Okay, before I start. I do this as a hobby, but I am always looking to improve.
I started with a picture I took of my daughter.

lightened shadows, tried d/b on nose (not very successfully, I think) to lighten remaining shadow, healing brush, added eyelashes, lightened irises,and did degrunge and lowered to about 20%

What do you think?

Hi Keiser
I think you may have lightened it up too much, I liked some of the shadows.
the eyelashes are very good, but the eyeshadow could be darker.
Here is what I did.
I cloned out the feather and refelection on her check, then dodged and burn out to smooth the skin, but I didn't do it to perfection.
I also used a levels adjustment layer to help with the contrast. And a color adjustment layer to bring in more yellow and less red.

Hello Keiser-

I too only do this as a hobby. I started with your retouched image and applied the degrune tutorial found on this site and then ran it through a Kodak airbrush 3rd party filter. I also removed the area on her cheek.

Lovely young lady.

dc

Here's my take on it

Here is my rendition. Tried to enhance the eyes and added warming filter and some vignetting.
(PSE4 - Win XP)

:D Wow, great job everyone.

Cathy, I too like the shadows on the original. The picture was taken next to a window and I just liked the look of it. I agree that it needs to be lightened a little though.

I was just using this picture as a practice. I am trying to learn d/b, but I find I over do it. Guess it just takes, practice, practice and more practice.

I used my Digital Grey Card action for color, Skin Repair action, PWL I action,
sharpen and selective blurring with HighPass filter and Old Eye Tutorial. I also used these eyelashes
http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=287

Digital Grey Card action
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=20540243&q=digital+grey+card+action&qf=m

Skin Repair Action
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=23435116


Old Eye Tutorial
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=20387612

PWL actions, examples and tutorial.
http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/photo-restoration/9421-paint-light-action-i-ii.html

Picture EDIT
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/mcennis3/cspringer-feathersweb.jpg

cspringer...very nice explainations!

46938

My attempt at a slightly "glam" look

One from me.

Storm

My first ever retouch.

What do you think?