Bad facial expression fix

[Karl Johnston]

eeee

[griptape]

I think it looks really strange to have two apparently unconnected people in shadow behind the subject, yet the unconnected people are still some sort of posed. Have you to considered just using the liquify tool to fix the expressions?

[sando]

Bin it.

Just looks like she's now in a dark corner.

[LeuceDeuce]

I'd just crop for the kid in the green shirt, and change the background.

griptape: now she reminds me of Bubba J :)

[poloman]

I'd just crop for the kid in the green shirt, and change the background.

griptape: now she reminds me of Bubba J :)

I would do the same thing.

[NaKiD EyE]

Bin it.

i agree.

[gonzogolf]

Your fix draws more attention to the bad parts than the good.

[joedlh]

Crop to the kid in the green shirt. Ditch the vignette. That's my advice.

The liquify effect doesn't work in my opinion.

There is something to be said about taking multiple shots in a sitting. It's always difficult to get three people all looking good. If you have multiple shots, you can copy the mother's smile and paste it in the better image. I've done this with eyes. Make sure you feather the cutout so that the paste line is not obvious

[Karl Johnston]

I don't have photoshop, though I'm not a purist I don't like editing with the liquefy too (too unnatural) l. I think I will crop to the green shirt kid, though, I wonder if they will be offended that i cropped the rest out?

[poloman]

IMO, you have virtually cropped the other two already. They are not in focus and certainly don't occupy a compositional hot spot. They have also been upstaged by the kid in the green shirt. :) Cropping will also allow you top position him in a bit better spot.

[Karl Johnston]

Good idea..I cropped and ended up masking out the other two subjects. It looks okay but the floating look is making me glad that I ordered a seamless for this kind of work.

Quick masking job..just wanted to see what it would look like
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4129006978_1c4e8df989_o.jpg


Any better or worse?

[NaKiD EyE]

why are the two kids looking up and the mom at the camera???

[Karl Johnston]

They were looking at the light. The shot was going to be an outtake...so unless you have any input to make it an intake ;) then it's understood already that it's not ideal. If you have suggestions for a fix (other than getting rid of it) please share.

[Flo]

They were looking at the light. The shot was going to be an outtake...so unless you have any input to make it an intake ;) then it's understood already that it's not ideal. If you have suggestions for a fix (other than getting rid of it) please share.

Are you able to do a retake Karl? That would be fabulous if you can..:D

[Karl Johnston]

Unfortunately not..though will try for a december shoot...been getting a lot of calls about doing christmas portraits.

What do you think of the edit, flo?

[Flo]

Unfortunately not..though will try for a december shoot...been getting a lot of calls about doing christmas portraits.

What do you think of the edit, flo?

I am sorry Karl, but it just doesn't work for me, but not having done alot of this kind of photography, its my bent only. I do think the lighting etc needs to be improved, as well as composition? Nice to see the entire group together? Keep them close, and there should be no need for cut and paste;)

[Karl Johnston]

cheers...hmm the mum didn't like it. Had to bin it. Oh well.

[p_jesten]

Here is my take on cropping the rest of the family out - I just love the lighting on the older son...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4129838084_06d84e311c.jpg

[Karl Johnston]

Damn! So simple an edit too, why didn't I think of that! Thanks pat..that's what I'm going to do now.

[p_jesten]

you are welcome - glad you liked it! It would also look great as a B/W IMO....

[Collin85]

I must be the only one here, but the original looks fine to me. The cropped shot loses its context, IMO.

[ScottKCooper]

shame on mom for not letting you concentrate on the kids. My vote is retake, rather than PP.

[poloman]

Even though I suggested the crop, I really agree with ScottCooper. For you part, if you are going to shoot a group, shoot a group.

[p_jesten]

In my experience, if you are shooting a group you should also get some individual pictures, you can sell them more product :) And if there is an opportunity to re shoot then that of course is the best option. I assume that you did get some family portraits that are great but you wanted to see what you could do to save this one image?

[Karl Johnston]

Yup I have plenty of successful shots from the session, this was one of the ones I did not know whether or not to cut or not..have plenty of really nice shots though that worked out well.

I also do the thing you suggested..I shoot one or two group shots but do more individualized shots to increase the chances of more print orders. Seems a bit coniving but they're more focused, individual..and lets face it, we're pretty damn underpaid as photographers to begin with ..no harm in making a couple more bucks for a better product..there's only so much you can do with a group, at least in my case, I don't know how to make groups look good (working on that).

[poloman]

Groups are tough!
I always take three shots of every set up. That way I can do a head swap if need be. I think it also helps to have them all pose for a "dorky" shot. Breaks the tension. I also use "Close your eyes 1, 2, 3 eyes open all smile". This increases the odds that everyone will have their eyes open at the same time.