Hey guys,
Thank you very much for all your feedback! After seeing some of your comments I can definitely tell what you are talking about. I had a couple of those "duh" moments. As for the 3rd picture I knew something was off about it, but I couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. But now that I see what you guys mean about the distortion due to me having my lens wide open I see what you guys mean. The posing I am still getting used to and getting some different ideas. These were within the first 200 pictures I had with my camera, so I am still trying to get used to it and lightroom 4. I am hoping that with all of your help and more experience I can definitely have the ability to create those 'wow' images.
Haha the model (aka my girlfriend) was not in a good mood that day and I was definitely in the dog house. I feel like it would be a little easier when the subject is more willing and wants to do it. She was in a better mood so we went out yesterday and did the pictures again at the same location so I could see what differences I was making compared to last time. We both had a lot more fun this time, until she realized she was wearing the same outfit as last time.lol.
Here are two more pictures that I took yesterday when we went out. I tried to have her pose a little differently and made her move around, but the weather was not cooperating that day.
Thanks again for all the input everyone!!!
I think those 2 have better composition, although the posing can be improved I think. On the first one, you again have her squatting. If you could have her kneeling, or legs turned to the side, or sitting on something that'd be more flattering. When people are squatting like that, everything is visible, if you get what I mean. Otherwise, you might be able to crop up some for that photo and still get something usable.
I do notice something your model wants to keep doing, which is tilting/leaning her head off to the side to get the hanging hair. Does she look at a lot of bikini/fashion magazines? Sometimes they use those kinds of poses, hair hanging all the way off to the side. I'd recommend having something there to give the excuse for your model to lean against, or put her hand/fist/palm underneath her chin or lean the side of her head against rather than just having it suspended off like that.
The 2nd one I do like what you did with your composition, and the vignetting (darker edges/corners of the frame) which draws the eyes naturally more to her. Maybe move her a touch closer to the left edge of the frame for that shot, but that's just nit-picking and a maybe/maybe-not kind of thing. Also have her stand up straight. Head aligned more with her spine, and head level.
Just a tip for the future, be careful if you have her tuck her chin down and/or take a shot at an upwards angle with people as that can exaggerate their chin/nose or other things that makes the shot less flattering. Unless you are trying for that specific look at least. It's worth doing a couple of times as an experiment to see what it does, but otherwise avoid it in general.
But now that I see what you guys mean about the distortion due to me having my lens wide open I see what you guys mean.
In general, when we say wide open we're talking about the aperture being at it's widest (smallest f-number). In that case, the lenses was at it's widest focal length or it was a wide-angle shot. You'll get all the lingo, just pay attention and ask questions
