Please critique my skin corrections-guy senior portraits

I did senior pics for a friend and they wanted the acne removed as best as I could. I have google's picasa and paint shop. This is a before and after of the photo. Usually paint shop handles acne pretty well but this is the worse Ive had to fix. I used the blemish tool, clone, and skin smoothing which I don't usually like to do on guys. Please let me know if you think it's ok. There are some areas under his left eye that look kinda funky to me.

Before SOOC

I think you did a really good job here. I do have one question though:

Having never done shots like this for people in school or anything, is it EXPECTED that if someone has skin like this guy, that you're basically going to make it look like it was never there in post-processing? Are the kids ever offended by you doing this? I've always wondered that. I mean, I realize its purpose as far as aesthetics in the photo itself, but it's almost like it's a different person. Acne or not, it's like the final product doesn't entirely reflect the true nature of the person. I just don't know if kids go into knowing they're going to look different than they actually do.

it looks fantastic... almost too good
burn the area under his jaw on viewers left though.

Thanks. I always ask them and the parents if they want any retouching and if so to what degree. He had his tux (year book) shot done in studio at the place the school required and asked that it be retouched and they completely removed the acne. He liked it so they wanted me to do the same. I guess it just depends on the person.

Excellent job, although I do agree his lower chin needs a slight burn.

"When I did my self-portrait,I left all the pimples out because you always should. Pimples are a temporary condition and they don't have anything to do with what you really look like. Always omit the blemishes--they're not part of the good picture you want." - Warhol

I burned it and it looks much better. Thanks!

I agree with that quote. If it were a birth mark or freckles that would still be there in 20 years it would be different but teenage acne thank goodness goes away!

I'm gonna have to disagree with Andy. There are lot of types of acne (and it appears even this case) where the skin is scarred from years of bad acne, so it's there for good. I've known lots of people with skin like that. Sorry, not trying to go off topic here. It was purely curiosity.

@melissaandkris That seems to be a good way to go about it. If the client is wanting you to do it, that definitely makes sense. Thanks for the response

The eyes are good on my screen...but the jaw is wierd(on the viewers left side), the jaw and the neck are kind of "one". Would add some shadows or something to separate them...Great job by the way. You also claeaned his teeth I see. No? Dermatologist, a Dentist, a Photographer...what else do you do Melissa? or is it Kris?

I just do what Im asked...most of the time

IVOlution wrote in post #9966368
You also claeaned his teeth I see. No? Dermatologist, a Dentist, a Photographer...what else do you do Melissa? or is it Kris?

Haha...It's Melissa and I usually do mommy or wife stuff so it's good to do something else now and then
I burned it and think that helped. I will post up a new one in just a little bit. I did whiten his teeth a little.

Hehehe...now if you continue like that at the end you will have to convince the parents it is their Josh and not somelse's Jhon! Hahaha...

i bet that kid will erect a shrine in your honor. nice work.

suecassidy wrote in post #9967073
i bet that kid will erect a shrine in your honor. nice work.

Ha

Here is the other one with the jaw line burned but it might still need a little work and a couple more that Ive worked on. I wish they could have gone at a different time, we went at 1:30 pm and it was bright sun shine so I got a lot of squinty eyes.

Thanks for all the help, I was really worried about pulling this off.

You did a good job on the pp. The first shot is the best as it looks more crisp that the 2 others.