Find portraiture difficult

Looking for constructive criticism please re: this shot: 



Should maybe add that I took this photo in a small space.  Used two lights - one for backlight and one for fill.  I know the fill light should have been more powerful than the backlight (mine were both equal power), but I have no way of turning them up or down.  They are just basic starter lights (or should I say, soft boxes).  Not sure if the photo looks a bit flat or not.  I'm not particularly keen on flat lighting on faces and like to see shape via shadows.  Crit re: tones, light, contrast, etc appreciated.  

Backlight?  For this particular framing the backlight seems to contribute very little.

2 lights, backlight and fill.  Ok . . . but what was the main light???  The character of the main light is the key to any studio shot.  Even if you were using ambient light for the main light, the nature of that ambient counts, a LOT!  And your description makes no mention of that.

I think the composition and posing are quite nice, likely better than I could do (I'm really a landscape guy).

The deep black background is a questionable choice.  Obviously a middle grey would be bad, but I think a light gradient, or sumthin, would help "un-deaden" the background.

Getting good light on both faces (which is achieved here) is bound to result in a look that is a little flat.  This can be perked up a little by using a more narrow main light.  Which is pretty much impossible with ambient room light or a softbox.  Unless it is easy to remove the diffusion face from the softbox, that will sometimes give more direct lighting.  So think about trying a common bowl shaped reflector (preferably with barndoors) instead of always using a softbox.

I'm not a fan of selective color.  Deliberately muted colors sometimes give a special feel to a shot, but these red lips in a B&W just come across as odd.

Contrast is a little low, very easy to fix in post processing.

If "basic starter lights" means CFLs, that can be pretty darned limiting.  The nice composition and pose here tell me that you are serious about this.  Eventually think about getting some more serious lights, along with a variety of modifiers.

Kelly

Thanks Kelly.  This is really helpful.  I see what you mean about the contrast having been away from the photo for a couple of hours.  Also, a gradient bg would have been good like you mentioned.  I wish I had left off the selective colour, but will remember this for future.  Re: barndoors - would love this type of lighting and will have to save.  Thank you again for your help.  Really much appreciated. 

Erm, you can easily undo that selective color in post, so long as you have the original RAW image file.

Kelly

I agree with all KCook said. your need to add fill light to the main light, where that is I can not tell. Also, sometimes it is helpful to know your camera settings in order to help with the critique, just sayin~ The image is really nice, love the feel & composition! Great Job! I by far am not an expert, as I have only started using off camera flash.  If this is an area in your home, just practice with different layouts for lighting, using window lighting is almost my first choice, more natural then bounce your 2nd light just to fill in. Keep Practicing is my motto! Also, I would loose the red lips, just not working with the B&W~ Good Luck, would love to see more images!

Beautiful for sure!

Thanks everyone who responded.  I wish I kept the original but I didn't!!!  Will in future however.  Will take what you all have advised and study it for better results (hopefully) in future. 

You look young enough to be from the digital era only. Remember that your original image (raw or jpg) should be seen as your negative and always be kept.

I hate studio lighting, (too much work) so I will not comment there. The mother's top I felt was too contrasty and took a lot of attention away from the faces. I like the fact that it leads the eye in, but a light grey and white or black and dark grey would have worked for me.

Do you shoot RAW...? If so you can "undo" the selective color here and start over... Nice details on everything...love the pose.

Renee recently joined and posted new images tonight.

Really impressive.