1st "Studio" shots - C&C Please

[Dramatis]

I posted these to the 'People' section but have received precious little feedback so I thought I'd repost here.

All images were shot with a single flash (at full power), through a white umbrella. I tried using a silver reflector for fill but didn't get very good results. EXIF data is intact.

My apologies for the watermarks but I'm kinda nervous about putting my best work (thus far) anywhere on the net without un-croppable marking.

1.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t152/AFewBoltsLoose/Photography/Portfolio/Jackie_0182RAWMarked.jpg

2.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t152/AFewBoltsLoose/Photography/Portfolio/Jackie_0224RAWMarked.jpg

3.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t152/AFewBoltsLoose/Photography/Portfolio/Jackie_0283RAWMarked.jpg

4.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t152/AFewBoltsLoose/Photography/Portfolio/Jackie_0286RAWMarked.jpg

5.
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t152/AFewBoltsLoose/Photography/Portfolio/Jackie_0346RAWMarked.jpg

6.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t152/AFewBoltsLoose/Photography/Portfolio/Jackie_0423RAWMarked.jpg

7.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t152/AFewBoltsLoose/Photography/Portfolio/Jackie_0432RAWMarked.jpg

8.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t152/AFewBoltsLoose/Photography/Portfolio/Jackie_0458RAWMarked.jpg

[Robert_Lay]

Quite a few pictures here. Did you want a critique on each one? Might be a good idea to request critique on just one or two pictures, regardless of how many you post.

I'm thinking I like #6 the best, and I see several pictures of such high contrast that I would take them out of the running.

[PhotosByCynthia]

My opinion, #3 is best for lighting. The others the shadows are either too deep or the photo is flat. I could comment on each one, but there are too many so I just made a general comment on them.

[Dramatis]

Quite a few pictures here. Did you want a critique on each one? Might be a good idea to request critique on just one or two pictures, regardless of how many you post.

I'm thinking I like #6 the best, and I see several pictures of such high contrast that I would take them out of the running.

1, 5, and 8 are my favorites so if you could give critique on those Robert I'd really appreciate it. :)

I hit all of these with some local contrast enhancement. I'll post smaller, untouched versions later.

[Robert_Lay]

I think #8 is too centric or too symmetrical around the vertical axis. Also, the facial shadows on her left side are much too dark. Can't see any detail in facial tones or hair on left side.

I see essentially the same problem of shadows in #5 - perhaps not quite as bad.
That one has a nice pose, but the baseboard running along the background is not very helpful - perhaps a little more work on the background?

In #1 I find it hard to believe that this is the same girl as in the other shots. Her facial expression is just not up to the other shots. The background color and color of her dress make a combination that I find very metallic and cold. I don't like that combination for a fashion portrait.

Sorry - chalk it up to my personal tastes. Perhaps others can be more encouraging.

[Dramatis]

Don't always look for encouragement, just honesty which you always give in spades Robert. It's much appreciated. :D While I'm partial to the shadows (comes from so much theatre work I suppose) I can see what you mean about the loss of detail. The model and I will be reshooting many of these in my home with my backdrop and additional lights in the coming weeks so I'll have an opportunity to work with your critique in mind.

Here's a selective color I did of #8. I'm posting this, not because of the selective coloration but because of the composite work I did to bring back some detail. I overexposed the original RAW file (by almost 2 stops) and then masked in the left side of the face and dodged the hair. Is it too obvious here that the lighting was borked in the first place?

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t152/AFewBoltsLoose/Photography/Portfolio/BeautifulMusic3TouchedSelectBright2.jpg

[Robert_Lay]

...
Here's a selective color I did of #8. I'm posting this, not because of the selective coloration but because of the composite work I did to bring back some detail. I overexposed the original RAW file (by almost 2 stops) and then masked in the left side of the face and dodged the hair. Is it too obvious here that the lighting was borked in the first place?

No - on the contrary. I don't think anyone would ever know!

Very good!

[Dramatis]

No - on the contrary. I don't think anyone would ever know!

Very good!

Woo hoo! Thanks Robert! :)

[PhotosByCynthia]

I think the selective color image looks fabulous!!