Sarah
 

This is my niece Sarah. I haven't seen her in over a year and could't believe how much she had matured in that year (13 next month). I thought she might make a nice model to do some portfolio pieces of so I took a few shots. Unfortunately, I didn't have my tripod with me, and it was snowing outside, so most of the pictures came out very blurry with the exception of these. I was hoping to get several angles to do three different heads to hang together, but these were all I got that were decent. What do you think?

Nice going Mary,

I'm not crazy about the last one but I think you could easily paint from any of the top three. I think I prefer the third image. You have done a good job of controlling the direction and intensity of the light.

Tell us how you set this up.

Well, I followed your directions!! :sunnysmil

I found a window with light similar to what was in my dining room since I had done that so many times and tried to follow your rules from our little adventure.

That third one was one that had no intentional set up, she just looked back at me and I snapped her picture, which led to the idea of taking more in better light. I just happened to like the hair up (even though it was wet from playing in the snow). I figured you wouldn't like that one.

The first image is very much an expression I have seen from her a million times, but since this portrait really isn't for her, but my portfolio rather, I am more concerned with the best source.

Mary, I hope she is still in town!

Athough the light is poor on the last one, this is the Girl with the Pearl!! Could you reshoot this image with better light? She is just lovely.

Mary,

I agree with Chris on this one. She is really exquisite at this angle and, if it were me I would go to the lengths necessary to reshoot this one.

No, I'm afraid not. She is five hours away. I won't see her again until probably Summer, if then.

I saw the girl with the pearl in that shot too. I suppose I could TRY to explain to her mother what to do and see what we come up with. She does have a great camera.

Of course, since this was just for me, I don't have to do it at all, it could wait. Or of course use one of the other three for now and get her in the last pose later in the year.

I wonder if anything could be done in photo shop to help with that last one?

Remember this mantra
 

Always get the best reference, always get the best reference, always get the...

Sharon, you've stolen my mantra!

OKOKOKOKOKOKOKOK! ;)

Just a question though, are you saying the first three are not suitable references?

Let's pretend a moment I had not shown you the one of her looking back that we all like. Would you be telling me to reshoot then?

Trying to learn.

If I had a model this beautiful, my brain would be working overtime to capture something really special. Your pictures, though lovely don't really do such an exquisite subject justice.