Lou McLove
November 2026 - Service with a smile
Original
About the Image(s)
I took this image a few years ago while in New Orleans' French Quarter. I had taken a couple of images of this server and when she spotted me she wanted to pose for a few more. Canon R5, Tamron 28-300 at 93mm, ISO 1250, f9.0, 1/125 second. I cropped, straightened and adjusted the lighting in Lightroom.
1 comment posted
Lou - What a delightful portrait! The young woman's warm, infectious smile immediately drew me into the image; She's in a relaxed, spontaneous pose and you've captured a great expression. I understand why you photographed her twice. Her eyes, smile, and apparent engaging personality are what make this photograph work, and you've handled those elements beautifully!
Your title and the way the young woman is holding the plate tells us she's a waitress, however I think a softly out of focus restaurant environment in the background would have added another dimension to the image. As presented, you've captured a charming portrait of a young woman holding a plate, but other than how she's holding the plate there's little to establish where she is or what she's doing.
Nonetheless, to my eye, the image's strongest element is the human connection you've captured - kudos - and THAT'S the most important aspect of any image - nice job!
Posted: 11/01/2026 15:23:01
Your title and the way the young woman is holding the plate tells us she's a waitress, however I think a softly out of focus restaurant environment in the background would have added another dimension to the image. As presented, you've captured a charming portrait of a young woman holding a plate, but other than how she's holding the plate there's little to establish where she is or what she's doing.
Nonetheless, to my eye, the image's strongest element is the human connection you've captured - kudos - and THAT'S the most important aspect of any image - nice job!
Posted: 11/01/2026 15:23:01