Very new to portrait post processing

[N.Vecchi]

I am new to post processing and even newer at portrait post processing. I am currently using GIMP and Portrait Professional as well as Noiseware for any noise removal.

These are the before and after shots of my niece. We did a shoot for her senior portraits.
Please let me know what you think, I definately don't want them to look 'overdone'.

For this photo I just used Portrait Professional.
I never use the portion that alters the structure of the face, I feel like that is completely cheating.
I adjusted the exposure
sharpened the eyes
For the skin, I used the minor settings just to remove a few blemishes and wrinkles here and there.

before:


after:

[scootermcq]

Welcome to the forum.... there are not any pictures, or you really blew the highlights.....

[N.Vecchi]

ok I hope that fixed it. I messed up the permissions on Flickr. Sorry apparently I am new to computers today as well.

[zona5101]

Nicely done - the after looks good. Only a hint of oversmoothness on the nose and shadow side cheek... and probably would even be that noticeable except the eyes are so sharp that the disparity shows... nice work, really.

[scootermcq]

Nice job, looks much better than the all white version. The eyes are great and she is a beautiful model.

[N.Vecchi]

Zona- I see what your saying, thanks!

Thank you Scott. I thought they were tons better than the all white too

[statichash]

Great shot with an infectious smile. I think you did an excellent job for being new to portrait post processing. Keep up the great work and we look forward to seeing more of your work! TFS (Thanks for sharing)!

[dalcubierre]

I think you did great men, justo two recomendations:

1: There are some tutorial to retouch the hair too it is a little bit frezze
2: In my opinion you went a little bit far in the face, at the point it looks like in a magazine and not to natural.

Hope you like the advice

[jwlavo]

Looks great to me. Maybe a little to smooth about the face.. but barely. Looks great over all.