Portrait retouching...critique needed

[041567970]

Hey guys!

I am approaching the finish line at retouching this photograph. It is my first try at only D&B the skin, I used to use the "degrunge". I really have to learn more about the colors of the skin and generally about color, as I am having a lot of difficulties with that.

My further steps are to try to make lips better, add more glow to them. Than maybe a little more work on her eyes and at the end the flyaway hair (thats anoying! thats why at the end (: ).

Please share your thoughts, what should I improve, did I go over the top,...

Thanks a lot!

before:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...G_0006orig.jpg
after:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...G_0006Rpro.jpg

[TommyO]

Just a couple observations.

Overall, you seem to have a goal in mind and have made some significant changes that reflect your style and goal. That's good. The changes affect known aspects of glamour retouching, which is good too.

One thing that stands out though is the way you may have changed the lightness or contrast of the overall image. You have introduced more "white" across the board. This has caused a few noticable problems. (1) The facial area has picked up reflections on the cheeks, forehead and chin that normally you would want to reduce. (2) The skin below the neckline is washing out, more so toward the bottom. (3) The whites of the eyes are becoming too white.

I'll let others comment on some of the other aspects.
Overall though, a good retouch with noticable elements.
Keep it up and continue working on this one.
Please post your additional revisions !

[Cyberek]

/U have done a good work... while the original isnt good, after your, i must say, that i like it' looks.
Good work on eyelashes. As for me, the skin reflections that was increased are ok... maybe becouse i,m usually working in studio and this effect is one that i use frequently .

[041567970]

Thank you both for the input.

@Tommy: Yeah, maybe I added toomuch white to these areas. I painted whites with white, like I saw in godmothers video, but I might have overdone it. Just wanted to add some glow. Maybe blurring that layer would help...
The skin on here neck was my main problem. I noticed also that the colors were washing out. Is there a good way where I can avoid this? Maybe, when I was dodging and burning I should sample color from the areas that I was working on rather than just use black and white?

@cyberek: Thanks, its a lot of work with lashes, but its worth it.

[r_dg]

good job! i really loved the final product but there are somethings you might want to do..
while you d&b sometimes you loose some colors and the image gets a little bit dull, so if this happens you could try painting in a new layer the color you want and chainging the blending mode and opacity so the product stay "natural looking".
btw the cheeks of the girl are missing a little bit of light, the left has a strip of light while the right has a minimal glow so brighten up a little and you'll have a beautyfull bone structure model.

well that's what i think im not a pro but those are the things that i would correct...
overall you did a very professional job
so keep going!!

[johnnycorcoran]

Maybe you like something like that kind of balance? hope you dont mind me doing alittle retouched of yours


woman.jpg