What would you improve in these two shots?

Question

Uno.

http://flickr.com/photos/danamarie593/2668600455/

Dos.

http://flickr.com/photos/danamarie593/2669419584/in/photostream/

Something seems to be missing to me...

Advice?

Answer 1

In the first one try adding a little more contrast and in the second one try adding a vintage effect to it!!

Answer 2

the first one needs to be cropped so the carpet line isnt in the picture, and  the contrast needs to be a little greater.

the second one is a little drab, the color is too yellow, and the background is too dull. maybe sitting in front of a patterned wall.

Answer 3

In the first picture, I'd bring the model's face up a little more or the camera down.  The second picture...the face appears out of focus.  I'd work on that.  Beyond that these pictures both look like snapshots to me.  As you said, they are kind of plain.  I'd probably do some work in photoshop to either pinpoint focal points or something.  

Answer 4

I like the first photo, although I would up the contrast to bring out the b & whites and make them pop! I especially liked the angle you took the picture from.

I did not like the second photo at all.  It looked like a snap shot.  I did not like that you got a piece of the carpet and edge board on the wall.  That would have looked better using a backdrop or some of that solid white seamless paper.

I think in relation to this same subject...  you could do action shots of your friend singing.  Maybe as if she did not see you, and was just singing her heart out.

Thanks for reading!

Answer 5

They are both interesting pictures.  The first one has some lighting problems,with the right arm too washed out.  To avoid that, you could set up a lamp, so that you don't have to use flash.  Or, if you have a camera with a flash you can aim, bounce it off the ceiling to give more even, pleasant lighting.

If I was being really picky, the carpeting is a bit too busy and the wall color isn't great for photography (a photo critique, not a judgement on anyones decorating taste!).  Taking the same picture in a different setting would yield a better result.

But don't be too hard on yourself.  These are actually interesting and pretty well composed, especially the first one.

Answer 6

I prefer the one in black and white, but I don't like that the top of the head was cut off.  And the wood trim at the bottom of the wall is distracting.  I'd go for a view from lower, and a bit farther back on that, with a telephoto lens.  And pose a little farther from the wall.

The color picture is ok, but the focus seems fuzzy.  The black and white is the better of the two.