How far is too far in PhotoShop?

[Melanie2010]

I am supposed to photograph some people at work next week. These will be portraits of people most of whom are in their 50's and older.

I have gotten several suggestions to "make me look 20 years younger."

I will soften some of the harse wrinkles, but feel that I do need to leave some wrinkles in.
I am not sure where the line should be drawn in PhotoShop.....I want the portraits to look like the person, but a little better. I really don't feel comfortable taking out ALL of the wrinkles....and being older myself, I can feel for them..

Is there a general guideline to PhotoShop? I don't want these photos to look completely different from what the people really look like.....Do I smooth out the wrinkles a little less with men than with women?

I appreciate your help!!

Thanks!

Mel.

[douglas]

to some degree it depends on why you are doing it. If its a bunch of friends you work with...no money involved perhaps do a LITTLE but you want them to look as they are, your mates. However when a group is paying for it, and want things "improving" in PS, they are the customers, you can try to suggest what you think but ultimately, "the customer" is right
Just my 2 pennyworth!

[LeeR]

I hear people say these things all the time. It's usually just chatter. Most adults don't really want to look better than they are, they just want to look their best. I can do that in Photoshop in about sixty seconds. I bet you can, too.

[Melanie2010]

Thanks!!
I will let them decide what they want.
I have been taking photos to go on our work webpage. One lady wanted everything taken out.......So I went with it, but thought it looked overdone.

I was not sure which way to go.

Thanks for your help!!!

Melanie

[FrankLamont]

A bit of softening is okay.

But turning the boss into a barbie doll... eh, maybe not

[Swisstony10]

Originally Posted by FriedChicken

But turning the boss into a barbie doll... eh, maybe not

Oh I don't know - my boss, Dave, would look great as a Barbie...

Russ.

[vandergus]

Don't forget that your lighting can have just as great an impact on the subject as anything you can do in Photoshop. Soft, even lighting reduces shadows and helps to subdue wrinkles. Hard, direct lighting emphasizes them. I'd start with the appropriate lighting and only rely on Photoshop for minor touch-ups.

[waffles]

If someone who looked at the picture and the actual person side by side would think they were different people, or the same person but the picture is a lot older than the person is now, you've gone too far.

[Melanie2010]

Thanks everyone!!
I appreciate the help! I am going to give this my best try. I won't turn anyone into barbie dolls! Lol!!

Thanks again!

Mel

[photographyxfactor]

I don't like heavy editing, some people DO. Its like looking at a painting, everyone can feel very differently about it so its not like there is one straight answer. I don'e like when people lighten eyes and oversmooth skin or lighten teeth, it looks un-natural. I do run skin smoothing but then I go back and change the opacity and make sure it still looks real.