What do you think of these portraits?

Would love some critique. Thanks in advance.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/61737555@N02/5​865276646/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/61737555@N02/5​865267652/

Nice shoots.
I would crop out 80 ~ 90% the wooden pole.

I agree about the pole.
Lighting on the face is lovely.

In terms of pose, the first is definitely the winner.

However, in both, two things distract me
1. The blown lighting behind her
2. The dress is too 'busy' (just scroll the image and look at the dress)

I would edit out the loose chain from her necklace

Yeah, I wouldnt call these planned portraits. I couldnt do a whole lot about the blown background, I didnt have any flash or reflector. These were taken miday

I have to agree with Paul on the poses. #1 is quite nice, good relaxed look, great smile, good color.

Pose #2 isn't doing a pretty young lady any justice.

Exposure is actually pretty good considered the time of day and equipment you had available. Your subject is well exposed in both.

i would watch out for cropping right above her head (leave some more room) and at joints (like at her wrists).

background highlights are distracting. In this case, exposing for the BG and lighting your model with fill flash may lead to a more pleasing composition.

Color looks great. WB looks good. Focus and sharpness very nice. Just the brightness of the BG pulls my eyes there first, then to the beautiful young lady.

dave

^ agree with Dave, but she is lovely, maybe get her in the fields instead of leaning ? Then her dress wouldn't be the distraction.

On the first shot:

Crop the bottom third off (between necklace and belt) and then proportionately along the vertical. This cuts out a bunch of the distracting dress...the face becomes what draws you in.

I agree with the others about the dress, nice shots though, post up a cropped version as some said.

+1 on wooden pole. Overall I think it is a good shot. You can play with crop and should be a showcase keeper.

First is pretty good, some cropping will fix it up. 2nd, I don't really like the pose.

The skin tones go from yellow to red to white to pink to purple. 2nd photo make her look flat chested.