My first attempts with portraits

Hi,

I just recently tried my hand at taking some portrait style photos. I know I still have a long way to go but how am I doing so far? Any suggestions?


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Hmmmmm I double posted that sorry!!!

Trying to add second photo again...

Very nice work. On the last one I'd recommend straightening the horizon or the waterline so it looks straight. Natural light? I'd like to see a catch light on the first two shots to make her eyes light-up a bit.

Hi Rob,

I'm going to sound like a real newbie....but that is what I am!!!! "catch light" .....can you explain this to me!!!! Thanks a bunch!

Tracy

Nice job on your portraits

Catchlights are the reflections from a light source that you often see in a person's eyes. It really adds a lot to a portrait, because eyes are generally the most important part of a portrait. You could achieve this by using a flash, some external source of light, or in some cases reflecting light onto your subject.

One suggestion I would offer is to go easy on the vignetting (the dark borders around your photos). A lot of that is personal taste, but it also looks more professional.

Catch lights are the twinkle/reflection of the light in someones eyes

Everyone explained it already... here is an example which makes it more obvious. Keep up the good work!

Their is a catchlight in the first photo you can see it more clearly if you enlarge the photo and that horizon is so minutely off that its not worth moving it, you are a beginner so well done on your first attempt, remember practise makes perfect and ask lots of questions on here, as you can see we queue up with our opinions.

My opinion:
You have a very nice model yet shooting her dead-on does not flatter this girl.
If you have the opp to shoot her again, try 3/4 profiles and have her look away
from the camera somewhat.
Maybe looking up or looking down.
Work with her !

I think your moving in the right direction......the first 2 seem a little soft though...Keep shooting and you will only improve!!

Great shots for your first time! Both images seemed rather soft to me and perhaps this is from resizing your images so that they are ready for web. Try and sharpen your images before you resize them so that we can get the full feel for your final output.
One of the first thing I notice is the lack of consistent color between the shots. Now this can change very dramatically from shooting in different invironments and using flash and not using flash etc. Invest in a grey Card (2 bucks at your local camera store). This card will allow you to have each photo look and feel the same. A must for any pro!
Great exposure on the first but I would warm up the color a tad. Easy on the vignette as other have already pointed out. Whenever I'm playing with a new affect I try to set it to whatever I think looks good and then use half that amount. Generally, it's still a bit much
Don't worry about catch lights! They really aren't anything that you need to focus on right now. I would however focus on getting more light into your subjects eyes as I do feel they are the most important part of a portrait. They are the window to the soul. If you use any classic style lighting techniques and get enough light into the eyes, the catchlights will come all on their own. People will tell you how much they love them and you wouldn't have even tried Trust me!
The last image below needs a touch of warmth as well as a bit more contrast. Let the Histogram be your guide.
Your doing great and thanks for sharing! Hope I helped!

Welcome to the party....

For a frist attempt... good job...

with what Gary said about the head on shots... change the angle a bit