Editing help please

[ladolcevita]

I recently took some pictures for a friend's jewelry website. I like this shot of her friend/model overall, but are the shadows on her face/neck too dark?

Her skin is VERY white. Would the image look better if I selectively darkened/saturated the parts of the blouse that are really light?

Any other comments/critiques are welcomed as well. Thank you!!


http://ladolcevita.smugmug.com/photos/73490586-M.jpg

[re1ex]

using the warm photo filter helps on the skin tone
as for the highlights, try 'shadow/highlights', then you'll have to fool around with masking to keep things in order.

my edit: applied warming filter two times with mask only containing skin areas. then did the shadow/highlight and toned down the highlights on her arm. then burned in the shirt.

[ladolcevita]

Looks great! Thanks for the edit and describing what you did as well! :)

[Palladium]

Here's another with some adjustments - shadow/highlights controls in cs2, brightened up the whites of eyes & teeth, touched up the forehead with the healing brush toot, smartsharpened

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/3665/73490586m8fd.jpg

[ladolcevita]

That one really brings out her hair too! Thanks!!

[OdiN1701]

The first edit here has good skin tones. The third has good hair, but the skin doesn't look good to me.

I don't like the pose/crop in this sone either. If you're trying to show off the jewelry you need to get it closer and larger.

[Thornfield]

I like the model (what is it about redheads that makes them so darn attractive?)
I gather that the aim of the shot is to sell jewelery? If it is, then your first focus should be on your model and the jewelery. At the moment the fence and foliage is taking the focus away from that intended item. I would go for a plain background and come in a lot closer to the model. Use a shallow depth of field and focus on the jewelery more than the model (don't forget about her though). A picture of a beautifull necklace will not sell the necklace. You have to show that the person that is wearing it is attractive not only in her own right but also because she is wearing the necklace. This is after all the intended use for the photograph.
Great model and great jewelery....the hardest part is done.
Please post some more shots if you are going to take any more. Would love to see how you are getting on with the shots. Another picture of the readhead never goes astray either :)

[ladolcevita]

Thanks for the comments, all! It's much appreciated. :)


Thornfield, good tips! I did take shots of the jewelry itself; she wanted photos of her friends wearing the jewelry as kind of a supplement to the ones of the jewelry alone.

Is this more along the lines of what you were thinking of? It's my favorite of them all so far...I actually posted it in another thread in the people section. (She's not a redhead- but damn, she's photogenic!)

http://ladolcevita.smugmug.com/photos/73490339-M.jpg


And because you were so nice with your constructive criticism...the readhead again. :) I cropped another shot of her and Photoshopped it a bit- selectively saturated the model, etc. I think the background is still too dark/distracting. I need to play with it more!
http://ladolcevita.smugmug.com/photos/73902038-M.jpg

[Thornfield]

Getting a lot better. The brunette is great but will need some post processing.
The second still suffers from the harsh background. The flowers on the left distract as does the shadow and the line cutting through her head. Try for a really plain backdround. Also the colour of her shirt competes with the necklace. Try for something neutral dress wise or a contrasting but complimentary colour.
Next time you do the shots remove everything that does not add to the picture (leave the model in though ) :)
Your crops are getting tighter which is good to see :)
Keep it up

[jbkalla]

Maybe this is a little better?

Brought out the Shadows a little, whitened the teeth a little, softened the skin a very little.

This is a much more flattering pose for her than the head-on shot above.

[ladolcevita]

Maybe this is a little better?

Brought out the Shadows a little, whitened the teeth a little, softened the skin a very little.

This is a much more flattering pose for her than the head-on shot above.


Wow, that makes a huge difference. Thank you! I really need to work on my PS skills!


Curious...what's an effective way for whitening teeth? I wanted to try it but I was afraid I'd royally mess it up!