girl and these things take time so please keep checking back to see if yours has been done. 

Thankyou.

Nice work Gemmiev, you've echoed my thoughts on so many shots so stick me on your list and I look forward to a critique sometime in 2013 :)

Terry King said

Nice work Gemmiev, you've echoed my thoughts on so many shots so stick me on your list and I look forward to a critique sometime in 2013 :)

haha! Thankyou :D you are on the list! I'm on page three requests at the moment. I've got to go to work soon though! I will do more tomorrow. 

Gemmiev said

Phil87 said

Oh go on then, why not :)

Hello!

Lets start with your avatar,

Why have you put a vignette on this image? It is taken outdoors on a bright day and the vignette looks odd. I usually find dark vignettes only work on black and white images or images with a fairly dark background or when they are more graduated as it helps draw the eye in, but only when it suits the image. This image would be better without the vignette in my opinion. =]

I really love this next image the black and white suits it perfectly, not sure how sharp it is on her face, (I need a bigger monitor!) but overall a lovely shot and good lighting and depth of field.

The lighting in the next image isn't very good I'm afraid. You have lit the left hand side of the backdrop and there is no light on your models face. Your model also looks quite bored and a bit messy in regards to her hair and is wearing little or no makeup. 

This next shot needs work. the background is so overexposed that the highlights make you squint. The vignette decreases the highlights but it doesn't fit the image and your model is underexposed. I would suggest buying a speedlight or a reflector and working with the light when on location to light your model and balance the light levels more evenly through all the elements of your image.

this next shot is quite nice, the colour tones work well together and the location is interesting.=] You just need a tiny bit more light on your model's face or simply up the brightness a small amount in photoshop to improve this image. 

Overall I think you need to work with lighting, experiment and see what works for you. Use the histogram on your camera to see if you have too many highlights in your images, or you can use a light meter. I would also suggest going along to a studio day and make the most of a lighting workshop as this will benefit your work hugely. =]

Hope this helps 

Gemmeiv, thanks for the feedback but from reading your comments, it seems to be you think I'm a tog? All these lighting comments, and saying how my model (me) looks bored in one of my photos, etc. Just not sure if you knew or not...