The eyes have it...

[ACArmstrong]

22-year-old, Gretta F. in my home studio with hot lights and seamless bg paper.
Canon 10D, Manual, 1/40 second, f5.6, ISO 200, Lens 28.0 - 105.0 mm at 98.0 mm

I'm looking for serious critique - positive or negative doesn't matter. Tell me what you think, please. I'm looking to learn.

[Chunk]

22-year-old, Gretta F. in my home studio with hot lights and seamless bg paper.
Canon 10D, Manual, 1/40 second, f5.6, ISO 200, Lens 28.0 - 105.0 mm at 98.0 mm

I'm looking for serious critique - positive or negative doesn't matter. Tell me what you think, please. I'm looking to learn.

Well you can't learn anything from me, especially with portraits. I love the light in her hair and the strong modelling of her beautiful face. The whole series on Viewfinder is terrific. I thought the last couple shot was also very strong.

[Todd Patten]

Andy -- I already let you know what I think in the other thread However, did you use any bounce on this? I think the shadow on the left side of her face may be a little strong. It's not terribly distracting but I think it would look good to see that area illuminated a bit.

I still think that she's looking at me with that "Who the f' are you?" look. Throw in, "Well, whatever. That's the worst line I've ever heard." and it sums up my early twenties

[ChaosCubed]

My only critique is the shadow, as well. Overall, beautiful shot!

[ACArmstrong]

Thanks for the comments. This was shot with one softened light from the left side of the photo and and another softened light lowered and pointed toward the white ceiling on the right side. You're so right about the depth of that shadow. If I owned a reflector (I know, I know - kill me now), I would've used it on the right side of the photo to pick up some more subtle light for that side of her face.

[Chunk]

Thanks for the comments. This was shot with one softened light from the left side of the photo and and another softened light lowered and pointed toward the white ceiling on the right side. You're so right about the depth of that shadow. If I owned a reflector (I know, I know - kill me now), I would've used it on the right side of the photo to pick up some more subtle light for that side of her face.

I like having that side of her face lit by the warm glow of light reflected from her shoulder (I think that's where it comes from). I think the darker shadow lends a feeling of mystery.

[bobbythebandit]

22-year-old, Gretta F. in my home studio with hot lights and seamless bg paper.
Canon 10D, Manual, 1/40 second, f5.6, ISO 200, Lens 28.0 - 105.0 mm at 98.0 mm

I'm looking for serious critique - positive or negative doesn't matter. Tell me what you think, please. I'm looking to learn.

And this is very good.Glad you got highlights in her eyes, a small point but so essential.I prefer a tighter crop so have done it to show you.Lost your framing unfortunately, but in head shots all i want to see and look at is the model. Lovely woman, get her in again.I will go to viewfinder and look at the ones there.Thanks for sharing.
Bobby

[PuckJunkey]

A pretty appealing shot overall, but there are a couple of things that aren't as good as they might be IMO.

Her posture is OK but a little cliché IMHO... it also has the side effect that even though the left side of her face is in shadow, her left eye isn't. That aspect is a tad distracting but not "wrong" per se.

Basically, I would try that pose again but make sure her chin isn't so scrunched towards her shoulder (a little more upright I guess) and then see if you can get half of her face in shadow and expose for the bridge of her nose.

Disclaimer: I'm not a fashion guy so it's possible I don't know what the hell I'm talking about, but something like the above is probably what the photographer I work for would do in his studio if he were going for this type of shot.

[ACArmstrong]

Disclaimer: I'm not a fashion guy so it's possible I don't know what the hell I'm talking about, but...

I was so seriously reading your advice (adding it into the other tips I've picked up here), PuckJunky and then I hit the above and almost sprayed Diet Mtn Dew all over the screen. Thanks for the grin - and the advice.