First photo-shoot with a model!

[alfa147x]

I have a friend who models part time and I was talking to her about going out shooting some day after my Calumet Genesis 200 2-Light Kit arrives. Last night around 9 she calls me, her agency needs head shots of her TONIGHT! I'm the only person she know around here. So for the price of lunch I went out to take pictures of her. It was hard since I only have my 430 EX with me.
I found a brick wall with a white -ish light above it and for the others they were taken near a set of stairs with a bright white light.

Used my 30D with a 50 1.8 attached...

This is what I was able to do:

1. 
   She didn't like, but I did.
   
2. 
   
3. 
   I didn't like this one... but she liked it :\
   
4. 
   
5. 
   another one she didn't like, but I did.
   
6. 
   and one more I didn't like but she did :\

Criticism and / or tips would be great!
~Alfa147x

 

[virtuamike]

I agree with her, #3 and #6 are cleaner (the brick is distracting). The problem is that a headshot needs to connect and sell her. The only one that gives a sense of that is #3, but with her hair in her eye and the body language I don't know if the agency can even use it.

Next time take a look at what the agencies are using to get a better feel for what to produce. Sell the model.

Then again, I don't know any agencies that work at night.

 

[ElFenix]

the light color is just all over the place in each of the pics. 5 has the best light color and good focus but she's looking away. she's blending into the wall on the left side. and there's a hot spot on her head from standing under the light.

i'd take her out again to somewhere outside with even light (overcast is good) and use some fill to reduce the shadows under her chin. and have her put on a shirt, hair pinned back some (need to see both eyes), and try to coax a more natural smile out of her (which is the hardest part of portraiture as a photographer)

 

[alfa147x]

Thanks guys!

She needed those pictures because she went to a hair show and they wanted the pictures this morning (or something like that)...

I agree that the brick is distracting but it was hard to find a well lite area at midnight. I did try to convince her to let me shoot her in the day light but sunrise would have been too late :/

Oh I assumed the hair in the eye was to show off her new hair cut, that was the primary focus.

We are planing on doing another shoot once my light kit comes in. I'll post more then.

Thanks again!

 

[pdo]

looking at the whites of eyes. White balance is a little bit off. Beauty headshots are some of the hardest to learn. Don't shoot without beauty headshots without Makeup artist and hairstylist.

 

[tcsenter]

A little bit too toothy. Give her some lip balm or something, too.

 

[jpeyton]

On your end: better (more diffuse) lighting, sharper focus, less distracting background

On her end: better makeup, more varied expression