PHOTOS: Before / After attempt.

Friends - I am inspired by M Powered's amazing Photochop skills and although I am no where near his expertise, I am trying my hardest to capture his talent. But, I think this is a near-miss. I critiqued myself and see that I may have over-done the skin tones to a point that she don't look "real" in a way. More, un-natural maybe? Tell it like it is, but be gentle. I spent 3 hours trying to do it right.....and maybe I shouldn't be up from 2:30 am to 5:30 am doing this type of stuff, huh?

The second photo was touched up a bit less and looks more natural to me, but I still want that beach babe silky skin glow that M Powered seems to bring out in all his models.

What am I doing wrong?

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Lighting is terrible in the first set which I sure your mentor doesent use. What is wrong with her left eye?

Second two are better.

chauncey wrote in post #6339218
Lighting is terrible in the first set which I sure your mentor doesent use. What is wrong with her left eye?

Second two are better.

I think I may have caught her getting ready to blink. Maybe her eyes are out of synch? Hahahaha..... As for lighting. I made the worst mistakes. Lighting was behind her, no reflectors, internal pop-up flash. I broke all the rules and adhered to none. It was spontaneous without any planning or "Wait, wait, wait" And well.....At least the second two got better. I think overall the 3rd is "best" of this lighting nightmare. And you are correct, my mentor may be embarrassed of my sad attempt. But hey, that's why I got to learn more and rather than pressing the shutter release, STOP and take a look at my surroundings and evaluate the outcome PRIOR to so maybe, I won't have to spend 3 hours trying to correct for lighting nightmares.

Well, thanks for the feedback.

ok. so it doesn't fix your 'photographing errors' discussed or the eye issue mentioned, but here is an edit, that i did for fun and practice, playing around.

I like the edits you did navy, I suggest to the author of this thread to utilize the same post processing technique as well!

entrophy wrote in post #6342030
I like the edits you did navy, I suggest to the author of this thread to utilize the same post processing technique as well!

Oh trust me, I am all for mentorship because I pick it up easily. I learn more by doing rather than reading. I have tried reading long winded techniques and I am always sidetracked. I need the down and dirty bulletized instructions.

But appreciate your support in my quest for flawless skin.

Maxxum5 wrote in post #6342092
Oh trust me, I am all for mentorship because I pick it up easily. I learn more by doing rather than reading. I have tried reading long winded techniques and I am always sidetracked. I need the down and dirty bulletized instructions.

But appreciate your support in my quest for flawless skin.

....the girl in the photo is good lookin' too.

NAVY - How did you do that? I couldn't see your edits at work. Damn military computers.....

Looks better than mine. How are you laying the "skin" so it doesn't look like spray paint? I used the air brush tool set at 15%.

Any helpful technique or steps what you do 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.....?

Nice edits. Thanks

okay, i might have did a bit of sharpening first.
i took the makeup tool, (the blemish tool) fixed a dark spot on the forehead, i think it was
then i think i did skin smoothing, prolly 50 or 70% percent, you don't want it too look 'fake'.
then i changed the brightness and contrast some, to add some pop to it. can't tell you exactly what i did, but some of that. just play around with it, until you get what you like.

i want to think that is all i did.... but that was yesterday, i've already forget, but i know those are my general steps...

I did add a new duplicate layer, between each one or two steps.. not sure if that really has any importance or not...?