Some help needed

Hi guyes.
A hairdresser friend of mine wanted me to take some photos of her hairmodel (who is also our friend).
She is entering the annual apprentice hair dresser competition here in Norway for the first time and as she aint going 100% for the win she asked me if i could take some shots and edit them for her.

So i have a few shots now, but i need some help on the editing or just general advice.

These ARE the shots we will be using, we wont redo the shoot. So i just need help with improving the shots we have already taken

Here is a link to the before and after images:
http://gallery.me.com/​bt.okland

Any tips appreciated

Well in hair photography it is all about....... hair! The model, while important, isn't nearly as important as THE HAIR. THE HAIR must look healthy, vibrant, shiny, beautiful, colorful. I MUST be well lit. The hair in your images looks lackluster, dull and unexciting. You needs lots more light on the hair.

The model looks depressed, so the viewer thinks to herself, if I get my hair done like this I too will be depressed, so no thanks.

Benji

Benji has nailed it - right on!

I like to look at the photos and critique them before I read any of the other comments.

But I have to agree with Benji about the lighting. That was what jumped out at me right off.

I differ with him on the expression. The expression looks demure to me. The judges of the competition may or may not even look at the model's expression.

Good luck to you and your friend.

acchildress wrote in post #6460216
The judges of the competition may or may not even look at the model's expression.

Wrong there... "Models" are hired to "sell" whatever they are advertising. Whether it be a Dolce dress or a bowl of soup. Everything is taken into consideration. If models dont sell their look, what are they any good for? Why have a model at all? How bout a mannequin with a wig? There is prob a reason why the competition has them using real models, and not just a ball of hair.

I agree with Benji on the emotion... feels drab, and im not "sold".

Well.. I have gotten 4 responses, and it feels like none of you even read what i wrote.

The shots may be dull, but i wont be redoing them.
I quote myself :

These ARE the shots we will be using, we wont redo the shoot. So i just need help with improving the shots we have already taken

You did however make it clear the lightning was bad, so how can i improve it?

Too bad you cannot re shoot.these really do show the hair messy, My sister and her hubby are both stylists, have been for about 25 years now, and they would not have let that style walk out of their shop

Seeing as you have to use some of these, I would likely use #4, although is doesn't show the full hair style, it has the least things to fix Sorry, it just is not what I would get excited about at a hair show.You say "she ain't going 100% for the win"..shame to enter then.

Contrast,perhaps slight highlights to the hair...blur the background?

The first two look like she does have a net over her head.the last set have a tree growing out of her head...