www.kaitlynnmariephotography.com

[KMariePhoto]

Just launched my new site, comments please!

http://www.kaitlynnmariephotography.com

[Todd Lambert]

Looks pretty good. My only gripe is the background, which is a bit busy and distracting to me. Maybe tone it down a bit, so it's there, but not quite so visible next to the images. Does that make sense?

[KMariePhoto]

Okay! I faded it a little.

[Tom]

First four pics all looked like the same girl in the same masquerade mask. Why? Are you specializing in masquerade portraits? Ditch the 'Little Brother" picture. Looks like a snapshot and a mistake one at that. I *think* the initial home gallery is random. I wouldn't do that. I would have your strongest pics first and diversify. Some have a watermark, some dont. For a flash gallery, I think none should have a watermark.

There is no ABOUT page. No INFO page. People want to know who you are, what your credentials are and what you cost. Absolutely essential information. The links at the bottom may be difficult for some people to read. THANK YOU for not having stolen music (or any music!) on your website.

First advice (and it is hard for me to follow, too) TIGHTEN up the portfolio. I'd rather a client see 8 GREAT images than 8 great images and 20 mediocre images. You water down the great ones and the client comes away with a meh feeling about your ability.

Ditch the "fine art" gallery completely. You have 4 pictures and none are particularly fine art. Except for the tree/solar flare, all look like outtakes. The solar flare shot doesn't really scream fine art to me.

Portrait gallery:
First one is strong work. Second one should not be the same kid. You want to look like you have a lot of experience, so dont do a lot of the same thing. The third shot is direct flash. HUGE no no. No direct flash. Ever. 4th shot should be deleted (and you cut off the shoe), 5th and 6th are the same girl - diversity. Best shot from each session. Maybe two from each, but mix them up if you have two spectacular shots. Girl holding a ball? Why? That isn't really a portrait. Chair in the field with a mask - you cut off the foot of the girl and the foot of the chair. The B&W shot after that is better, but not quite flattering. The following shot is the only of those you should keep (the sunset-y one). Ditch the following two B&W ones, too. The color one after that (last mask shot) has some strange shadows on her face, delete. Railroad track girl... its been talked about before, but shooting on railroad tracks is illegal and there have been cases where photographers have been ticketed after the fact for the images (proof!). Refuse to do railroad track images. I've had a couple clients that have requested that, and when I explain it is illegal and that I refuse to do something that could get us fined, they are all cool with it. Plus, it is kinda cliched. I didn't really like any of the pics with that model. I did really like the idea of the one with the rail behind her, where she is looking across the image. I would shoot that shot again, but without the rail and try to pose her hands so they aren't cut off. If you get some good light and didn't have the rail there, you could have a really powerful image. Again, be careful not to cut off wrists and ankles. Girl in front of the fence - I'd like to see her head clearly above or below the horizon and her hands! Attractive girl, pretty well processed, nice background. Just a couple little things. The grass one and the tree one don't do much for me. The second tree one looks a little awkward and unflattering (wide angle is making her bum look bigger and her bust look smaller), and you dont want to do two of the same girl in a similar pose in a portfolio because it makes you seem like you are unsure of yourself. I really like the last pic, but wish she was wearing a bold color top to contrast with the brown/dormant background. Also, I'd do away with the flip flops there. Bring that pretty girl back there have her get in that same pose but with a colorful, cute top and heels with those jeans and you have a great shot. Also, clone out the branches in the foreground on the far right.

Kids&Babies:
First shot feels like a snapshot. You want to showcase your professional photography - show things that demonstrate that you understand lighting, exposure and post processing. Second picture, same thing. Third picture is a more moody, artistic shot, but judging from the quality of your portraits, I think you can do better. Fourth shot again looks like a snapshot. It took until the fifth picture of your kids&babies to get to a more professional looking shot. 6th shot - like the bokeh, but dont like the distracting elements of the other people around her. If it was just that little girl in the middle with the great light coming through the trees, I would love it. 7th - walking away. Meh. My mom takes the same shot when she sees my sister and I walking and talking together. It doesn't tell me you are an artist. 8th shot -again, its a snapshot. 9th - Dandelion: Crop the right in to her shoulder. Remember the rule of thirds. I'd like to see more of her face and her eyes, even if the eyes arent looking at me. Get down on her level or get way up above her. 10: like that shot a lot. I'd like it more with a faster aperture. 11-14th - Same little brother shirt, all snapshots. He's cute, but none belong in a portfolio. 15th- doesn't belong. Looks kinda like she is in a hospital. 16th - I see she is in the hospital. Without being a parent, that makes me really sad. I can only imagine how sad a new mom would be seeing that. You don't want to showcase something that will evoke sad feelings. You want to create a feeling of excitement and happiness, especially with babies and kids.

WEDDINGS:
1: an ok detail, but you certainly don't lead with a shoe. Is your target market brides that wear chuck taylors? What you show is what you are going to book. That dictates the brides that will be attracted to you. For weddings, show two things: 1 beauty, 2 emotion. This is neither and would say to me one of two things "too young to get married" or "lower class". That doesn't mean that the bride is, but thats what you are telling the viewer. Show what you want to sell. #2: White balance is off and you used direct flash. Very good moment of emotion, but you also cut off his hand. Crop it vertical into his shoulder and down her back (cutting off the skin pushing out the top of her dress) and focus on the emotion. And dont use direct flash. #3: ok shot, but it looks like you were shooting over someone else's shoulder. Background is meh. #4 better background, but you want to bring her away from it, use a shallower DOF to blur out the leaves and wall more and get your WB correct. She isn't that orange in real life. #5: I can only take so many pictures of the same girl in the same spot. As a viewer, it means inexperience to me. Plus the editing needs work. #6: same spot, looks contrived. #7: Direct Flash again. Wanna know how I know? Look at that shadow about to catch her! It is the same shadow my point and shoot makes. You need to learn bounce and off-camera flash. Plus, what is the pose? Hide-n-seek? #8. MUCH better. But why hide the pretty girl? Have her lean on the wall on the left, focus on her, and have him look at her while she looks at you. #9: Godo thought, but again the direct flash, the green ivy doesn't add, it only distracts, the model looks stiff and the white door frame is distracting. Moving her a bit to the left to crop that out and then clone the ivy would have helped. #10 decent posing with her hands, good background, but the light on her face is terrible. Also, instead of having her so centered, crop it so she is in the corner and you have a ton of orange negative space. Do something creative with it. #11; the crack goes right through her head. She is completely centered. Good spot, but bad composition. Exposure looks pretty good. #12: a bit dark, composition isn't that good, DOF is too deep. That tree behind her would make a nice backdrop if it was blurry. #13: I don't like anything about this. Cheesy pose, centered bride, too dark on her eyes, too deep DOF. #14: great background, pretty good pose, but hate the clipped highlights. I would love to see her lit properly, it would be a pretty good portrait - I'd like to see the hands, too. #15 Better than the first one, but you need to see both their shoes. Have them stand side by side like American Gothic, shoot them from the knees down and have them pull up their dress/slacks. Its cliched, but it works. OR have them in a really intimate pose, but where you only see the shoes to do something a bit different. Have her lay on him and take a pic of the shoes. #16: a bit too warm, kinda cheesy pose, can't see his face (not always a bad thing) and they don't look happy. They kinda look uncomfortable. Like "is this shoot done yet, cause this is September in Texas and its HOT!" #17: much better. But back up more. Show the scene and make them just a small part of it. With the light rocks, post him so that he is kinda behind her and you can make out the outline of her with his dark suit. #18: nice intimate capture. Dress is blown out and the composition isn't perfect. #19: Really tired of the same couple in the same place. This shot isn't good. We know she's kissing him, but we can't see it. Delete it. #20 - she looks uncomfortable. Light on her face is nice, but dont like the pic. #21 MUCH BETTER. Why did I have to look at 19? She looks great. The background sucks, though. Tree right out of her head. #22: horrible light, delete it. #23: isn't that the same shot as 22, but in color? delete it, it isn't any better now. And dont show the same shot multiple times. #24, same spot, same bad light. Delete. #25: not quite a macro, doesn't quite work. Delete it. #26: You need something where the rings can really stand out- uncluttered background. This doesn't work either. Try to find a piece of glass or mirror. Easy ring shot every time.

I would delete the wedding gallery until you have shot a wedding. I didn't see a single wedding shot, just two people who probably got married. No ceremony, no dance, no kiss. Find a photographer in your area and try to tag a long and learn the ropes.


I like the background for the website, but it doesnt work as a repeating background on the blog. You need to get into the code of the wordpress site and get rid of things like "just another wordpress site". Your badge that you are using as a logo doesn't really work for me. In the pictures of the girls on your blog, it looks almost like a comic book speech box. Its also in a different place and at a different size on each picture.

I would really spend a lot of time learning and practicing before hanging out a shingle. You are breaking really basic rules of photography in nearly every picture, and not in a good way. With a little practice and a little critique, you can realize your potential very quickly.

I'd really encourage you to seek out C&C from the showcase boards here, but also seek out a photography mentor that specialized in the types of photography you want to eventually start a business in. Get a friend, get a mentor. It is a great deal!

[KMariePhoto]

thank you for such a detailed review! I went through and made some changes, I had just forgotten to set my about page as visible, it's there now. I'm keeping the wedding page, I have gigs that will fill that up but I did clear some things out and rearranged it.