She is a older blurgrass singer that just needed a quick promo shot. Its not flawless, but whats missing? Different crop? Any constructive criticism welcome....if anyone is as bored as I?
Not bored, but I'll offer you my uninformed opinion (I don't take portraits).
The composition is very good, I like the balance. A few little nits: her skin looks blotchy to me in this shot, I don't know if it's really her skin or a conversion artifact, and a smaller nit: the way her necklace is hanging looks awkward.
On a more gestalt level, and again I am not experienced with promo shots, is whether this shot speaks "blue grass" rather than some of the more formal music styles, like classical guitar. Do these ever have the "character" of the music as part of the shot?
The way the top of her hair is cut off is a distraction for me. I think the necklace shouldn't disappear into her dress. I'll second nshapiro's comment about the "style" of the image. For bluegrass, I'd expect something more like overalls & a stalk of wheat in her mouth (comment only partially intended to be funny).
I think the inclusion of the guitar is a bit awkward....it's not a way you would naturally hold one....my gut says to either do a face shot, or a medium shot with the instrument...but not both.
(Edit....and I think the angle of the tilt of her head is throwing me off too...feels like it should go towards the right of the frame)
A sifnificant amount of real estate is being taken up by her right shoulder, which is meaningless in the context of the image and OOF to boot. Head tilt to the right, so she's "talking" with her ihnstrument, less shoulder, more guitar neck and hands, would help. But this doesn't say "bluegrass" to me at all; except for the fact that it's a guitar, it looks like she's from a chamber music ensemble.
Blotchy skin, awkward necklace, strange crop to top of head, all been mentioned before.
Even so, it's a nice enough image.
Robt.
edit: the second headshot is much better for the particular job, IMO. It has some soul in the expression.
That's the hire me or I'm gonna bite you pose? (LOL). At least in the original one you posted, she looks relaxed, and friendly.
Actually, as per looking blue-grassy, thinking about it a bit, I think there should be an element of "fun" in the photo (like she's enjoying herself). I always associate blue grass with happy, fun music, festivals and all.
Not bored, but I'll offer you my uninformed opinion (I don't take portraits).
The composition is very good, I like the balance. A few little nits: her skin looks blotchy to me in this shot, I don't know if it's really her skin or a conversion artifact, and a smaller nit: the way her necklace is hanging looks awkward.
On a more gestalt level, and again I am not experienced with promo shots, is whether this shot speaks "blue grass" rather than some of the more formal music styles, like classical guitar. Do these ever have the "character" of the music as part of the shot?
Anyway, hope that's a little helpful.
:)
I second what Neil stated...
The first thing that caught my eye (very nice pose and shot btw) was the blotchyness of the forehead and exposed shoulder...could be artifacts or neatimage (was my first thought).
Beautiful gal with a nice smile, again as neil pointed out...this speaks classical music or jazz to me...a suit and tie type event.
I like the composition of this one much better then the first, but damn, is all the makeup needed? Looks like something out of Death Becomes Her.
She may not like the idea and it may not work, but perhaps you can throw this her way anyway; see if she will try the first part of the next shoot sans the face putty. Tell her to show up with her makeup kit, but without any on her face since she washed it off the night before. Lip gloss and nothing more.
Hell she may look like Earl Scruggs without it, but it could be worth a try.
Just an after thought: You may try posing her sitting with her guitar in some rustc setting and photograph her while she is playing. This will help in two ways. First it will help her relax and second it will help you get the feeling of what she is trying to portray.
Makeup thing again. Try letting her rub in a thin coat of baby oil on her face and neck being careful of course not to let any get on her hair. This will give her a sensual glow like she has been picking from heart for the last 45 minutes. And lose the soft focus. She really doen't look like she needs it.
One more thing. Bluegrass for the most part is far from happy face music. It can be so much more mournful, filled with death and tradgety, then the soggyist cry in your beer country.
