Which would you use for a portfolio?

Wondering which is best to include. Any preferences? I wonder if the building in the background is too distracting or if it takes away from the photo in any way. Thoughts?

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

I really like the second. Makes it more interesting.

neither?

Both are too centered with excess "dead space" around the subject (and the lighting isn't that great either, harsh sunlight, lots of hardedges). The powerlines, backgrounds, and background buildings are in focus enough to be distracting.

if I was forced to choose, I'd go with the 2nd, just b/c the selective coloring makes it a little more interesting (but a little cliche) and takes some of the focus off the other distractions..

All are my opinion of course.

nw85887 wrote in post #5518656
neither?

Both are too centered with excess "dead space" around the subject (and the lighting isn't that great either, harsh sunlight killed your skin tones). The powerlines, backgrounds, and background buildings are in focus enough to be distracting.

if I was forced to choose, I'd go with the 2nd, just b/c the selective coloring makes it a little more interesting.

All are my opinion of course.

do you think cropping it tighter would then make it too tight? It was a pretty bright day, btw though i liked that it made for good colors.

#1, but get rid of the power lines, level the photo (the fence leans) crop to get some focus on your subject, maybe a very tight crop so that a portion suggests a whole............

a crop may help, or using PS to blur the background a little more.

had the background been of a field of flowers, a forest, a parent with open arms, anything but a fence with powerlines and a factory...this shot would have been great

this also looked like a good time of day to have had a CPL on

nw85887 wrote in post #5518703
a crop may help, or using PS to blur the background a little more.

had the background been of a field of flowers, a forest, a parent with open arms, anything but a fence with powerlines and a factory...this shot would have been great

this also looked like a good time of day to have had a CPL on

I definitely agree with you about the background! I thought the same thing. I was lamenting that we weren't in an open field somewhere.

hortonsl62 wrote in post #5518677
#1, but get rid of the power lines, level the photo (the fence leans) crop to get some focus on your subject, maybe a very tight crop so that a portion suggests a whole............

Thanks for the suggestion! Here is my 1st revision. Next is that white building in the background.

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

I would loooove this if it had some blur in the background. I still like it but i can't get over the distractions. =/

try cutting the girl out of the picture and put her on a different layer...then try different settings of a gaussian blur.
Im not sure if that'll work or not but it's worth a shot.

Just my $.02 worth as always...

To me a "portfolio" is something you use to sell your work to potential clients...that's it's purpose. This is what makes a portfolio different from a "scrap book". So with that said, my question would be, exactly what is it that you are trying to sell to your clients? If you are trying to sell your abilities as a Photoshop artist and what you can do with an image "beyond the image itself" and/or your own artistic vision, then the second shot is more suitable. If you're simply trying to sell yourself as a creative photographer then I'd stick with the first image instead. Having a better idea of what you are trying to pitch to a potential client is the real question here. In my mind at least, selling yourself as a "fine art photographer" is a very different thing than selling yourself as a "graphic artist". Not that there's anything wrong with doing both.

With my own work for example, I have one or two examples in my portfolio where I will include both the before and after shots so that I can present a potential client with options and then the work is done based on what the client wants. On the other hand I should also mention that technically speaking, since I do a number of styles of work, I also have a number of portfolios. I have one specifically for my wildlife work for people interested in that type of thing, I have another that is strictly "pet portraits" again specifically for people who are interested in "pictures of Rover" and I'm putting together a people portrait portfolio as well. Basically most people who are interested in normal "portraits" aren't really going to be interested in my wildlife work and if I'm talking to a nature center about doing an exhibition of my wildlife work, they're not generally going to be interested in my people shots. Neither of course would be interested in any of my advertising or product photography. To me it's kind of like streamlining a job resume for a specific job that you may be applying for. Think of the portfolio as part of your resume, so in regards to which picture should you use just ask yourself which job are you applying for?

Alrighty, not sure if that was really any help or not, but good luck!
Peace,
Jim

Jim, very well put.

Thanks Jim! That is very helpful and I do appreciate putting in your .02 cents