Christmas picture, editing.

[RileyAnn5]

Hello, I've just recently gotten really into photogaphy. I've been doing shoots for family and friends, all though one day I'd like to do it as a profession. I've posted in here a couple other times, I think they were also photos of my daughter. (They're obviously my favorites) I took this picture for a Christmas card. I really love the picture, but I'm not so sure about my editing. I feel like I always under do it or over do it. I don't really have a flow/technique yet. I edited the eyes, burned the background, did a touch of cross processing, and saturated it a little bit so the reds weren't sooo bright. Tell me what you think! If you'd like to see the original I can post that too.

Model Canon EOS REBEL T3
ISO 3200
Exposure 1/125 sec
Aperture 5.6
Focal Length 55mm
Flash Used false

[graciousness]

The editing is done a little bit too much, I think, esp around the eyes.

I don't know if it's the processing, but the photo seems a little flat, too. Probably because it's a little underexposed in some areas but then her face is ok. I don't know, it's just a little bit weird in that sense and I can't put my finger on it.

I will assume that you didn't use flash given that really high ISO you used to take this photo, but may I recommend you buy one as your next gear purchase? It will make a world of difference to your photography as I discovered just a few months ago!

About the light source - Did you have 4 lightbulbs or a chandelier with 4 lightbulbs above her when you took the shot? You have 4 spots of catchlight in her eyes and looks unnatural. I would remove 3 of those, leaving one of course, closest to either 11 0'clock or 1 o'clock position. I'm sorry I can't refer to exactly the position on the photo because I can't view it while I"m posting as it's an attachment.

Hope this helps and I'll add more if I see anything more on the photo on the second glance.

Cheers,

Grace

[RileyAnn5]

Thanks so much for your response. I had two bulbs and a the regular dining room light. I'm actually getting a speedlight on Sunday and I'm very excited. I got the light set I'm using right now from a family friend that upgraded to a speedlight and I now I can tell why. Anyways. I do agree that it's a bit too much. I don't know why, but everytime I edit pictures I do something different. A lot of them end up not looking natural. I'm going to re-edit it taking your advice, tell me what you think... I had to clone the "merry christmas" on there from another picture and I didn't take my time, so ignore that, but does she look better?

[graciousness]

I hope you don't mind, I had a quick play with your photo whilst eating dinner.

I think I figured out what was causing the flatness to me, and that is the grain on the photo. The ISO was so high that you have to expect for graininess to be there. I just didn't look properly before until now.

I don't know how you were doing your editing - what software were you using?

I'm sorry I'm not very good with editing in comparison to others here in the forum, but with what I've done:

- did a little tiny curves adjustment to add more contrast;
- did a little RGB levels adjustment to bring out more of the blacks and then balanced the gray;
-added sharpness overal on her face, but more so on her eyes as they looked quite soft on my monitor.
- added an overall colour filter of orange with opacity of ...oh no....I can't remember!! I think it was 20%? Sorry I can't remember but it wasn't much. I just wanted to even out the flat pinkness/grayness on her skin.

I am a mac user so I used Aperture for the job. It literally took 2 minutes.

I don't know if you like it better, but you can use it as a comparison or as a guide should you like some aspect that I did with the editing. I can remove my edit if you wish - just let me know.

Cheers,

Grace

[RileyAnn5]

I love the way her skin looks in your edit, much warmer and more natural. Thank you! I'll have to see if I can figure out how you did it. I really think my pictures have been improving, but my editing is getting worse. I don't get it! lol.