Girl with a Green Dress

Julie Deane · 02-24-2006, 05:51 PM

Hi -

This is for a practice portrait - she's the daughter of a friend. These are the results of one photo shoot - a short one, in natural light (full-length window).

What I like - The general lighting. And the colors are nice. But I can't decide what pose to use, or whether I should do another photo shoot and get more options.

What I don't like -
1. how her arm is more lit than her face.
2. The background is not exactly right - certainly I would move things around if I include them at all.

I'd welcome any comments or suggestions.

Julie Deane · 02-24-2006, 05:52 PM

A few closeups

Julie Deane · 02-24-2006, 05:54 PM

Different hand position

Julie Deane · 02-24-2006, 05:56 PM

and now for something completely different....

Garth Herrick · 02-24-2006, 06:39 PM

Hi Julie,

I love the outfit and using natural light in general, but in your case you need better windows to do justice to your subject and yourself. There needs to be more light focused toward the head region that filters down, or at least that may seem more ideal. I have no budget for changing windows in my studio either, so I know my critique is not particularly helpful. Can you pose her again in a different space with better natural light; perhaps with taller windows?

I had the very same problem with my portrait of Laura at Thirteen . The light was terrible in the client's home. In the same way, the window was not tall enough to get to Laura's head. I was a couple hundred milles from home, so I could not arrange for a different space to shoot, and had to work with what I had. I've never shared the reference photo before, but you will see what I mean. I had to paint her with some rearranged and adjusted light, out of my imagination. That is not always as easy as it may seem, to accomplish.

Perhaps Photoshop could help in your case a little, but I think it would be much better to shoot in a space with very tall windows. You have a good model, costume and concept. You just need the light to make this worthwhile.

Garth

Julie Deane · 02-24-2006, 10:55 PM

Thanks for the feedback, Garth. Unfortunately, I do not know of any place around which has high windows. Mine go to approximately 10-12 feet high (they slant at the top).

Maybe I can supplement my natural light with a highly placed light on a stand that uses a natural light bulb? Also, I have the option of limiting the light on the lower third of the windows by closing the curtains. The curtains allow some light in,

Your changes from your original photo are impressive, and give me some hope that a beautiful portrait can be done even if the reference photo is not perfect. But I would still like to be able to come up with good lighting, especially on my home turf.