portraits of my girls

[citrine55]

my girls was on about getting some nice photos of them so i set up something in the front room just to try it out ..im not good with lighting thats something i must brush up on but i got these and looking for comments on them please

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/fordcrazy_/family%20portraits%202/013.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/fordcrazy_/family%20portraits%202/20090925_38.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/fordcrazy_/family%20portraits%202/20090928_53.jpg

[Pat]

Hi Citrine. I'll have a stab at this so you have something, though I'm not as knowledgeable as some.
I find the light in the first one a little harsh. It seams to be direct or too close. A softer light, especially in portraits of young women, is often desireable. I'm also not crazy about the red dress with the white undershirt bits poking out. Red is a powerful colour and I think tends to distract from the subject when it occupies most of the frame, and may affect the light. The white bits here and there I find a furthur distraction. I like less intrusive clean and simple lines and colours that don't pull the eye from the subject.
Probably could have removed the watch, too.
The second is beautiful. Love the skin tone. One little quibble...that hair on her cheek.
With the third, again initially I thought my personal preference would have been a softer light,but can't really decide. It seems a little reddish. White balance out, perhaps? I find the pose a little awkward. The left hand appears to be semi saluting and is causing a wrinkled bulge on her temple. The right hand seems disembodied and might have been left out entirely rather than have only a portion of it in frame.
I don't know what you used for lighting, But if you list your cam and lighting stuff and repost this in lighting c&c you're bound to pick up some good pointers.
I'm not sure if they cover posing and portrait lighting in the course here, but there's all sorts of info out there in cyberland. Your local library and bookshops are good resources, too. If you can't find material directly related to posing and portrait lighting try a book on Wedding Photogaphy. A decent one will have lots of info on both. Good luck.
Remember to focus on the eyes.