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

NSFW

Phil87 said

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...

MEGA FAIL! Sorry I didn't realise that you were a model! I don't know of any girls called Phil, but thinking about it phillippa etc. I'm really Sorry! Ok new critique for you! :P

You have a good expression in this photo which holds the viewer to the image. 

I would advise you to work with more photographers with strong portfolios, a lot of your images aren't very well shot and it would be good for you to get a nice clear head shot and a full body image. Try and get as much variety from each shoot as possible. I would like to see some more images with eye contact in them. 

You have a good figure and your hair is something that you can help you sell yourself with as a fairly unique model. 

Sorry again for the mistake! I hope my feedback helps! 

Celia Grey said

If you have time enough to look at mine too! :)

Hello!

Lets start with your cover photo, I love this shot your pose is really interesting. 

This next one is a nice image, lovely colour tones and your outfit looks good.

I would ask your photographer to edit out the plant that is stuck to the front of your jumper as it is distracting.

This is another lovely shot your eyes look great. the lighting and colour tone is nice. 

This one is really over exposed there is no texture in your skin and it brings the quality of your portfolio down. The other shot like this is the same. 

Love your pose in the next shot. lovely photo and contrast with an interesting location.

Love this studio shot your gaze catches the viewer

My advice to you would to be experiment with your expression more as all of your pictures are quite similar in regards to your expression. I would like to see something a bit more expressive, crazy, fun, pouty or quirky. I would love to see some really bright vivid images in your port with a good fun theme to them. you have a really good variety of shots in your portfolio, studio, location, head shots and full body images and you seem comfortable in front of the camera. Carry on working with more photographers and experiment with your expression. 

Hope this helps!

I'm game..... I hope... 

I don't have much here, but have more on Flickr, if you search brads1974. Am interested in what people think is better than I have on here and what should be dumped.

I'll give it a go... *Braces self*

I often wonder how people judge pictures on here.  My most viewed image has three times as many views as the next most viewed, yet not a single love or comment.  On other sites it has received many favourable comments, 37 within half an hour of being posted on one site and many favourable comments on others but not on PP.

I think I probably have too many on here for a valid critique but after taking pictures for over half a century one amasses rather a large number of images in lots of different genres and styles.

If you dare take it on select a couple for critique.

StephenAllwright said

I was literally about to post a thread asking for crit, but I love your honesty. If you can fit me in I'd love you to give me some food for thought.

Stephen.

Hello!

First impressions: your portfolio is of a really high quality I can tell by your thumbnails that the images are good, nicely lit and sharp. The notes on your portfolio tell us what you are all about and it is nice to see you your passion for portraiture through your notes. 

The only thing I would say that would be good for your portfolio is to add some more full body photographs as you have a lot of headshots at the moment.

Beautifully sharp image and love the colours in this shot. Lovely depth of field and lighting also.  Very high quality shot.

Interesting shot, its nice to see some humour in your portfolio. I would have spot healed the two dots in the top left hand corner, this looks like dirt on your sensor or lens.

Love the location and lighting on your model. I like how the red star matches the red in her hair. 

All of your subjects are placed in the middle of the frame, maybe try mixing it up a bit compositionally and see what images you get from it? I would also suggest adding some black and white images to you portfolio to add to the variety but I do like that you have quality over quantity.

Keep up the good work :D

I can see from the above pages/comments that you are incredibly busy! Congrats on taking on such a mammoth task, if you get a chance, would love a critique. I am always wanting to improve my images/poses/styles. I can see an improvement in my work, but would love to progress. And taking on board other peoples opinions is always helpful :)

Many thanks!

hmm i'm either feeling brave or just tired and stupid but if you get the chance go for it with mine

Mark Perry said

Yes please if you still have time.

Hello

I see a lot of gothic styled location images that really bore me and are so plain and usually in a graveyard that they have become a pet hate for me. But this image is quite refreshing! there is a story behind it, I feel as if shes running away from her wedding or a pursuer  The composition is good the location is interesting the model is well posed and styled. The only thing that lets it down for me is the sky and horizon line I can see what appears to be edit marks in the sky especially around the two sawn of trees to the right of the models head and then some slight brush marks around the other plants. Its not mega distracting but I think if the two similar tree stumps weren't so eye catching this shot would be better. (maybe clone them out with the sky to the bush below it) that's if you feel the need =]

This shot is well composed and very nicely lit. The light levels are balanced perfectly on the model the trees right in the background and the stoned of the building. Perfect. A beautiful dress too. More drama from your model may have really made this image pop.

I'm not so sure on the lighting in this one. I don't think you have thought about how to light the background so have just lit the model and some of that light has created a lighter area on the backdrop which is a little distracting.

The lighting in this studio shot is much better the background is more evenly lit and the image is composed beautifully with your model right in the center a great connection with your model and interesting styling too. 

I really like the leading lines in this shot from the trees as they really make your model the focus. I don't think you need such a harsh vignette around the edge of the frame as is conflicts with the lighter tones in the wood. Your model looks a little bored also. There is a good overall contrast in this shot which wouldn't be lost if you removed/reduced the vignette.

Interesting concept, styling and use of prop and location. Plus an engaging pose and expression from your model.

I love the idea behind this shot and her pose expression and the box the ONLY thing that lets it down in my opinion is the multi tonal blue background as it is distracting. 

Your work is pretty good, I can tell you are enthusiastic and go on location to find cool places to shoot, you have worked with a variety of models and the styling is always really good and interesting. Your lighting is pretty good, only a couple shots that need work. Your portfolio is exciting and colourful and leads the viewer in to click on your work. One thing I will suggest is that in your portfolio where you can see all your thumbnails I would advise you to move similar shots away from each other so they stand on their own otherwise they will be compared to each other and the variety is lost from your portfolio. Also try to avoid using vignettes so obviously, sometimes a subtle one will still lead the eye in to the focus in your frame and it doesn't have to be such a hard transition. 

Keep up the awesome work I look forward to seeing new stuff posted! :D

Hope this helps!

Chris T said

Ok readddddy.....go!

You've asked twice! scroll through to find your critique! page 4 i think!

Edited by Gemmiev

Fen said

I've not got much at the moment but you're quite welcome to dissect what little I have.

Hi! 

First impressions, lots of similar head shots in the top section of your portfolio (red lipstick lady) But as you are fairly new and only have a few shots up this is ok. Just make sure you remove some when you add more to keep up your variety. 

Your model connects with the camera well and I like the harsh contrast in this shot however the light to the right of her head is a little distracting.

An interesting angle to shoot from but I think it works with the edgy feel to the shot with the harsh lighting and contrast. The red of her lips and green tinge to the background work well with each other.

I'm not sure where the focus is on this image and her eye is partly closed, her expression is a little confusing as there is no indication to what she is trying to communicate. It looks as if you may have caught her blinking.

A really interesting background and lighting on your model Its a shame there is little detail in her eyes and that we can see right up her nose. a bit of eye contact would have helped tie the image together and stop the viewer from being drawn straight to the cool background rather than to your model. 

super distracting light seems to be balancing on your models forehead. you could have shot from a lower angle or moved her to the left a little to have avoided this! an otherwise strong image.

this shot stands out in your portfolio as it is so much more arty than your other shots, it breaks the rules with her blurry face but I actually really like how different it is. The reflection is interesting also. The lighter area below/to the left of her knee is a little distracting though.

Your work seems to be of a documentary/commercial genre with the odd glamour portrait a bit of an explanation on your notes would help tie in your photographic style so people will know what to expect when they look through your portfolio. Your work is generally good quality in regards to lighting and focus I just think you should pay attention to details that will distract the eye when shooting for example the lights in the background. Keep going, work with new models and get your variety through your portfolio I think you have so much potential and some really good work already you just have to build on what you know and shoot as often as you can.

Thanks for taking part. =]

Thank you for your time and critique, I agree with all you said, and yes I could have done a better job of the sky on the first. I am not that good at dropping a sky in or anything like that.

The second I could have done even better if I had some help, and the rest are all fairly old now, so were in my learning phaze so very happy with your critique.

Thanks again for your time.

Mark Perry said

Thank you for your time and critique, I agree with all you said, and yes I could have done a better job of the sky on the first. I am not that good at dropping a sky in or anything like that.

The second I could have done even better if I had some help, and the rest are all fairly old now, so were in my learning phaze so very happy with your critique.

Thanks again for your time.

You are very welcome. =]

Hi Gemmiev
I'm pretty new to model photography and would appreciate your comments on how I can improve on what I do.

If you could fit me in to your critique list I would be very grateful.

Cheers

Stu 

Rich S said

I am game :) Hit me . x

hello!

I like the write up on your portfolio it indicates you appreciate originality and avoid the cliched images that appear everywhere. 

Lovely creative image. very cool shot. Interesting use of light and silhouettes. 

Interesting location and nice even lighting. The composition is pretty good. Have you photoshopped something in the bottom right shadow? there seems to be a repeat smudgey pattern of the wood below the bottom of the wall.

Stunning image love the emotion from your models, gorgeous location and nice post processing. I maybe would have upped the brightness a little.

This is probably one of your weakest shots as there is little connection with your model and no hint of emotion from her. The muted colour tones are nice but the image doesn't really say anything in my opinion.

This is nicely done, she is positioned in the same place in both frames which some people don't do when creating multiple images like this. Lovely styling and colour tones for this model.

Love the use of this glass/perspex/bus shelter? It makes an interesting, original photo of a commonly used space.

Your work is of such a high quality, you have nailed the basics, lighting, composition and focus etc and you are being creative too. Its great that you experiment with lighting and can show this with the variety in your portfolio. You have a couple of images which are just ok for whatever reason, it may improve the overall quality of your portfolio if you remove them but it is up to you. I think also you could remove the images of the old man as they don't quite fit with your portfolio for this site. Again this is up to you.

Keep up the good work. I look forward to seeing what else you can produce.