Fall Portraits

Boy oh boy am I having trouble with focus/lighting. I really want an external flash I took a few shots of my daughter today HOPING for something to make an 8x10 since she just wont go to a portrait studio for pictures. I need something! How do these two look? Okish at least?

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She's a cutie! I think I like #1 because it looks like she's got a little smirk. Cute!

pretty good, I would warm up the colour temperature a bit (change white balance) otherwise not bad!

I like #1 better too. I agree that a little PhotoShop manipulations would help. I would adjust the levels to bring the contrast up and "warm up" the color temperature because the image is a little on the blueish or "cool" side.

Good luck.

I like the first one, its one of those pictures that in years to come you will remember.

regards

Bruce

Thanks so much everyone. I really like the 1st one too but it's just not as sharp as I like photos. I've tried to warm up the colors but I keep messing it up and it's driving me nuts. LOL I'll keep working on it... it's all a learning process I supposed.

Thanks for your feedback!
Pamela

Would anyone like to have a go at the full size of the first picture? I'd really like to get it printed in an 8x10 and 5x7 but I just cant get the coloring right on it. And like I mentioned, it's a bit blurred for my liking. I would be interested in seeing what others can do with it that I'm missing.

PM me if you are interested and I'll send you a copy. Thanks!
Pamela

Feel free to email a copy to me - I enjoy this sort of thing. I already did some work on your lo-rez version to try out the comments above (which were my initial reactions as well.) I also think the background is a little busy and overwhelms the child.

Very cute Pamela. Lovely daughter. Can you upload athe original file some where?

I tried to PM you Dante, but you'r box is full Here's a link to download the fullsized image.

http://s42.yousendit.c​om …QZXRCCSUYAEL3P6​9R1RT38KFT

You can either send back the result using that service to leadsister (AT) cox.net or email directly.

Thanks so much for taking a look. Like I mentioned... it is a bit blurry unfortunately, but hopefully can be saved.

Pamela

MGBEACH, you should take a look at this and see what miracle you can do with this.

Pamela,

I just sent the photo to you. I can't be sure it's EXACTLY what either one of us are after - especially since I'm working today on my LCD monitor at work instead of my 'real' CRT monitor at home.

Here's what I did:

1. Added a Levels Adjustment layer to brighten the image overall
2. Added a duplicate image layer and burned in the edges to help pull the center of the image forward
3. Warmed the skin tones of her face and hands using a Color Balance Adjustment layer.

The one thing I couldn't help you with was sharpening. The image was just far enough out of focus. I tried just about every form of sharpening: USM, Highpass, edge mask, surface mask, luminance mask. Basically, to create any real change at all, I had to force the settings so far it looked very unnatural. So I went the other way:

I created a duplicate layer of the image, added a gaussian blur, and set the layer to "luminance" at opacity 40%. This has the effect of a soft/romantic lens filter so the images looks a little more 'dreamy' instead of out of focus. Finally, I went in and selectively erased the eyes, lips, and hair highlights of the 'dreamy' layer to reveal the original (slightly sharper) layer below.

I also dulled back the overal color saturation, brightened her eyes, and a few other little tweaks. Finally, the image is now cropped and sized for a 5" x 7" print at 300ppi.

You have a LOVELY little girl there. Mine will be 13 in a few days and your's makes me miss that little girl I used to know.

Blessings,

Kevin in Dallas

Here's a link to a lo-rez before/after image: (well the 'after' is on the left)

http://home.comcast.ne​t …os/littlegirl_c​ompare.jpg

It's very rough - just a screen capture from my monitor. But get's the point across. I sent you the hi-res image privately.

Oh yeah - I did some work on her face to smooth out the red blotchiness. She looked a little cold.

Firstly.. I wanted to thank everyone for helping out with the photos! It's really appreciated

As those of you who helped with the photo noticed, the blurriness was hard to deal with. So, I brought her outside and tried again! LOL Let me know if this is better.

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So darn cute. loooks like oyu nailed focus right on her eyes!