Outdoor Portraits Class: Not a Complete and Total Failure!

I've been trying to identify and improve my photgraphy skills in some specific areas I know I'm weak in so I took an Outdoor Portraiture class yesterday and learned a lot. Wow did I learn a lot. Things like... How much I have to learn. Still it was a lot of fun and our model, Jacquelyn, was very nice to work with. I think our class might have overwhelmed her a little but she stuck it out. Shot the whole class using a Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM.



(I love the bokeh in this shot!)







....

I see a catchlight in her eyes in the first two. Were you using a fill flash? Reflector? High speed sync?

When shooting portraits outdoors it's best to underexpose the background somewhere around 1 stop so it doesn't take away from the subject. I see it doesn't seem like that was done. For some reason she looks underexposed and I think thats why. Good im ages though.