Post processing tips?

[wob86]

So I am experimenting as much as I can with the post processing part of photography and it is something I need to work on. So my question is based on this picture do I need more or less? And if more any suggestions.

So far in photoshop I have added a soft light layer 50% opacity, blured the background and used photo tools free edition with the model skin brush to smooth the skin.

Thoughts?

thanks

Olympus E-400
50mm
1/160
ISO 100

[laughlinc]

You have a lovely portrait to work with, I think the lighting looks really good. A few things on the post-processing need to be enhanced for this to be stellar. In your blurring of the background, you've encroached on the hair in noticeable spots, lower left, top and middle and bottom right. These spots are very distracting and it makes it obvious that you've blurred it in post.

I would also remove the blemishes under her lip on the left and right. My favorite technique to use to accomplish this is to use the clone stamp, set to Lighten at a low opacity and select an area close to the blemish to clone from, then just lighten until it matches the surrounding skin. I also feel like the eyes could be sharpened to pop a bit more.

[zona5101]

laughlinc is spot on...also don't forget her arm in the skin smoothing process, especially since it is a dominant foreground element

[wob86]

thanks for the tips, have added them no and replaced the photo on flickr, thanks for the help guys!

[windrider86]

cept it deleted the photo on here. Would like to see it!

[wob86]

Sorry about that, I thought it would update on here as I just replaced te original photo on flickr... ah well sorted now, hope you like.

[PaulE]

I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty to do some pp on your photo.
A little bit of saturation, then minor levels (stepped up the black and the mid tones down)
Did smart sharpening and then duplicated the layer, selected everything except the eyes and mouth with a quick mask. Did a Gaussian blur (30%) on the lower layer and changed the top layer's opacity to 80%. Cleaned up some of the blemishes on the face and arms.
See if you like this or not. I shall remove the photo from my flickr photostream as soon as you saw this.

[wob86]

wow thats great, I will be trying some of that tonight, thanks