I had looked at this yesterday and was going to comment on it but never did. I guess I shall now.
While this is a beautiful portrait of a beautiful girl, it almost seems forced and stiff, I say that mostly because I just cannot "feel" her. From a technical and aesthetic perspective it is good, but from an emotional perspective it lags. I guess what I'm getting at is that I feel like portrait photography should be about capturing not only a person's physical features but also capturing what it is inside of them that makes them who they are. Can we truly connect with just a pretty face? I think the answer to that question is a resounding no. Sure, we may be attracted to her, but that attraction is only superficial, we look at her and say that she is pretty and it is a pretty photo but if it does not show her personality, if it does not show more than one facet of her, is it truly a portrait? She is a beautiful young lady, and you are a talented photographer, and I would really like to have seen this done in a manner that is, well, a bit more unconventional. Capture her heart on film; that is the essence of a portrait. I feel like, perhaps, you fell prey to the idea that society puts forth that a portrait should be about taking a beautiful picture of a beautiful girl and letting that surface beauty be all there is to it. This is certainly a good photo, but I think it could have been even better.
Just my 3 cents Canadian, I have a tendency to be rather verbose in my commentary which can be a bad thing at times. Hope I got my point across clearly, not trying to be rude, just giving some constructive criticism.

31 Jan 2007 9:49am

@Paul Ricciardi: Paul, Thank you for the comment. I completely understand where you are coming from. I have so many pictures of her and I do have many that show the real her. I think the reason I like this so much is because I know what was going through her mind at the time we shot this. We just had a lengthy shoot since she is the best and most accessible model I have so I love to photograph her. She was getting tired and hungry and she looked up at me and said "I'm gonna give you the money shot so I can eat!" It was the funniest thing I had ever heard come out of her mouth and she delivered. Out of about 100 shots I took of her I only had to toss about 6, the camera just loves her and it is always hard to decide which is my favorite. I like this one because to me it shows her soft side.

Paul Ricciardi from West Hartford, United States

It's funny that you say you see a soft side of her here...not knowing her I'm struck as this particular shot being the exact opposite. I say that because her eyelids are a bit heavy causing her eyes to narrow, something that the human psyche automatically (if subconciously) equates with being unhappy, and her lips form a solid, straight, stiff line which I take as stoicism as in: "Keep a stiff upper lip, boys!" But yes, I can see why she would be a bit tired, it's hard work. Keep photographing her, she's gorgeous and you are talented and I look forward to seeing what that partnership will produce.

31 Jan 2007 3:03pm

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Canon EOS REBEL XTi
1/125 second
F/2.0
ISO 800
85 mm