Is airbrushing the face always necessary?

[Life in Motion]

QUESTION? okay first of all i am very much a beginner. i am trying to get into portrait photography. I have been using my kids to experiment with a little and i find a reoccuring problem with my pics. I don't have a big set-up just minimal equipment. My reoccuring problem is with the faces i tend to turn out what looks like bruising around the eyes sometimes. doesn't seem really apparent on screen until i have them printed.I have just started airbrushing a little to help it, but i can't help but think if i just got the lighting right i wouldn't have to do the touch ups? I know everyone has a preference and I personally dislike the total face airbrushed look. want to keep away from that myself...even though in my area that is the type of person who is really popular right now...i just don't like the plastic look personally. so, is it lighting mainly that could solve this problem? Any advice. I posted a before processing to see the slight bruising affect and after airbrush processing, to hopefully show what i'm talking about.

[sybren]

It would help to have two photos of the same size to compare your edits around the eyes.

[Benji]

I couldn't see any difference between the two other than the second one is cropped in slightly closer, so I'm not sure what bruising you are talking about.

Benji

[Life in Motion]

okay,

it is a lot more noticeable on a bigger size...i don't know if they will let me with the rules but i will add different pics.

[Life in Motion]

Okay here are two closeup...before processing and after. I tried to get the crop the same. Maybe I'm being a little particular. But, it is a lot more noticeable after I print them. I then started airbrushing the eyes a little even if i thought it wasn't noticeable on screen. Just to be safe.

[dakwegmo]

Looking at the new close ups, I don't really see any difference between the two images. Are you doing any kind of color management (monitor calibration, soft proofing, etc.)? If not that may be something to look into. Some printers, especially those that automatically "enhance" colors, will pick up the slight color under the eyes and over-saturate it, making it stand out more. If you're using a self-print kiosk, see if you can turn this off. If not consider printing somewhere that doesn't automatically adjust the print settings.

[Life in Motion]

Okay. I thought it might be the printer as well. I never realized there was such a difference in printers until reading about it on this site. I have just registered at whhc and waiting on test prints. I saw a couple people recommend it. Thanks for your time. It is just sooo noticeable to be like a flashing red light lol. Maybe I'm just being too particular. I just want to turn out the best results possible before I start advertising and getting clients...