But figured I should start doing them.
Let me know some criticism, no matter how harsh

not a fan of the lighting in this pic
but main prob is that the subject is too close to the background

This. See the shadow on the back of his head?

Unless your intent is an artistic shadow, you must try your best to avoid it. You can do this by moving your subject away from a wall, bouncing your flash upwards, raising your iso so as to get the background and ignore the flash, or by using off-camera flash.

Composition is off. Usually, portraits are face, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, or full body. Anything in between looks off.

Your conversion to b+w is simply desaturated. Try increasing contrast / blacks a little.

This post was edited by onepagememory on Jan 11 2011 10:48pm

Thanks for the criticism guys!
It was a self-portrait, that's why I did it near a wall because it was too hard to focus it other-wise [I don't have a remote :[ ]

I wanted the right side to have a harsher shadow than the left side.
I used the on-camera 450d flash and put a piece of angled foil over it to make it aim to the left.
I liked the shadow idea, but I see where the background shadow can be looked at as bad.

The b/w was done with the camera, it wasn't post conversion.
I tried the contrast but then it made the right side too dark :\
It probably doesn't help that I only have the Canon editting software to edit that kind of stuff.

Hopefully I can save up some money for cs4 and Lightroom

U don't need cs4. Just lightroom. I stopped using regular photoshop ages ago! If you're a student, it's only 79 dollars

This post was edited by onepagememory on Jan 11 2011 11:00pm

Do I have to be taking photography classes at college to get that price?
I'm currently taking this semester off because I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to change my major to photography and spend all that time on it.
So I was planning on taking local photography classes/workshops in Virginia until next semester.
BUT I might move to Cali to my friends house and goto community college near his house since their second semester hasn't started yet and just change my major to photography there.

How do I go about getting it for 79 dollars?

Nope, just be a student. I'd major in business instead of photography. Take all the important classes as an extended minor. That way, you have a plan B and can work managing something.
As long as you have a school ID you're fine.

This post was edited by onepagememory on Jan 11 2011 11:06pm

That's what my major was, but it just wasn't really something I wanted to do as the semester went along I guess.
But I guess it's the best bet.

I kinda wanted to do journalism and photography.
I love hockey, so sports photography/journalism would be a dream, but not practical probably.

You still need a business background. Trust me. I'm not even majoring in photography, but I am taking a college course starting on the 18th.

BTW I feel like streaming my post-processing next wedding / photo session. You guys up to watchin it? otherwise I won't even bother. I'm sure everyone can learn something, even if I don't know all that much.

Yeah very true.
I've heard some colleges offer a photography/business degree mixed into one.

And I'm definetly up for watching it.
My sister's friend wanted me to do her wedding but I backed out
I was too scurred 'cause I had no idea what I was doing...