Meet Samantha - A request for critique

First time in two years that I have done any portrait work.

I would love some critique - please and thank you!

lighting is very good, but a little hot (not much) on the second one, sharp - focused well, you could crop the second one to rid the dead space to her sides, no shadow in the background which is excellent -- I like them. Also, your work on your website is excellent. Good job.

No complaints from me. I like.

First one is super cute and made me smile. Maybe that's not much of a critique, but emotionally - I liked it.

very good lighting nice work

Thank you! Obviously I still have many things to learn but I think it is a reasonable start. Thanks for the feedback.

DigitalTuned wrote in post #17479731
very good lighting nice work

Our posts overlapped, thanks!

I think they're just a little hot too. May just be me......I like a little more subtlety.

I especially noticed it on her forehead and arms in the first one.

Nice photos and model. For me personally, the chair in the first shot is a little distracting. My eye notices those lines, and those lines are not straight. I love her look and pose on the second and can't help but wonder what a tight 8x10 portrait orientation my do for the photo.

Looks great!
Agreed with the "hotness". Just a little bit too hot, unless that was your goal.
For the first one, I'd suggest having a little less chair in the frame

Overall: thumbs up!

Thanks everyone. Agree about the 8 x 10 idea as well as the first image being a bit hot. I corrected as I went.

I like the first image better. The second one she went a little duckface and it looks forced.

It's pretty standard stuff. No complaints here. Great work on both.