Photoshoot with model, Jobelle

An automotive lifestyle website asked me to do a photoshoot. I declined, but they said they were in a tight deadline and needed something. I'm not good at taking pictures of people, so please bare with all of my mistakes. Since I don't shoot portraits or anything that needs a good indoor lighting setup, I used two lamps (75W soft bulbs) at different angles. Please give me some C&C. thanks!

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

No pic :$

Such lights really need some diffusion in order to avoid the hot spots - for example, in picture #1, the hot spot centered directly on her left eyebrow.

Otherwise, your poses were very good.

In #2 and #3 the background is a problem in that one could hope for something a little less distracting.

The color balance looks good for everything except her skin tones, which look rather orange. I would guess that the general lighting might be fluorescent, while your lamps are incandescent, with the result being some color balance problems.

CSH - It is pretty obvious that you got pressed into service for this shoot. Don't know what camera/gear you used. The 2 75watt lights (assume they were trouble lights from the garage) are like spitting in the ocean and as mentioned, just buggered up the balance.
The one shot of the model in the car (again assuming it is a product shot) needs to have all of the distracting background blown out. The pose is OK (she seems to have one "look") but it appears her pet skunk is laying on her left shoulder.

The lighting (or lack of it) was your worst enemy. As you found out, black interiors just suck up any light you put into it.
If you get a chance to re-shoot. Take everything outside to a park or some neutral background.
Have the model bring her chin up a bit and watch the stray hair.

I quite like number 2, its got a good feel to it, and direction, but again the lighting and hotspots let it down.

Pick up a diffuser for about 30 bucks and that will help reduce the hot spots.

thanks for the comments and suggestions.

you're right, the incandescent lighting and the flourescent lighting were competing. and yeah, there was definitely a lack of light with only those two lamps. i will try harder to get some brighter and softer/diffused lighting next time. thanks for the tips.

I like the poses, and the compostition. One thing you might try to add a little more pop, is to add some white to her eyes.

Like everyone else has already said, the lighting is the biggest let down. The composition is quite good, for a car mag especially. I used to work for one.

Just one thing... how could you let her sit on the bonnet of such a beautiful car? Bride racing seat, huge deep-dish extremely cambered rims, a drifter through and through.