Number 2

[UFGrayMatter]

Lots of color corrections
Spot Healing in various places on the skin
Reddened up the lips
Whitened the teeth
Lightened up the pupils
Darkened and added some purple to the bokeh in the background.

The original cropping of the photo is bad, should have got the full chin

WITH SOME CRITIQUES FROM THE FIRST TWO REPLIES

[Chaotic Beds]

Honestly, I like the original better for the most part. I even kinda like the "bad" framing. It's actually somewhat common to frame face close ups like that in movies.

You did get rid of some larger freckles/moles, which is nice, and her skin did have a bit of a yellowish cast in the original... And then her lips look less cracked.

But now, her face looks slightly out of focus, her teeth and earring have a magenta (?) cast, the whites of her eyes seem blueish, all the smaller, cute freckles almost disappeared, and she pops out from the background less to my eyes, although with a slightly brighter face that might not be a problem...

I don't mean to be a downer... You were heading in the right direction methinks, but probably adjusted things a bit too far...

[Eileen D]

I prefer the first one as well. It seems more natural in the ways mentioned in the previous post. Of course I'm a fan of freckles so I hate to see them disappear in a touch-up! You caught a great expression and I don't mind the crop either because the focus is so clearly on the smile and the eyes.

[UFGrayMatter]

good critique - i didn't even realize the magenta tone to the teeth until you mentioned it - then it just screamed at me...this is toned down some, readjusted the white balance and increased the clarity - which is what was making her look more out of focus...

[klam]

The image is still too warm that her teeth are no longer white. It seems to me that you are applying global adjustments when local adjustments are called for.

I prefer the original before the edits. You captured a good smile and the bokeh background is pleasing to the eye.

[UFGrayMatter]

I don't know what I was smoking - but for some reason the first two edits look horrible now. I blame monitor calibration!

[pril79]

Not sure if this will help but my suggestions are.
- leave the birth mark unless the model told you to remove it.
- Brighten the eyes
- warm the image a tiny tiny tiny bit. The original is a bit to cold for my taste and the other is to warm. try to find a nice middle ground
Not an expert here just noting some things that got my attention!
Great work over all!

[Chaotic Beds]

I like this thread because I can kinda see the learning happen

I think it could still use some adjustments (basically what pril79 said), but you're getting closer and closer to getting a great processed photo.