First Real Attempt at Portraiture

[ChowChi-Ching]

This is my first time really setting up an actual portrait shot, most of mine are natural shots. This one is also not edited at all yet because I wanted a honest critique of how I was TAKING the picture, not on how I edited it. Just so you know, she was my test subject while I was getting my lighting set up for a shoot that I am doing tomorrow. If I was actually shooting her, I would have done a vertical shot and included her elbow.....but OTHER then that...... Can anyone tell me their opinions on this picture???
Oh, and by the way, she is kind of sick and that is why her eyes and cheeks are a little red. lol

[MarcusK]

She's centered.... too centered....

her colors are I really good though (of course some wee bit of tweaking might be in order, but i like the colors, the background is not lit properly or the color should be changed, in matters of TAKING the picture, i don't know why this is the color of choice for the background... in any case, this is something i am sure, others will be helpful in pointing out in further details... all i can say is the model seems flat on the background, rather than seperate... (I will also be looking for the tips on that )

The fact that her elbow is not in the shot as you mentioned is bothersome, but that could also be solved by framing a little different no necessarily by going vertical, maybe getting a little closer or farther away....

Hope this help.. and good luck with your portraiture
Marc

[Greg McCary]

I feel like that shooting in landscape instead of portrait has just left to much negative space on either side.
Greg

[ravenmore]

I would do a vertical crop instead of a horizontal(as you mentioned). I agree with Marcus on the background.