First Lady Melania Trump Gets Her First Official Portrait

[Silver Pines]

Here is the photographer's other work. This is out of style both in retouching and posing for him.
http://mahaux.com/portraits-2/

@AbaraXas

You're right, it is.  Maybe she requested it.  He does good work, IMO.

Isn't that Melania about halfway down the page, in the blue fishtail dress?

[ABX]

@AbaraXas

You're right, it is.  Maybe she requested it.  He does good work, IMO.

Isn't that Melania about halfway down the page, in the blue fishtail dress?

yes, at that, it looks like he has done a lot of work with their family

[Right_in_Virginia]

I don't know about her being a role model, but I agree, the blue outfit she wore was great.  I was looking forward to seeing more of her clothing choices, but she had to take off for NYC.

You must have been very busy @CatherineofAragon --- Here are a few of the FLOTUS' clothing choices you must have missed. Enjoy!

[ABX]

I'm having a discussion in a photography forum about this and the question is coming up if the photographer likes Ms. Trump. The pose is cold, it is over-processed (as mentioned upthread), the setting isn't good, and one key element that professionals are frustrated with, her eyes are out of focus. Compare that to the official portraits of Ms. Bush and Ms. Obama. Don't think about what you feel about the person politically, just look at some of the elements we discussed in regards to posing, realism of the look, the setting, etc.

[Silver Pines]

You must have been very busy @CatherineofAragon --- Here are a few of the FLOTUS' clothing choices you must have missed. Enjoy!

Thanks, @Right_in_Virginia.  I've seen some of those, but not the hot pink dress (love it, and the shoes) or the a cap-sleeved black short dress. 

I love the structure of the black belted suit.  And it seems she knows to not wear bright white shoes with a white suit, which is kind of refreshing.

[Frank Cannon]

Compare that to the official portraits of Ms. Bush and Ms. Obama. Don't think about what you feel about the person politically, just look at some of the elements we discussed in regards to posing, realism of the look, the setting, etc.

Trumps looks modern and hip compared to those two. Bush and Wookies pics look like something your grandmother submits to the funeral home for the Mass Card.

[Silver Pines]

Trumps looks modern and hip compared to those two. Bush and Wookies pics look like something your grandmother submits to the funeral home for the Mass Card.

@Frank Cannon

I always thought Laura Bush was sort of dumpy when it came to what she wore.  And her eyes are crazy.

[Emjay]

Trumps looks modern and hip compared to those two. Bush and Wookies pics look like something your grandmother submits to the funeral home for the Mass Card.

I like the Laura Bush portrait.  She is an extremely pretty woman who dresses well and knows her own style. 

[ABX]

Trumps looks modern and hip compared to those two. Bush and Wookies pics look like something your grandmother submits to the funeral home for the Mass Card.

That is definitely not modern or hip. From a technical perspective and when this was in style, it is more like 1980s Glamor Shots.

Modern and hip right now for formal portraits and headshots fall into two categories.

1. Strong balanced light, very natural look with strong eye catch light. 'Laughing' expression. Example:


2. Natural light, strong backlighting.

[Frank Cannon]

That is definitely not modern or hip. From a technical perspective

And right there is your problem. Most people look at the Trump photo and say it looks fine. 99.9 percent of people do not even own cameras anymore. They have a pic app on their phone.

[ABX]

And right there is your problem. Most people look at the Trump photo and say it looks fine. 99.9 percent of people do not even own cameras anymore. They have a pic app on their phone.

But this isn't going on Instagram or Facebook. This is an official portrait for the White House and the National Portrait Gallery that will be inscribed in history.

[libertybele]

Thanks, @Right_in_Virginia.  I've seen some of those, but not the hot pink dress (love it, and the shoes) or the a cap-sleeved black short dress. 

I love the structure of the black belted suit.  And it seems she knows to not wear bright white shoes with a white suit, which is kind of refreshing.

She wears them all well; the little black dress looks great on her.  I would love to know her secret to wearing heels that high.  She wore the same height for quite awhile at the inauguration and for the long walk to Capitol Hill; and she seemed to walk in them with ease.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Thanks, @Right_in_Virginia.  I've seen some of those, but not the hot pink dress (love it, and the shoes) or the a cap-sleeved black short dress. 

I love the structure of the black belted suit.  And it seems she knows to not wear bright white shoes with a white suit, which is kind of refreshing.

Welcome!  @CatherineofAragon

[libertybele]

I like the Laura Bush portrait.  She is an extremely pretty woman who dresses well and knows her own style.

Yes, I've always thought Laura was a beautiful woman; always looking put together and dignified. 

[ABX]

A good professional critique comparing to other FLOTUS photos.
https://www.facebook.com/FroKnowsPhoto/videos/vb.125087687512074/1429642827056547/?type=2&theater

[Frank Cannon]

But this isn't going on Instagram or Facebook. This is an official portrait for the White House and the National Portrait Gallery that will be inscribed in history.

Yes, where 99.9% of people viewing it will see no problem. Only the .1% of you in the Wedding Photographers Union Local 866 will be dissatisfied.

[EC]

She wears them all well; the little black dress looks great on her.  I would love to know her secret to wearing heels that high.  She wore the same height for quite awhile at the inauguration and for the long walk to Capitol Hill; and she seemed to walk in them with ease.

Wife wears 3" heels like that all day every day. She said it's just practice. 

[Right_in_Virginia]

I'm having a discussion in a photography forum about this and the question is coming up if the photographer likes Ms. Trump. The pose is cold, it is over-processed (as mentioned upthread), the setting isn't good, and one key element that professionals are frustrated with, her eyes are out of focus.

Will it help you to lighten up a bit @AbaraXas to remember that Melania chose the picture?  She likes it, and she's been in front of the camera for years.   Technical dissection aside, it's a beautiful picture.  Maybe we could let this go. 

[Frank Cannon]

She wears them all well; the little black dress looks great on her.  I would love to know her secret to wearing heels that high.  She wore the same height for quite awhile at the inauguration and for the long walk to Capitol Hill; and she seemed to walk in them with ease.

You gotta do it to do it. Can't just wear them for an hour at a wedding. My wife wears heels all the time for everything and doesn't care. She also gets irrationally catty when she sees broads running around in gym clothes as an outfit, but that's another matter.

[Emjay]

Yes, where 99.9% of people viewing it will see no problem. Only the .1% of you in the Wedding Photographers Union Local 866 will be dissatisfied.

How about the ?% of trump haters? 

[Emjay]

You gotta do it to do it. Can't just wear them for an hour at a wedding. My wife wears heels all the time for everything and doesn't care. She also gets irrationally catty when she sees broads running around in gym clothes as an outfit, but that's another matter.

I know.  My husband would have killed to get me to wear high heels.  He bought them for me all the time.  I just couldn't do it...except for an hour or so to make him happy occasionally.

[Silver Pines]

She wears them all well; the little black dress looks great on her.  I would love to know her secret to wearing heels that high.  She wore the same height for quite awhile at the inauguration and for the long walk to Capitol Hill; and she seemed to walk in them with ease.

@libertybele

Practice, lol.

[Frank Cannon]

I know.  My husband would have killed to get me to wear high heels.  He bought them for me all the time.  I just couldn't do it...except for an hour or so to make him happy occasionally.

LOL. You racy woman you. His problem was that he wasn't buying expensive enough stuff for you. If you buy a woman Jimmy Choo or Louboutins, they ain't letting them sit in the closet. They want all their friends to see them.

[Emjay]

@Frank Cannon

I always thought Laura Bush was sort of dumpy when it came to what she wore.  And her eyes are crazy.

You are such a little yapper.  Laura Bush is a beautiful woman who makes no attempt to be a glamour girl.  That is not her style.  And 'her eyes are crazy?'

You are weird.

[Gefn]

You must have been very busy @CatherineofAragon --- Here are a few of the FLOTUS' clothing choices you must have missed. Enjoy!

She's so pretty, wish I knew what makeup and hair secrets.