I like Maria, but to me, Dean's shots looked way more like cover shots. Maria's location choice of on the rocks was interesting, but I didn't think the lighting was good. Dean's shots looked like Victoria Secret's usual style, and the model holding the necklace seemed to most encompass guilty pleasures.
I think they awarded the job to Maria because she's the most improved. Granted, she got a lot better. She also was way better with people then Dean. But based just on the shots, she didn't have them.