Female Portrait

[Digital]

In 2016 I shot this woman in a small office at 1/60/@ f5.6, ISO 200. The flash head was set at 180 degrees behind me using the wall behind me as a source of light since the light was bounced.
The background was NOT changed on this pic.
Per usual, C&C most welcomed.

Bruce

[Manfred M]

This one looks better than the other images that you have posted recently.

Two things pop into my mind right off:

1. Have your model stand at least 6 ft away from the wall. That eliminates the shadow from the flash.

2. Clone out that mark in the wall at the bottom left.

[Rent]

It needs a lot of work particularly on her neck, but skin tones in general
Just my opinion
Roy

[rpcrowe]

A green environment is often difficult to reconcile with portraits because, the skin tones may pick up the green tint - especially when using bounce flash. I would recommend including a white balance target in each series and; either establish a custom white balance or get your white balance through Camera RAW using the White Balance Eye Dropper (I use both methods and either seems equally as accurate).

I am not keen on the way her blouse is hanging with the collar standing back from her neck (indicated by the blue arrow).



This is usually a result of poor posture. Posture is somewhat difficult to correct but, it is easy to correct the fall of the blouse collar by just having your subject grab the front of her blouse and pull the blouse a bit forward and down.

Another indicator of poor posture are the lines in her neck area (red arrow) which are increased by the neck jutting forward from shoulders which are rounded inward.

It is quite difficult to get a person to modify his or her posture for normal activity but, modifying the posture (with a little direction from the photographer) is quite easy for the short time of a photo session... Although, the lines can be reduced in PP...

On the other hand, I like the fact that there are no obvious reflections on her glasses and that the shadows are quite decent. Her hair is also neatly coiffured but, I have a suspicion that this lady probably has her hair neatly done at all times.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Bruce,

Something helpfully seems to have given a hint of direct flash, as evidenced by the catchlights in her eyes and the shadows of the top rim of her specs. Perhaps you have, or had, a flash/strobe like one of mine (a Metz, I think); that has a small secondary flash tube that always points forwards and is there for exactly this reason, it just provides a hint of frontal fill and catchlights. Or possibly there was something shiny behind you that reflected some of the flash forward.

I can't helpfully add to Manfred and Richard's comments, other than to say that in this instance, even a couple of extra feet (60 cm) between subject and wall would have helped with the subtle shadow.

Your portrait postings are helpful to many of us I'm sure.

Thanks,
Dave

[Digital]

Thank you Manfred, Richard, and Dave for your comments, and suggestions.

Roy - I do not understand your comments, especially about the neck. Could you be more specific?
Thanks.

Bruce

[Rent]

Bruce The stretch marks on the neck are far from flattering. They need smoothing out. The skin tones on her chin could do with smoothing out as well
Roy