Photo Edit, saving a bad photo

Please critique. Before and after:

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The edit is much better in terms of white balance. However, the restorative work to the under exposure seems to have brought up a little bit of noise on the dress.

I tried to blur out the noise on the dress but I didn't want to lose too much of the detail. Any suggestions?

*I deleted this photo because I think I can only do so many photos.

I think I got it. Added more of a shadow to my thigh too. Fixed the curtain by my thigh too.

There seems to be quite a disparity in skin color between the face and the legs. It looks like you cooled them all down the same.

That's my biggest issues with this picture, Titus. IDK what to do to get the skin tones to match. I think the face had cool lighting and the legs had warm lighting. We used a few different lights trying to get it bright enough. I was just practicing poses, but I really liked this one and was hoping to save it. I've been staring at it so long, I don't know if I'm seeing pink or purple or blue in my face. Either way, I'm at a wall with that one.

I use a group of actions from Totally Rad Actions. Included are two actions that let you warm or cool a picture and mask out what you don't want. It does a pretty decent job. Using smart objects is the only other way that comes to mind.

Another problem you are having is the light on the legs has nearly washed them out completely.

HAHA.. No, my legs are really that white. LOL

Sorry about that.......

Then perhaps you are getting some red reflection on the face from those drapes?

BTW Thank you both for the critiques.

A bit too yellow. Do you use Photoshop?

Mask the area below your legs and adjust the color balance of your face and arms until they match your legs. Once you get them both the same you can adjust the whole image to taste.

I'm very much self taught. And amateur. I'm going cross eyed over here. I think this is better. Thoughts?

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Now it feels gray. I'm going to bed for now. Give my eyes a break. Thanks again!

LettieVonDread wrote in post #11532036
I'm very much self taught. And amateur. I'm going cross eyed over here. I think this is better. Thoughts?

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Boy, I don't know Lettie. You've made some good progress from your first edit at the top. The color looks much more balanced here, to me. Maybe a little flat but I think you're close. Good work!