My Daughter's Grade 8 Grad

Pretty girl!
 

Great shots, really nice lighting on her.  And Yay for tall girls (we are about the same height). 

very good job. Question with a light on each side, (and the lack of shadows backs that up) how did you get only one catchlight.

My step daughter wanted to be a model at that age. Her cousin does very very well in the business and was in high school at the time, so Dakota thought it would be easy. We sent her to a 16 week school and everything. In the process she discovered that it's not as easy as stepping in front of a camera and doing what she wants. Art directors actually expect you to look how they want, not how you think it should be. You don't get ready in thirty minutes and shoot for thirty minutes. Summer wear is shot in the winter and winter clothes are shot in the summer; you will be uncomfortable but don't look like you are. etc..etc..etc.. All the stuff that Maren, myself, and her mother told her that she took for granted.
She did learn how to do her own make-up and hair very well and some good styling technique. But it was an expensive experiment for her to find out what she doesn't want to do.

Catch light was removed.   

I think I have expressed my opinion of modeling before.  My four year old has done a bit of it.  She loves doing fashion shows and is actually quite good at it.  She has no fear of stages!  I am fine with it, for now.  However, the more I work in the fashion industry the more I know I don't wish for her to be involved in at as a model at an older age.  A photographer, fashion designer or MUA are okay
On that note, there are so many types of models, and many of them have fun and exciting jobs, but the competition is stiff and you need to have a real grounding in reality not to be affected by the negative things you will hear and things you will be asked to do.  Know your boundaries and NEVER compromise no matter the pay, experience or prestige it may bring.

Your daughter is beautiful Mike, although I'm sure you are already biased to that opinion anyway... as any father would be.  Good job with the lighting.  My only question is this, you say you have a 2:1 ratio, and both lights are basically set in a 'main' light type of position... I don't see any ratio at all.  The light is really more glamour like and pretty flat.  Was that your intention, or was your intention to have a light side and shadow side to the face?  Also, what was the distance from your lights to your subject?

Travis