Dailey in a dress
 

Here are 4 of my favorites I took of my daughter.

This painting will be for a sample piece of a more classic traditional pose.

Tell me what you think of the compositions especially.

Michele & Linda take note! A dress! Flowers! A nice chair! Traditional, yes?

This first one is my favorite for composition, I think. I'd get rid of that vertical line over her head, not sure of background, but I think I like all that space.

Another, too slouchy perhaps.

This one I love, but that hand is not too attractive.

OK, I may be posting too many, but my daughter's friend & sister were there so I shot them as well. I do not like the clothes, but I do like the photos.

Another.

One more and I promise to stop.

You should create samples of the kind of work you'd like to be commissioned to do. Samples of pretty little girls in dresses will get you hired to do the same. If this is what you'd like to paint (and it IS what I like to paint) then you should create samples of that subject matter. It totally depends on what you want to do.

When I look at the samples of the very successful family portrait artists in many parts of the country, this is what I see a lot of. Some artists can't stand painting this type of thing. It's purely personal preference.

Commenting specifically on these photo examples, I think there are problems with the lighting in all of them. A more directional light source, without all the ambient light bouncing around, will allow you to define the form more clearly. Also the artificial lighting temperature is very warm which can do odd things to the skintones.

As far as compositions, I like the first one best, with most of the upper background cropped out.

Michele,

I would not mind being hired to paint a whole slew of pretty little girls in dresses for commissions. Being that it is my daughter and will be around the family for years & years - I just have a personal taste that runs a bit 'different.' If this were to just hang in my home I'd have to change it for me, but I do want more commissions, so I am trying!

I agree that the lighting leaves a lot to be desired. I do not have any studio lights, it was rainy today, etc.

Thank you for the input!

It would be okay to sit your subjects beside a window, even on a rainy day. The color temperature of an overcast sky is only slightly warmer than that of a blue sky so you'd be fine doing that. Window light is wonderful since it is directional enough to establish form but also is a large and soft enough light source to be flattering.

Kimberly,

I agree with Michele that rainy or overcast days near a window can produce a very appealing light. You can also employ one of these munchkins to hold a piece of foam core as a reflector.

And one more tip, when photographing a full figure as you have done above, plan to move in for a close up of the face just before or after you take the full shot.