What would you do?

[Sakuraba39]

first picture is the original. Second has a slight skin smoothening, teeth whitening, and freckle/mole removal on shoulders. The "improvements" are a little hard to see, because the image is a little smaller on this site than what it actually is. What would you recommend that I also do to touch up this picture.

I'm a Noob, so any sort of critique is welcome


http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii267/BRamos2008/IMG_2349-1.jpg

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii267/BRamos2008/PP2349.jpg

[John Mottershaw]

The second one is unsharp - first one looks better. These are both way too dark though.

[Sakuraba39]

what about the difference in just her face from original to retouched?

[Raphael V]

You have ended up softening the entire image. Do you have the original in Jpeg or RAW?
If it is in RAW, you can try a little WB adjustment to reduce the warmth a bit, lift up the exposure a little, about half a stop and give some contrast and see how it looks.

[Raphael V]

Improvements on the face are hard to notice. This kind of PP really shows when you do it on face or bust portraits, and this this not that kinda shot.

[Sakuraba39]

This photo is only JPEG. Will try to lighten it up a little and erase the blur around everything but face.

Yes, the differences are very subtle.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii267/BRamos2008/Comparison.jpg

[luv2sign20]

I would also try and see if you can get the shine off her face...I know that is one reason that we girls cake all that make up on, so that we don't have that problem. beautiful bride though

[kato1]

I would always be careful when removing freckles, moles etc.

You are taking wedding pictures of real people, not models. If you go too far, or even remove one mark that is part of the individuals identity then you risk loosing a significant part of the integrity of the image (At least in the eyes of that person, their family and their close friends).

[Bartek]

All you need to do it sharpen it a bit and fix the levels (give it some more highlights). I also added a bit of curves to add contrast and removed a little bit of the dark under her eyes. :)

[mslifkin]

I'd also try to address the flash reflection in the background.

[Sakuraba39]

mslifkin - yes, I noticed that as well. Will try to remove.

Bartek - what PS tool did you use to get rid of the circles around the eyes.