Gracie photo
 

Below are two photos of my neighbor's daughter. She is a twin, her sister is posted under 'Gracie photo'.

I welcome any suggestions on how to crop these photos, or how to handle the background. I was thinking of a nondescript background, bushes and a few flowers. Or the doorway.

I am trying desperately (!) to build a portfolio and having a challenging time with taking resource photos. (Before anyone suggests reading Mike McCarty's very helpful posts, I've read them all yet still struggle with ideal lighting situations. I'm working on it!)

This little girl lives across the street so I can always take a look at her for accurate skin tones.

Thank you, I am looking forward to hearing what you all think (even if it means I need to reshoot).

Joan

No hands
 

Oh yes, I almost forgot, the second photo needs hands. I could either crop just below her shoulders and have a head and shoulders only, or I could easily take some photos of her hands in the same light to use. I think I could do that and it would work.

Joan

I do not care for either of these myself - maybe it's the skin colors. They look difficult to me. They are right across the street - can you photograph her again? The stripes on her outfit would be distracting also.

If it's for your portfolio - why not get the two girls together - maybe with one leaning her head on the others shoulder? It would be sweet.

Good luck!

I don't have a problem with the skin colors (I especially like the colors of the skin in the second photo.) I think these photos are almost there, in terms of reference shots to use -- and way better than the first pictures I tried to paint from!

I agree with Kim that the stripes are distracting. I would paint their clothes as solid pink, if you ever do decide to paint from these photos.

In the first shot, the swing itself doesn't read well to me. The plank is such a strong, flat, bright and dominating shape, as are the ropes, that they seem to take charge of the painting. Cropping above the plank means the pose of the arms is somewhat confusing, and the ropes would still be too dominating. I do like the background, just as it is, though. If you paint from this photo I'd blur and reduce contrast in the background but otherwise leave it as is.

In the second photo her expression is kind of odd. With such little angels across the street I wouldn't spend any time painting from these photos, personally. I'd reshoot....and reshoot and reshoot! Photograph them in some nicer clothes, inside their house or yours, looking out the window, etc. You'll have masterpieces.

Thank you
 

Kim, thank you for taking a look at these. I agree with you about the stripes on the dress, too distracting. I did try to get them both together and none of those photos turned out, but I'll try again. That would make a nice painting, even if they were both looking at something on the ground or in one of their hands. I set my camera on 1/50th (or 1/60th?) of a second because it was 5:30 p.m. and not much light. It's been raining all week here in Houston. These little girls had been cooped up all week in their house and weren't about to sit still for me, so I feel lucky I got these without being blurry.

Michele,

You don't know how much this means to me, it's about the most encouraging thing I've heard yet! Thank you.

Your experienced eye is able to see how dominating that swing plank would be, and now I see it too. And I think you're right, I could get a better expression out of her if I reshoot. Not to mention the stripes! Thank goodness I have a digital camera!

Thank you both again,

Joan