What Do I Like About This Photo?

I like how her face is in focus and the background is a little blurry, making a shallow depth of field.

I like how this picture utilizes the Rule of Space by leaving a little more space in the direction that she is looking.

I like how the trees frame her which draws the viewer’s eyes to her.

What Can I Improve?

Even though her face is in focus more than the background, I think it could be crisper and more in focus.

What emotions are shown in the picture?

I think she looks like she is deep in thought and the picture makes me wonder what she is thinking.

What Do I Like About This Photo?

I like how her face is in focus and the background is a little blurry, making a shallow depth of field.

I like how she is posed and has a comfortable, pleasant look on her face.

What Can I Improve?

There are some twigs on the ground that I should have removed before taking the picture.

I should have moved her so the bare spot of ground wasn’t in the picture because it is distracting, taking the viewer’s eyes away from the focal point.

I should have moved her or changed my viewpoint as a photographer because it kind of looks like the tree is growing out of her head (merger).

What emotions are shown in the picture?

I think she looks really relaxed and comfortable and has a pleasant smile on her face.

For the next couple weeks, because you are beginners, we will be taking photos using the Automatic Scene Modes such as Portrait Mode, Action Mode, Macro Mode, etc. As the year progresses, you will learn how to shoot in Manual Mode by changing the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO on the camera. Today we are going to start taking a few Portrait Mode shots outside if the weather permits, and if not, we will do them inside.

First Pose: We will start with a sitting pose where the model will sit with one leg bent and one leg under that leg. Take some smiling shots and some serious shots. The model will look forward, down, left, right, and up for different shots. Girl models will cross fingers holding bent knee, touch hair, etc. for different poses. Boy models will hold bent knee or hold one wrist with the other hand. See examples below.

Second Pose: For our second pose we will do a walking pose. Model will walk very slowly forward, guys could have one hand in pocket or hands at side. Girls could have hands at side or reach up to touch hair with one hand. Take some smiling shots and some serious shots. The model will look forward, down, left, right, and up for different shots. See examples below.