3rd shoot ;)

Number 5 is by far the best - very good

David

She is adorable.but the all over lighting doesn't work , just me Some are too dark, while others are harshly lit.....#5 is the happy medium.

I agree that the lighting doesn't work... in the last image I can't see any detail at all in her eyes, they look like black pits.

Thanks for the response, I did push the lighting here and there, but it is a matter of taste

you're right on the portrait, those eyes are way too dark, it was kinda difficult, we are close
friends and everything was new for her, and when she smiles, her eyes go all... "asian"

Do you think these pictures are still PS'able to reasonable levels or is it to far gone ?


Odin

OdinvO wrote in post #12772310
Thanks for the response, I did push the lighting here and there, but it is a matter of taste

you're right on the portrait, those eyes are way too dark, it was kinda difficult, we are close
friends and everything was new for her, and when she smiles, her eyes go all... "asian"



Do you think these pictures are still PS'able to reasonable levels or is it to far gone ?


Odin

I think it could be possible to bring them to a higher level in PS. I know you feel that the over-exposure is a matter of taste, and I used to like it too. It feels bright and clean like Ikea ads lol but after spending time on this site I have changed to viewing over-exposed as loss of detail, and a sad fate for a picture. You'll feel proud of yourself when you achieve that bright clean look AND save the detail. If you are interested in trying to correct your over exposure in these you might try what I do. I shoot in Raw so when I accidently overexpose I return to the original Raw and play with the brightness/etc to see if the detail information ever got recorded, or if all detail was completely lost. Usually I can uncover some shadows or texture and I lay that found texture as a transparent layer over the over exposed areas, slowly erasing at 20% or so until I'm happy. Also try using the dodge/burn tool to bring out some details on the original that may be there. (I tilt my laptop screen to see if there is any hidden detail) But if it is really overexposed there may be complete loss of detail. Even better is having another shot that you originally underexposed and using that as your texture substitute.

Here is an example of this technique on one of my photos:
http://www.flickr.com …808309360/in/ph​otostream/
(I have also learned since joining this site that the amount of skin retouching I did was really unnecessary, so no need for anyone to comment on that part of my picture lol)


#1 and 4 may not be possible because there is a lot of space that is over exposed but I say give it a try!
#2, 3, 6 are the more reasonable ones and I have seen many examples of people bringing photos like them up to a nice level. #6 is super cute and I'd like to see it redone
#5 I would really suggest you try to save that one by correcting the over exposure. It's the best one. But the over exposed area looks "blue" compared to the creamy sheets in front of her.

Thanks for your input!

I guess it's something I need to develop, but I will try to follow up to your advice, I'll try to
reedit them and post them here (soon, not now, actually have a date with the girl)

As for skin retouching, I didn't really do that much, only a reddish spot and sometimes an ugly shadow,
does it show too much ?


Odin