another portrait - need suggestions

[Jonatan]

Here is two portraits of another girl. She was very hard to photograph, because she was all over the place, and because she had 10 different facial expressions every second. I wanted a little less busy background, but I just had to take the shots wherever I could get her to sit still.

The first photo has a busy background with all the flowers and stuff, and I lack ideas to how I can approve the shot. I don´t know if a texture would be enough, or maybe a vignette...

The second photo I don´t know what I can do in postprocess to improve, I have added a texture to enhance the portrait, how do you think it works, or should I just leave it without a texture? Other suggestions welcome.

Other than that, any critique on the shots welcome, thank you.

[zona5101]

i wouldn't change a thing. Ya, maybe the flowers are busy or have a door mat in them, thats enviornmenrtal vs studio. My main focus in each is still the cute little girl. Both of these look fantastic - sorry no "shoulda, woulda, coulda" from me. Nice work.

[Aleix]

Hej! Regarding the first picture - apart that it is beautiful... cute child! -, you could enhance the strength of the child as main element of interest by reducing the brightness of the background:

1. In the photo, both girl and background share similar brightness, making the brightness quite uniform all over the picture.
2. Brighter elements tend to catch the viewer's attention, especially when the brightness is concentrated in a not too large area.

I attach a GIF comparing both the original you posted and a modified version. It is a quick fix, so perhaps the brightness could be better adjusted, but just wanted to share the idea. It is the same for the 2nd pic... basically reducing the brightness of the door could help improve it. Judge for yourself what do you think about it, and I'd be glad to have your feedback on that (note: I'd reduce saturation from background so it's not so saturated like in the example I put).



Only brightness tweaked: no changes in saturation, contrast, etc.
Done using NikSoftware Viveza selective tool plugin for PS CS4