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Pat, I understand your excitement and also your desire to make this commission the best that you can.
The shots that you have posted are good. I do suggest, being that she is a friend that you ask her for another photo session. Why do I say this? I speak from personal experience. For a portrait such as you have here have as many photos as possible. When you start planing the painting and the space that it will occupy on that linen. You will be glad that you do have enough info to work from. I would take some photos outside, as well, in order to capture the beauty of color variation on black skin. Her bright light blue top you will find will dominate and this is why outside light shots for the elimination of the face will come in handy. You can use the inside shots to compose but the outside shots will give you more info for the actual portrait.
I like the middle pose but not the chair. In this pose I would place her left hand on the arm chair the framed photo of her mother on a table beside her with her elbow of her right hand resting on the table and hand slightly touching the picture.
I like the bottom 3rd pose more so being that her stature is more graceful but would have her turn three quarter rather than the profile. The framed picture of her mother fits well with this pose. This is where a few outside shots would be handy giving the face more illumination.
I hope I was able to give you some food for thought. I am sure what ever you decide will bee real good.
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