Brendan, like Shel, I don't find any of the shots in this folder appealing.
Sorry. If I may make some suggestions...
1) Try to get out of direct sunlight. It's killing your pictures. Find an
area of bright open shade and do the shoot there, having her face the
sunlit area. You'll get much better skin tones (due to diffused
light) with the caveat of the sunlit area becoming catch lights in her
eyes. Speaking of eyes, since she'll be in shade, she also won't squint,
which is a major problem in your pictures.
2) Ditch the strobe and use the WHITE reflector if you're going to be
shooting in the sun. The silver side and AF500FTZ flash is specular
overkill IMO.
3) Forget using Kodak Gold 200 in this situation. Too contrasty. You need
to switch to a lower-contrast film like Fujicolor Superia Reala.
4) She looks uncomfortable and unsure. Almost as if she is trying too hard
to be sexy. You need to keep talking to her to relax her. Her inner beauty
will then naturally come out. Flatter her ("You're doing great", "Wow, hold
that pose!", "Perfect!"). Tell her exactly what you are doing with your
camera so she understands what is going on ("I'm metering your face", "I'm
checking to see if this pose is OK"). Ask about her hobbies. Anything.
Never leave her in the dark, wondering if she's doing a good job. If she
gets to that point, then you're in deep trouble.
5) Her poses are too static. Your shots are too static. Throw in curves and
diagonals to break the monotony of straight bodies (have her tilt her head,
bend towards you, you yourself use a dutch-tilt, etc.). Look through
fashion magazines together and try to find poses you both like. Then,
duplicate those in the field.
6) Borrow or rent more lenses. The 50mm will do the job but if you only use
one lens you're going to get a boring portfolio for this session. Use a
wide-angle for sweeping vistas, and experiment with them from a
worm's/bird's eye view. Use a telephoto for tight head shots.
7) Ditch the polarizer. No need to use one for portraits and having it over
your 50mm is reducing its resolution and flare-control.
8) Find an uncluttered background. The choice to shoot her lying on rocks
is a bad one, because it distracts from the main subject.
9) Work on your composition. Apply the rule of thirds. Get closer.
10) Above all, make sure you and her both have fun. She should enjoy being
photographed as much as you enjoy photographing her.
Good luck.
Sherwin Abesamis
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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