New poster

You could shoot a high ISO, however, with Nikon's New Sensor, you will not achieve what you are looking for.
Pixels in an image are square, High grain doesn't look so good, on a higher end camera, maybe.

Sizing to about 600x400 or 800x600 pixels would be a better size for us to see the photograph.
The blue does bring out the eyes, nicely composed and exposed.

Mike

Hi Mike and Ginnypenny,

Thanks for the positive comments. I wasn't sure what to expect as I have been shooting in a vacuum. About the grain effect, I am wondering if I shoot at a real high ISO, in Manual in a dark setting if that might work? I will keep working at it. I am sure Mike is right about raster effect. I am encouraged. I like all the good work and constructive comments on this site. Oh, BTW, is it OK to exceed the image file size to beyond what is stated in the site? If I can go to 500KB, I could post images at 800 pxl wide.

Here is an attempt to get good skin tones. Kate is really fair. I don't think I tweaked it too much in PS. Lighting was floods with an on camera flash. I had an idea of what I wanted and adjusted the camera to control the aperture and let the camera select the speed, a smart camera makes the job easier for sure! I will be shooting Oksana on Saturday and attempt the "Grain" effect, a few different ways. I thought of maxing out ISO in a medium dark setting with the correction for noise turned off. It might be a way to go, but it is purely experimental...you may never see it!! I try to use PS only for moles, dodging face wrinks and seamless background fills where I didn't have enough background. I really am appreciating your thoughtful feedback..big time. I liked the comparison of PS use to activity in the darkroom (ie. Dodging, burning, contrast, etc). Mike this is 800 pxls wide, thanks for the hint.

Just an FYI, not everyone can comment in this area of the forum.  If you want more feedback you can post your images in the portrait section.  I would also just post one image at a time in each thread.  You didn't do anything wrong and I am not critisizing, just trying to be helpful.  I find it easier when threads are cleaner with one topic per each.

Here are my comments about the latest picture posted:
Her pose is awkward in my opinion too.  Look at her neck and how there is a lot of tension there from the way she is angled.  The skin tones are a bit red and maybe a touch dark on my screen.  I don't love the lighting, it's pretty flat, I would have liked to see the lighting coming more from camera right to give more definition/shadow to her cheek bone on the left (her right).  This would have improved the catchlights in her eyes.  I do love her smile and interaction with the camera, she is obviously comfortable having her picture taken and that says a lot about your people skills.  So good job.  And again, your model is beautiful!

Photoshopping is ALL opinion.  I happen to do a bit more intesive work on my images, but my main business is operating a boudoir studio, so it is expected and appreciated by my clients.  I don't see anything wrong with whitening teeth a touch and brightening eyes.  I think this image could benefit from both of those things, although I never recommend going overboard, a light hand is all that is needed.  And again, it's opinion, this is your image and all my recommendations are my personal opinion and I hope that is how they are taken.  You are welcome not to listen to a thing I just said

I welcome comments, your are good ones. After looking at the photo I must agree with you about the red shift and the pose. This is the value of a fresh eye and I am totally up for it. I will take the comments and apply them to future efforts. I am quite fresh at all this and just last night read about butterfly lighting. So, I know there is a lot to learn. The best part is that there is more info here with you all than in a photo term glossary and your info is directed to me for my learning specifically.

Alright, I drew a funny cartoon picture of an eye for a catchlight example.  I would have pulled one from my images and shown a closeup of the eye, but I am not at my normal computer.  I put a white catchlight in where I think they should go.  Mainly the light positioned there works the best on the face and makes the eyes look bright and pretty.  HOWEVER, the way I do my lighting it never looks this perfect, I get a small second catchlight in the pupil that I clone out.  I also notice one eye will have a slightly better catchlight than the other.  Butterfly lighting will make the catchlight higher and centered.
The problem with on-camera flash is that you get a small bright catchlight in the center of the pupil, and I tend to think it makes for a slightly possesed look.