She cleans up pretty nicely, wouldn't you say?

[prabbit237]

Having fun with my new camera and also playing around with Anthropics Portrait Professional (this was one of the first couple pics I did with that software.)

Original

Post-processed

Feel free to criticize/critique as well.

[Photologyst]

Yikes!

I guess you were not going for the “natural beauty” look? lol

[prabbit237]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

Yikes!

I guess you were not going for the “natural beauty” look? lol

The "cleans up nicely" was a joke thing and a LOT of women use makeup to cover small flaws, etc. And I have yet to see any fashion magazine that used the "natural beauty" look and photographers have been airbrushing and touching up photos ever since Fred took that first stone slab out of the back after the bird finished pecking away at it (remember The Flintstones?) although actually, the best makeup jobs are the ones where it doesn't really look like she has any on at all. (The WORSE are ones like Tammy Fay Baker.) In this particular shot, I don't really think the "after" shot looks that processed when seen alone. It's just when seen together that you can tell where I made changes.

Actually, though, in Stephanie's case, she does have some freckling that I think is kinda cute that the Portrait Professional took away too much of and I may go back in and re-do that picture later to restore that a bit.

Now if I was doing the picture for her to get printed out or such, I may have stayed more with her original look. But on this one, I'm using it in my portfolios and few people will see the original.

[zona5101]

the edited one is over the top. With or without seeing the original it looks cartoonish. If you were intending a drawn look like a characature then I think you did well but I would add the same effect to the background so that it looks intentional. The post work on the skin isn't nearly as bad as the eyes.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by zona5101

the edited one is over the top. With or without seeing the original it looks cartoonish. If you were intending a drawn look like a characature then I think you did well but I would add the same effect to the background so that it looks intentional. The post work on the skin isn't nearly as bad as the eyes.

I have to agree. The skin is a bit too smooth, but the eyes are just WAY overdone. It's quite easy to go overboard with portrait retouching software...less is more. Try pulling back, especially on the eyes. It's good to experiement. Enhancement is great, when it still keeps at least a somewhat natural look.

[elkidogz]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

I have to agree. The skin is a bit too smooth, but the eyes are just WAY overdone. It's quite easy to go overboard with portrait retouching software...less is more. Try pulling back, especially on the eyes. It's good to experiement. Enhancement is great, when it still keeps at least a somewhat natural look.

I also agree, perhaps not so bling bling on the eyes, and the lips are a bit to loud also. not a bad pic, but for a woman, most photo's are crisp, but not accute. I think this is more accute than crisp. good editing is all about being subtle with it.

[Maggie_M]

The first images is so much better then the edited version!
She is beautiful and doesn't need all the make-up,etc.
Why would you want to hide her freckles?
The only thing this image needs, in my opinion, is to brighten up her eyes and maybe add a slight bit of color to her lips.
I also have to disagree that this image can stand on it's own, anyone looking at this photo can see it's overdone, even when viewed without the original. I wouldn't use this particular edit in your portfolio, again just my opinion.

[Dibble]

Originally Posted by Maggie_M

The first images is so much better then the edited version!
She is beautiful and doesn't need all the make-up,etc.
Why would you want to hide her freckles?
The only thing this image needs, in my opinion, is to brighten up her eyes and maybe add a slight bit of color to her lips.
I also have to disagree that this image can stand on it's own, anyone looking at this photo can see it's overdone, even when viewed without the original. I wouldn't use this particular edit in your portfolio, again just my opinion.

+1
I agree. Why lose the freckles that is what makes her. The eyes are way overdone and look cartoonish. Little on the eyes and the lips and it will be good to go.

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by prabbit237

The "cleans up nicely" was a joke thing and a LOT of women use makeup to cover small flaws, etc.
And I have yet to see any fashion magazine that used the "natural beauty" look and photographers have been airbrushing and touching up photos ever since Fred took that first stone slab out of the back after the bird finished pecking away at it (remember The Flintstones?) although actually, the best makeup jobs are the ones where it doesn't really look like she has any on at all. (The WORSE are ones like Tammy Fay Baker.) In this particular shot, I don't really think the "after" shot looks that processed when seen alone. It's just when seen together that you can tell where I made changes.

Using makeup to enhance is one thing. Overdoing it is another.


Um, forgive me, but when I saw that over processed photo last night my reaction was like everyone else’s. It looks creepy and cartoonish. It doesn’t stand well on its own.

Actually, though, in Stephanie's case, she does have some freckling that I think is kinda cute that the Portrait Professional took away too much of and I may go back in and re-do that picture later to restore that a bit.

Now if I was doing the picture for her to get printed out or such, I may have stayed more with her original look. But on this one, I'm using it in my portfolios and few people will see the original.

You may want to rethink using it as is. It really is not very flattering. She just looks plain weird!

You may want to reshoot her so that she doesn’t look so “worried” with the wrinkled brow and those raised shoulders?

A little processing would go a long way here. She doesn’t need much.

[prabbit237]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

You may want to reshoot her so that she doesn’t look so “worried” with the wrinkled brow and those raised shoulders?

OK, ok, I get it, guys. Tone back the eyes, etc.

But the shoulders, etc. is just the way she is (she's quite often got them hunched up a bit like that.) I might could move them down a bit in photoshop, however.