Coming from landscape and deep sky photography I never thought I'd take pictures of people, thinking I didn't have it in me.
However, today a long time friend of mine came over for a cup of coffee. She had just updated her profile on FB and seeing that it wasn't much of a profile picture I replied that next time she'd be in the neighborhood I'd take a picture of her worth sharing.
She didn't come for the picture exactly, on the contrary she insisted on not being photogenic anyway, a point which I argued.
In the end I took that picture in my makeshift studio, a Walimex strobe as key light, an Aputure 120d with softbox as a fill light and an teeny weeny Aputure pocket light as hair light. I didn't have a clue how to set up the lighting, like I said, I only ever shoot in the great outdoors. It worked out, though, at least I think it did.
So what do you think of this first attempt?
PS: Camera was a Nikon D850 with the 70-200/mm Zoom at 85mm, f/8 ISO 200. Edited in Photoshop.
PPS: I only had a black background handy, I figure I should've gone with a grey one and yeah, I missed that streak of hair casting a shadow on her left cheek.
This is great for a first attempt! I think you can improve on this by working on filling out the camera left side of her face. Her ear, hair, and shoulder get lost in shadow, which isn't the most flattering look. May also want to have her hold a reflector / fill card on her lap, aiming it up to remove the shadows under her chin.
Also - background separation?