Head shots...need opinions

[HPS3]

I've been so busy lately I haven't really haven't been on the forums much. My neighbor ask me to take a few head shots for her theatre class at USM. I only had a few minutes yesterday in the backyard. I'm by no means even a little experienced with portraiture and posing. What do you think of these three shots? I wanted to ask before I turn them over to her.


Megan 4 by Harry Shields, on Flickr


Megan 2 by Harry Shields, on Flickr


Megan by Harry Shields, on Flickr

 

[Tim]

I really like the 2nd one, especially in b&w. ; The first one is fine also. By only gripe about #3 is you cut off the top of her head a bit but all in all your shots were well executed. ;

Keep practicing and you will be just fine. ;

 

[HPS3]

Thanks Tim. #2 is my style, a candid shot in the moment. I'm definitely going to have to practice on posing and framing portraits. I told get to let me take some more shots when we both have more time.

 

[Tim]

Just be careful to not over think the shot or over-pose the model. ; Let it happen naturally and your pics will be better. ;

 

[jbwolffiv]

My favorite is the third one, but as Tim said, the top part of her head. ; As far as giving you tips, I have never taken any portraits, so I got nothin.

 

[wddoebler]

#1 & #3 both have a bright spot of sunshine behind on the left. ; For me this tends to distract from the subject which is her face. ; Those spots could be toned down in Photoshop or other image manipulation software without cutting down on the nice lighting on her face.

 

[HPS3]

Tim, John and Bill, thanks for the opinions and tips. I'll have to take more notice of backgrounds and light. This is one area I would love to learn more about. Then maybe I'd like to learn off camera flash. Just maybe.