Please no flames. K?

I have been contacted to do pageant photography for a little girl. Her momma wants the creepy kinda doll like images we have all seen. Though this is not my personal style, I do want to try and give her what she wants. Of course, I will provide my regular style of work, but I need a little help on accomplishing "the look."

On one Pageant retouching site, I noticed the photographer replaced they eyes with "doll eyes." First off, where do I find digital doll eyes? Seconly, how does one add them so that they look truly real? Not just like they are pretty new Irises stuck over icky old ones?

I realize this is a loaded topic, I truly do not wish to stir the pot. I am just lookin' for a little help.

Thank you all for your time and help,
amy

Photoshop This is my website, so you can see I really do not work in this style, LOL
www.amycoephotography.com

Here is an example I tried on. They just look even a little too fake for doll eyes. Of course, that is partly because you don't often see bright green eyes on asian girls, LOL! I think I need some pictures of real eyes, too. I think these irises are fake, used for making digital people.

Feel free to CC any of my work any time,
amy

Amy, can you post an example of the final "look" you need?
Are we talking makeup? or manipulating the eyes (making them larges, change shape, color.. etc.) or are you taking about fake eyes, to look like a ceramic or plastic real doll? or are you talking about JonBenet look (child looking like a adult)

Lasa

Sadly, a JonBenet kinda look. The first and second are an extreme example of kinda what she is looking for. The third is about as far as I would want to take it. I realize the none of these have much basis in reality, but the third is the closest to natural...I guess.

I have photographed this little girl before, and I know she can be a bit of a tough cookie, so I would like to be able to have, uh, back-up eyes if it comes to that.

Thanks for your reply,
amy

Can't view images on your site. Say I need the flash player. I downloaded and installed the flash player. Still says I need the flash player. Not a very user-friendly place you have there.


Yeah, sorry 'bout that. It is actually being replaced in the next few weeks, with my new business name (Lifeprints) and it will not be Flash based at all. Yeah, I am not happy with it either.
a

normally, if you have flash player installed and it's still asking for flash player, you need to turn on the activex stuff in your browser.

Hi there

Maybe you could make your own eyes. The file below was provided by cspringer on dpreview.com

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1006&message=20991161&q=eye&qf=m

Butch

Literally doll's eyes. Photo of doll's eye superimposed over original pic and blended in (slightly enlarged). Colour and levels adjusted. On a new layer, a yellow tinting on one edge which is then gaussian blurred to bring out iris details.

*shudder*.. that doll look is horrible..

I don't understand the reasoning behind the "plastic doll eyes" look?
If its a pageant aren't the judges or somebody going to see that the childs eyes aren't like that at all? What's the idea behind that? It's horrible 3d animation looking..why use real kids at all?

Lasa

I did a google search and the first image that came up was exactly what you are beeing asked to "make"...What a horrible spooky look! Why use real kids at all?

Lasa

These images remind me of "CHUCKY"...

Amy,
First off as for your site, it's mozilla that doesn't work, ie works fine.
Secondly, I probably don't say this as much as I should and hopefully you've heard it enough but your work is FANTASTIC. I don't think you should have to sacrifice for what the client wants. No offense to your client but your work is great the way that it is!

Amy,
First off as for your site, it's mozilla that doesn't work, ie works fine.
Secondly, I probably don't say this as much as I should and hopefully you've heard it enough but your work is FANTASTIC. I don't think you should have to sacrifice for what the client wants. No offense to your client but your work is great the way that it is!

*shuffles feet and blushes...

Aw, shucks! Thanks...and that's all old stuff! Can ya image the kewl stuff I am turnin' out now? (The new site should be up before January!)

That really made my night! Thank you!
a

UPDATE! She cooperated!!! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! No need to replace the eyes! I will post some stuff in a bit. I am still playin' with 'em.

Thank you all for your time and your replies.
a

Hi Amy...... doll eyes, for real.... or just 'oomphed' up eyes?

Beth

Hi Amy...... doll eyes, for real.... or just 'oomphed' up eyes?

Beth

Hmmmm, intersting question. What was your process?

*drum roll please.................
Here they are.

First one is SOOC, the rest are retouched.

CC always welcome!

Amy, they are beautiful...... certainly appropriate for a little girl..... natural but professionally done.

For the eyes I just:

Removed catch lights from pupils (painted black on blank layer w/small blur)

Increased saturation of irises (may have selected them and used colorize)

Color dodged a half moon into the irises using white brush 20% opacity (small Gaus. blur)

On a blank layer painted new catch lights using white brush in Overlay mode at 100% opacity (light blur)

I really upped the look since you mentioned a doll-like look.

Beth

I'm probably missing the whole point of the pictures but i sure would like to see the child smile..

Lasa

I'm probably missing the whole point of the pictures but i sure would like to see the child smile..

Lasa

I would have, too, but she wouldn't. As I stated before, she can be one tough cookie! I am lucky I got what I did out of her, LOL! She acts like a spoiled little princess. Urgh.

I don't know if you noticed on my sample but I upped the corners of her mouth and it mellowed the sad look...Can it be done better yes but its just an idea.
The pictures are very good.
Lasa

Not quite a smile but a bit less of a pout.
Not the full pageant works, just a little eye and skin job.

Ok...... had to play again...... I left the little princess with her pout.... mainly 'cause I'm awful with that liquify thing.....

Beth

NancyJ, that's nice.
Beth, I love the soft pinks and blue eyes.
Lifeprints, I hope you don't mind I practiced the pageant look, I should try to add some fake eyelashes.
Here is a link to a tutorial that was posted not long ago.
Eyelash Tutorial (http://www.dphotonews.com/tutorials/thicker_eyelashes.php)

CathyH, beautiful job with the smile - she almost looks happy.
Being english, I'm certainly no pageant expert but I think at her age and colouring she could probably get away without the full fake lash set.

If the idea is that she looks older...kidding just needed to try it.
Liquify tool until I messed up..
Lasa

Had another crack at it - hadnt realised how awful my monitor is at work.
Second is a little more glam - both still too human for pageant tho

hey,

that doll's thing... wow, sorry, but, creepy...

about the simpleviewer problems... if you check the creator's site (airtightinteractive dot com) you'll see this in the FAQ's --
___
1: When I view my gallery I see the message 'SimpleViewer requires the Flash Player', even though I have Flash installed.

To determine the version of Flash you have installed, click this link. If you know you have Flash 7 or higher installed and you still see the message, you may be using an older version of SimpleViewer. Please download and use the latest version of SimpleViewer (v1.8).
___
it's not Mozilla or IE necessarily... and unfortunatley it's not something we can do on our side... either you, or your webdesigner, has to update the simpleviewer plugin... it's a 17k app that gets loaded from your server... unlike flash player, which we install ourselves...

best -- d

Whilst I find this practice quite bizzare, it is however a challenge to try and stylise this way. After seeing Nancy's, Soltier's, Cathy's and Lasa's attempts, had to have a go

*drum roll please.................
Here they are.

First one is SOOC, the rest are retouched.

CC always welcome!


We all know I do "pageant-style" so I'm not even going there :)

I love the look you were able to accomplish. My only suggestion if going "pageant" would be to soften the skin just a tad and tone down her lips. She has naturally red lips, but they are a little overpowering. By doing this you will naturally bring out her eyes.

I see a natural trend begining in pageants and it really makes me happy. They are going for an in between pageant-glitz and natural. Still very doll-like, but not near as scarey.

laters,

Sarah

Thank you for the comments. I didn't add anything to her lips, are you saying I should maybe paint over them a bit to lighten them? Or do you think I should try using the dodge? FWIW, now that you mention it, I agree.
:wink:

Thank you for the comments. I didn't add anything to her lips, are you saying I should maybe paint over them a bit to lighten them? Or do you think I should try using the dodge? FWIW, now that you mention it, I agree.
:wink:

No, I didn't think you touched the lips. Some children have those Cambel's Soup lips and cheeks naturally :)

There are a ton of ways to do it, but I would just select her lips on a separate layer, select color (the red) and tone down the saturation and lighten just a tad. You can also play with layer styles and paint on a soft light layer, choose a tone of pink and see how it show up. Hue and color are also fun to play with, but make sure you're on a separate layer and adjust the opacity to suit your taste.

You must grow the iris of the eye, try to make the color iris a bit bright and clear and leave the border darker.

You can achieve this look playing with Photoshop. Hope this helps.

Silvia.

I just did photo for a customer of mine for a pageant, I'm not sure how to post in here. I mainly come to learn from everyone. But a big part of pageants eyes, is the white squares like in the 2nd photo. I made tons of eyes, eye brows and eyeliner. Don't forget the fake eyelashes and try to make the eyes
bigger. I'm still learning myself, but I hope this may help a little.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f54/boutiquelady/3143cafa.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f54/boutiquelady/2ndtry.jpg

We all know I do "pageant-style" so I'm not even going there :)

I love the look you were able to accomplish. My only suggestion if going "pageant" would be to soften the skin just a tad and tone down her lips. She has naturally red lips, but they are a little overpowering. By doing this you will naturally bring out her eyes.

I see a natural trend begining in pageants and it really makes me happy. They are going for an in between pageant-glitz and natural. Still very doll-like, but not near as scarey.

laters,

Sarah


I know what you mean, There is good money in pageant photos. I loved to learn more. I'm still such a newbie to it. but I hope to be as good as you one day. any tips you would have for me I would just love.

Being able to make a photo look like a smooth painting is on my "to learn" list--you guys did a great job. Well I figured I'd play too--these remind me of porcelain dolls which my mom used to make, so I tried to make it look like the ones she made (except I can't draw eyelashes). Mine still looks like a photo.

Bart

I had a play too...:)

As this thread appears to have been revived, I had a go at another of the pics

here what pageant eyes should look like

Alley, at what point does taste come into play?

here is my try

Alley, at what point does taste come into play?

I'm un sure if you are just being rude, or if you just don't know what a PAGEANT photo is. A real pageant photo is going to look fake, thats the point. If not it would not be a pageant photo, There is low gliz, high gliz, and then what most people know how to do is the reg pic's w/ a little re touching. Ask any pageant mom. Now I'm not saying you are wrong, but maybe you should look up PAGEANT RETOUCHING, Of crouse my are not what you would pay for, I'm still learning. but as far as taste, I guess thats up to the mom who want the pageant photo.

If you go to a low or high gliz pageant with a great photo that has just been retouched a little, you will not win the photo contest. and may even have point taken off.

I hope you take the time to look, so can see what I'm talking about.

As far as my taste, Amber has won 3 PAGEANT contest with her photo's. and thats from real Pageants.

Ailey

Ailey, no offence intended there

I hope you don't think I'm being rude, I would not be here if i didn't want to learn form all of you.

I don't understand the reasoning behind the "plastic doll eyes" look?
If its a pageant aren't the judges or somebody going to see that the childs eyes aren't like that at all? What's the idea behind that? It's horrible 3d animation looking..why use real kids at all?

Lasa

I did a google search and the first image that came up was exactly what you are beeing asked to "make"...What a horrible spooky look! Why use real kids at all?

Lasa

These images remind me of "CHUCKY"...


Lasa, I am brand new here on the board but I too think they are creepy and remind me of Chucky. How funny is that? I thought I was the only one who thought so. I go for more natural glam for pageant photos. I have been working on mostly home photos of my dd7.

Gretchen

Ok here is what I do. I don't know why the plastic look is in for pageants but this is how I do my glam pageant pics and several clients have loved them.

Gretchen, your work is beautiful.

Unfortunatly, the pageant world requires those freaky lookin' over the top retouches. I actually want to learn more about this type of retouching as I am moving to rural Montana this week and this could be a good source of income out in the boonies- how many times can I really photograph the ranch families in my new community, LOL!

Thank you all for your ideas and advice- I have learned a lot from this thread.
a

I am in SE Wyoming in the Snowy Range and we are semi rural and yes retouches here are great. I think in Montana it would be just a wonderful

I am in SE Wyoming in the Snowy Range and we are semi rural and yes retouches here are great. I think in Montana it would be just a wonderful

Really?! Where are you? I am in Rock Springs until Tuesday. Too bad we never crossed paths!

Laramie. Go pokes. LOL

Every retoucher, every "pageant" retoucher has their own style. The diversity of styles allows clients to choose which type of retouch they like best. Some like them really heavy and doll-like, others like them more natural or semi-glitz.

I'm posting one of my more typical styles. Like all retouches it begins with a good photograph. The really strange looking pageant retouches normally come from snapshots.

grafx
I think your work is very cool. The girls still look like themselves.
has anyone asked you how you do the eyelashes?

I didn't start out doing just pageant retouches. I actually began with naturals and modeling where you have to draw extensions on the existing eyelashes and fill in by hand. I got the feel of that and made a couple template sets that I use in conjuntion with brushes. Depending on the look the client requests, I often have lashes to match. There is nothing more valuable than experience and practice, but a Wacom tablet does help :)

grafx
I think your work is very cool. The girls still look like themselves.
has anyone asked you how you do the eyelashes?

Does anyone know how to do the "dolls eyes"..Ive read a few posts about it, but not really much help..