Thank you!
Thank you Mike and Mari,
Your posts are just the type of things I was looking for. Yes, it will be a challenge to make her look like she's not 'pasted on'.
I spotted this little girl at one of my son's cub scout meetings and I approached the mom. I told her I was trying to build a portfolio and asked if I could photograph her child. I went over to their home last week and I have never taken great photos like these. I have been struggling with giving up other part time activities for portraiture and I believe it was divine intervention that helped me take these photos. What an amazing little girl and pose, it's practically all laid out in front of me now.
This little girl was a perfect model. Her mother is a very strict attorney who was able to come home for lunch to be present at the photo shoot. This little girl follows instructions like a robot! And she picked out her favorite dress, my only request was that it wasn't a print. Her mother stayed in the room until she realized she was a distraction, then left the room. Though the mom still peeked around the doorway every few minutes! After the photo shoot I stayed and colored in a coloring book with the little girl while the nanny fixed lunch. The little girl wanted to show me what she can do with crayons. She's going to draw me a picture in exchange for the portrait when I'm finished.
Mom had already told me that if she and her husband like the portrait, they would like to buy it. I guess that's one way to get (potential) commisions, hang out where kids go and approach their parents.
Back to the photo, since she's wearing a sleeveless dress I feel like I have to include the entire arm so it won't be cut off. Hence the larger format portrait, which I would love to attempt anyway.
I am still concerned about the pasted on look. Perhaps the background should be lighter around the figure, I've seen that on some of the portraits I've studied in books and on this forum.
Please, keep the comments coming, I'm learning so much.
Thank you,
Joan
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