Critique Welcome -- Portrait

[DOrtiz]

Hi Guys!

Any advice, suggestions and tips will be most welcome.

http://dortizphoto.com/pictures/portraits/Kimberly02.jpg

Regards,
Dave

http://dortizphoto.com (http://dortizphoto.com/)

[Keiffer]

Nice composition, The smile looks fake and as if she's showing off her braces. Very pretty girl though.

[Wildewinds]

Nice. I would edit out the hair in the middle of her forehead and that thing on the left side of her nose.

[ccrios]

i agree with Keiffer, looks more like she's showing off her braces than smiling.

[Citizensmith]

Remember the James Bond movie Moonraker with the character Jaws?

Its a decent photo, but a more closed mouth smile would look better.

[Raj]

Ditto. Nothing wrong with your photographic skills or the model, a different facial expression would be more appropriate :-) I like the B&W treatment btw.

[ProAc_Fan]

I also don't like the rather forced looking smile. I would have at least lessened the facial blemishes and made her nostrils less prominent.

[dedalus-6]

Agreed with all of you!

[DOrtiz]

She always smiles this way, and always falls into this full bright smile. Now those braces are gone and she has a perfect smile. Yes, she is a cute kid, although she feels (so my daughter says) she horrible looking.

Here she is with my daughter. You can see she always smiles this way.

http://dortizphoto.com/pictures/portraits/01.jpg

Thanks for the revised edited image as well -- it looks great. I'll have to ask her if she prefers me to edit her facial blemishes as doing so without her knowledge may portray that she's ugly or has "imperfections" which is something they're very sensitive to at this age.

Thanks again my friends, and any advice you offer will be most humbly appreciated.

Regards,
Dave
http://dortizphoto.com

[DOrtiz]

.. always smiling like this. This was a quick "snap shot" taken at my son's football game.

http://dortizphoto.com/pictures/people/melissakim02.jpg

But you can see what I mean...

Regards,
Dave
http://dortizphoto.com

[marie]

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif
I love this last shot Dave
both their eyes sparkle , the look is more relaxed and it shows them enjoying themselves
but I guess it's not the same type of pose you wanted as it's more casual
I prefer it for this girl right now
they both (your daughter and her friend) are beautiful

[exposingmyself]

i like her smile, it shows her very crisp and youthful apperance. i also prefer the freckles. what i'm having trouble with is the heavy metal balled necklace. i think it's too heavy for delicate face.

love the bw. :D

[smittymike19]

nice shots. you call tell her teeth are going to look superb after those braces come off. i prefer to see the braces, not because they improve her look, but because it captures a moment in her life. i recently took a picture of my 9 year old niece whos adult teeth are still making their way in. this means she has a big spce between her 2 front teeth. so i photoshopped the picture to lessen the look of the space. well pretty much everyone hated it as they all felt that it wasnt a true depiction of who she is. i had to agree so the space went back in. i would also leave the freckles and the nose thing on your picture. its the true person you should capture, not your interpretation of what she should look like.

[HJMinard]

Removing (acne) blemishes is fine, but please don't remove freckles or moles ... they're part of who she is and shouldn't be considered "imperfections".

Excellent shot ... lovely model ... cute smile!

[Croasdail]

Completely agree with the last couple comments. Her personality really pops out in all these images. My goal is to learn how to take extrodianary pictures of ordinary people - not just clones of what the magazines sell as perfection. I think dortiz did a great job doing what I hope to be able to do someday. Cheers!

[DOrtiz]

Hi Guys!

Thanks for the great comments and valued feedback. Something about B&W moves me and I can't quite place my finger on it (not yet anyway, but it will come to me soon enough). Kimberly is a great kid .. she's also a dancer and has performed in various plays (Nutcracker etc.).

I agree with keeping the "imperfections" as some may call it -- it's who she is, and she'll remember those moments as she matures and grows into a woman. For now (and I know it's selfish), I only hope they stay this age .. innocent, sweet, and great kids. My daughter and her are great friends, and they sorta remind me of my times when I had really close friends like that. It's a great feeling.

Thanks again guys for the critique and valued feedback. I'll keep trying to read, learn, and practice every chance I get. I still have far to go before I dare consider myself good. :confused:

Regards,
Dave

[Croasdail]

i like her smile, it shows her very crisp and youthful apperance. i also prefer the freckles. what i'm having trouble with is the heavy metal balled necklace. i think it's too heavy for delicate face.

Exposingmyself - Just got back to reading the other post... I think your on to it. I just kept looking at those beads and there seemed to be something wrong with them... but couldn't put my finger on it. It is a very casual and friendly picture and they seem too formal. Other then that - and we are nit picking - charming photo...

[Mike2005]

No offense, but whoever thinks that this is a forced smile has been in the studio way too long. Also, what's the purpose of the photograph....if it's a head shot and the gal is looking for a part in a feature film...then yeah, get rid of the blemishes, and all the other "imperfections" (I don't know...I just don't see any). Otherwise, this is who she is. Why make the subject something that she is not? Am I being naive??????????

[Keiffer]

She's a very beautiful young girl. Just point her in the direction of this forum and we'll convince her! Glad to hear(for her sake) the braces are off she does have a great smile and the fact that she loves to break out in a big smile is testament on a good job her parents are doing in raising such a fine young woman.

[DOrtiz]

Hi Mike ..

No offense, but whoever thinks that this is a forced smile has been in the studio way too long. Also, what's the purpose of the photograph....if it's a head shot and the gal is looking for a part in a feature film...then yeah, get rid of the blemishes, and all the other "imperfections" (I don't know...I just don't see any). Otherwise, this is who she is. Why make the subject something that she is not? Am I being naive??????????
You're not being naive at all. I couldn't agree with you more ... she's not in a studio, and I'm FAR from a professional. However, the critique from those with a far more telented eye than my own is certainly appreciated as it helps me look (or try to anyway) at things differently.

I'm shocked I haven't been blasted for using B&W with no color yet. :(

Thanks again my friend.

Regards,
Dave

[DOrtiz]

Exposingmyself - Just got back to reading the other post... I think your on to it. I just kept looking at those beads and there seemed to be something wrong with them... but couldn't put my finger on it. It is a very casual and friendly picture and they seem too formal. Other then that - and we are nit picking - charming photo...

Thanks for the kind words -- I'll remember this when I see her again and she's wearing those huge things. :)

Regards,
Dave

[DOrtiz]

Thanks to everyone for the valued opinion, ideas and suggestions. This is most helpful and I appreciate the time you guys have taken to assist/critique the images.

As always, advice is always welcome, and constructive critism is never taken personally.

Regards,
Dave

[Keiffer]

Hey David, Who did your website? It's very nice.

[DOrtiz]

Thanks, it was done by an acquaintance. Last night was quite interesting, I attended my daughter's concert. Here are a few images of the event. I haven't converted them to B&W just yet. Question is .. should I? :confused:

http://dortizphoto.com/pictures/events/gateway5-2005/06.jpg

http://dortizphoto.com/pictures/events/gateway5-2005/02.jpg

http://dortizphoto.com/pictures/events/gateway5-2005/07.jpg

As always, critique is always welcome.

Regards,
Dave

[DOrtiz]

Hey David, Who did your website? It's very nice.

His name is Elvis . and no, not Presley either. :lol:

Regards,
Dave

[marie]

your daughter and her friend are beautiful
I love how you caught the sparkle in their eyes
all the pictures are very nice of a very special occasion

[DOrtiz]

Hi Marie..

your daughter and her friend are beautiful
I love how you caught the sparkle in their eyes
all the pictures are very nice of a very special occasion Thank you for those very kind words. It's difficult shooting teens because they're not very willing to pose for shots, and when they do they're soooooooo picky about how they (meaning themselves) look.

Thanks again, I really appreciate the feedback.

Regards,
Dave