OK You guys are the pros, tell me what to do next time.

Bob,

The exposure looks good in all of them and you caught some good expressions. Monte always said "ESP, Expression Sells Portraits!" 

Since black backgrounds are the ultimate in boringness for a background, (because there is absolutely nothing of interest to catch the eye) the subject matter had better be VERY interesting and VERY well posed and VERY well lit to make it work.  I seldom use them for these very reasons. Just like in baseball, three strikes and you're out, so if the background is unexciting, you already have one strike against you before they even get a chance to view the image.

Critique.

# 1. Pose is static. Leaning, tilting, and twisting adds some "movement" to a still image.  Short lit which helps to slenderize BBWs, but a deeper ratio like 3 or 4 to 1 will slenderize the face even more. Main light was too low.  11 o'clock or 1 o'clock is the correct position for the main light. The pose is 1-2-3.  A 1-3-2 pose gives the image more "glamour."

# 2. The hair across her face is distracting and casting unwanted shadows. Main too low and too far back as evidenced by the shadow in her cheek fold. Pose is 1-2-2 (usually unexciting.)

# 3. The shadow from her hat across her eye looks bad. Her hair on the other side has also cast an unwanted shadow in her other eye socket.  Pose is 1-2-2 (again unexciting.)

# 4. Best of the bunch. Good color, the boa adds some flair and glam to the image as does a little cleavage, but her body is almost square to the camera adding pounds.  Lighting needs a deeper ratio to slenderize her some more.

# 5. I don't think this image should be shown on a family friendly website and if I were a moderator I would remove it.

Ben

OK I'll show how much I don't know about portraiture.

1-2-2  means nothing to me. I'm sure there is a book somewhere or can it  be explained without much typing. Or give me a keyword or two and I'll search..

My space was really cramped, I guess my Main should have been closer. It was ten feet away and pressed against the 8 foot ceiling. (too hot to shoot in the garage)

I picked the black background to force the viewers attention to the subject, granted it puts more responsibility on me to get the shot right but once I do wouldn't it be better than a busy backdrop?

just asking.

The old saw says a picture is worth a thousand words, so I've posted an image showing the difference between a 1-3-2 pose and a 1-2-2 pose.

The 1-3-2 pose is much more effective for women than the 1-2-2 pose is  The 1-2-2 pose tends to be more masculine and is therefore much more effective on men.  Of course you can pose the man in a 1-3-2 if he doesn't mind looking effeminate. 

Benji