The Bride - What do you think??

[rhid78]

Hi guys,

Have just done some pp on this shot of the bride and am wondering what you all think....

Too much or does it give it that something extra? Which one's the 'keeper' (that's assuming that at least one of them is haha).

Thanks!!

Rhi

P.S. My fave is the last one.

[rhid78]

Last one...

[SuzyView]

The last one really is the most flattering. Her skin is beautiful, but less wrinkled in the last one so she looks radiant. Very nice.

[temptation]

last one gives her "bridal glow"- awesome- somewhere between the first two would look good too

[black_z]

Last one looks bluish, to me. Maybe it's MY monitor:(

[sapearl]

You've captured a very nice relaxed and pleasant pose of the young lady rhi - nice work. She looks quite at ease and that comes through in a good photograph.

I'm a big fan of reducing bags and the distracting shadows under people's eyes, and make it a habit to do a little bit of this sort of work on my brides if it is prominent. I hope you don't mind, but this is what I'm talking about - I reduced those lines under her eyes with some quick and dirty cloning in about a minute. It's not the most precise work, but it will give you an idea. You say how it makes her look well rested, refreshed and perhaps a couple of years younger ;). - Stu

[liza]

Stu,

I like your version best.
You need to photograph my wedding. ;)

[sapearl]

Thank you Liza - you are truly the genteel lady and I would be quite honored ;).

Stu,

I like your version best.
You need to photograph my wedding. ;)

[rhid78]

Last one looks bluish, to me. Maybe it's MY monitor:(

No you're right, it is meant to have a platinum tinge :-)

[rhid78]

You've captured a very nice relaxed and pleasant pose of the young lady rhi - nice work. She looks quite at ease and that comes through in a good photograph.

I'm a big fan of reducing bags and the distracting shadows under people's eyes, and make it a habit to do a little bit of this sort of work on my brides if it is prominent. I hope you don't mind, but this is what I'm talking about - I reduced those lines under her eyes with some quick and dirty cloning in about a minute. It's not the most precise work, but it will give you an idea. You say how it makes her look well rested, refreshed and perhaps a couple of years younger ;). - Stu

Thanks Stu - what if the bride has asked that her pics are not 'touched up', so to speak?

[jessiper]

Nice job, Stu!

[morlia]

Thanks Stu - what if the bride has asked that her pics are not 'touched up', so to speak?

nor to hone in on your question, but I think it would depend on her reasoning for this. Is she being cheap or doesn't see any value in it? Or does she just not Believe in it?

[johnstoy]

I'm also needing to touch up some temporary skin blemishes on a bride's face... When I mentioned that I have the post processing capacity to do so, the Groom overheard me, and I heard him say that he likes the blemishes...

Needless to say, the Bride is my niece, so I'll do several versions of the close up image and let them decide there after...

I'm not the official photog. for their wedding... The official photog. ( a personal friend of the Groom) is a local printer, and says he does minimal post processing and doesn't waste time... He also uses a Canon film camera, so I don't know how much he'll be able to do...

I have my standards, and am going ahead with full Post Processing from RAW in CS2... Besides, my older brother (the Bride's Dad) will back me 100%.

EDIT: By the way, I really like the soft, 3rd version best, and without the "bags" under the eyes would be stunning...

[rhid78]

nor to hone in on your question, but I think it would depend on her reasoning for this. Is she being cheap or doesn't see any value in it? Or does she just not Believe in it?

She actually hasn't said either way, but I was just wondering in general if you would still touch up like that even if she'd specifically asked you not to.

I think I will remove the bags under her eyes, I know I hate mine so if they were my wedding pics I'd love them to be removed lol.

[johnstoy]

Considering that these skin conditions are temporary... It would be reasonable to assume there will be no objections... I'm doing a couple of versions of the Bride's face, for their reference... They will be able to make the final decision of what goes to print...

By the way, which Post Processing tool did Stuart use in his modification? I'm having problems blending the adjoining skin tones...

[rhid78]

I think he just used the clone tool in ps...

[Silverwool]

I'd be inclined to minimise the bags under they eyes - not remove them altogether. One method is to select the under eye area and feather, Cmd J for new layer and use gaussian blur, then lower the opacity until you are happy with the result.

[Derbyshire Weddings]

Agree with most of the other posts on here. IMHO you could do with dodging the eyes very slightly to add a bit of light/sparkle to them. I agree with sapeal, take out the bags as he has. I don't think any one wants to look a crock on their wedding day & a slight touch up does wonders. In my experience no one notices that you have taken out a few lines, but they do have a tendency to say. "jeeze did I look that bad on the day". if you don't!

[th3r0m]

For bags, I have had some success using the healing tool set to replace, anchored just below the bags (so the skin colors are close), covering the "bag" , then playing with the opacity till it looks right.

[sapearl]

You're welcome rhi :D. Well, in that case you would leave everything as is. I've never met a person though, bride, groom, parents, etc. that didn't enjoy a little bit of digital "nip and tuck." Or as my daughter puts it: "You gave her some electronic concealer dad ;)."

But you have to be careful and not overdue it. Too many times I see touch up taken to the extreme of plasticization - you end up with fake looking china doll porcelain skin. I think the best technique you can use in photoshop is restraint. - Stu

Thanks Stu - what if the bride has asked that her pics are not 'touched up', so to speak?

[sapearl]

I would honor her request then and not do anything in the case of a specific request.

This is just one of the things that I do if I feel it is noticable, and detracts from a person's attractiveness. It's just a small thing that I feel sets me apart from the next guy or gal down the block who does not include it as one of his standard services.

Now on the other hand, MAJOR retouching I do charge extra for.

She actually hasn't said either way, but I was just wondering in general if you would still touch up like that even if she'd specifically asked you not to.

I think I will remove the bags under her eyes, I know I hate mine so if they were my wedding pics I'd love them to be removed lol.

[sapearl]

Excellent suggestion Silver - I didn't even take the time to do that, just some fast and dirty cloning. Yours would be the preferred way to go on a larger more detailed enlargement.

I'd be inclined to minimise the bags under they eyes - not remove them altogether. One method is to select the under eye area and feather, Cmd J for new layer and use gaussian blur, then lower the opacity until you are happy with the result.

[Derbyshire Weddings]

Best editing method for me anyway, when getting rid of bags, lines etc is to duplicate the original layer & remove the lines with the Patch tool. Alter the opacity to 60-75% etc & you'll get a better looking image facial wise whilst still retaining realism. Just takes a few years off & looks like they have had a good nights sleep instead of being up all night!

[th3r0m]

Ooh, the patch tool! I love the patch tool, after my last shoot it's pretty much my favorite photoshop tool. That would work great for fixing bags. Great suggestion Derb (hope you don't mind the abbrev. :) )

[Derbyshire Weddings]

Don't mind at all, it's Lee actually, but call me what you want..........everyone else does! Yes the Patch tool, favourite tool for enhancing ladies slightly. As I say it's better if you do it on a duplicated layer & fade the opacity in and out & do a "before & after". Subtle is the key. Or another "quick fix" is the "portrait professional" software if you really want to go to town on it.

[Bob Charnier]

This thread brings up an issue I have been wondering about for awhile. Do you ask the bride ahead of time if she wants the moles & blemishes removed or do you just use your own judgement? I have always used my own judgement in the past and never had a bride comment negatively about it. I see images in this forum and sometimes think "wow, I would have removed that mole".

[italypa99]

the image seems a bit soft to me

[rhid78]

This thread brings up an issue I have been wondering about for awhile. Do you ask the bride ahead of time if she wants the moles & blemishes removed or do you just use your own judgement? I have always used my own judgement in the past and never had a bride comment negatively about it. I see images in this forum and sometimes think "wow, I would have removed that mole".

The bride has a few largish moles on her chest - do you think I should remove them??!! Hard to know... I'll be speaking to her today so I'll be asking her what she would like me to do. Maybe I can do one with and one without, then she has the option??

:-)

[rhid78]

the image seems a bit soft to me

Yikes, it's meant to be. Hmmm :-)