My second attempt @ studio lighting – CC please

[sonia dada]

I’ve been working hard for a few months at learning how to do outdoor lighting & I’ve had some descent results. But now that the whether has turned cold (check local listings ;-) ) I had to bite the bullet and buy some lights. This is my second try with them & I think I am at least close enough to ask for some outside advice & critique. Don’t be shy... let me have it. I’m more worried about getting better than getting my feelings hurt.
Feel free to critique other things as well. I can take it.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n234/soniadada/IMG_8503.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n234/soniadada/IMG_8497.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n234/soniadada/IMG_8461.jpg

[goforphoto]

Very nice the first one as well as the second was a bit soft and for a close up you should smooth out the skin tones a bit. But all in all you had a great second attempt.

[JMHPhotography]

I think you're doing great. I like the way you're photographing the shadow side moreso than the lit side. Nice job. The colors look a little muted to me, but I actually like the look.

[md_129]

I think you hard work is starting to pay off, I would just sharpen the eyes up a little.

[cinci-photo]

These are very nice shots. I don't think the skin needs softened, but I do agree with the sharpening. Great for only a 2nd attempt.

[Rumrunner]

Those are very nice! Great job on the lighting..

[moshe3242]

They are great, Do u mind sharing your set up ?

[D. Craig Flory]

This is an excellent series for a 2nd attempt. You have good skin tones and nice lighting. Watch your face position and move the key light with it. You have several where you have excellent use of short lighting. But when her face went straight on to the camera, it would have been best to move the key light to keep that nice short light.

As for the eyes ... take out the 2nd catch light. (keep the one from the key light.) You can make the remaining catch light smaller and more round. Then you can strengthen the catch lights.

Here is one of your images ... with the ONLY change being the eyes sharpened in Photoshop.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/DC47/IMG_8497SharpEyes.jpg

[isis24]

Very nice lighting! And the model is very pretty and looks comfortable (is that you?). I, too, would like to know your setup.

[sonia dada]

Very nice lighting! And the model is very pretty and looks comfortable (is that you?). I, too, would like to know your setup.

Thanks. It is not me. Sonia Dada (http://www.soniadada.com/index.html) is my favorite band, not my name. I should have thought ahead of time about it making me sound like a girl before using it as my screen name... but I didn’t *shrug* The model is a friend of mine. She has been very helpful (and patient lol) and she is going to let me use her a lot for practice. She asked that next time, I move the main light to the other side because she doesn’t like her crooked tooth on her top left. I plan on doing that & shoot some low key stuff next time she comes over.

I bought this kit <- click here<---- (http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/CE1447.html) from Calumet. I have the softbox as the main light with the umbrella lighting the background (camera left). I am using the snoot for hair light (camera right) and a 72" reflector leaning on a bar stool for fill. I am shooting a 20D with a 17-85 f/4-5.6 EFS IS.