Need critique of work for beginner

[timmy1729]

Hey everyone! Here is a picture of my friend and his wife at their wedding that was taken by another friend. I just tried to keep it simple using levels and shadow and highlights, then using a couple adjustment layers for color and then doing some blemish and skin corrections. What do you see that I did well? What do you see that I messed up? What are your suggestions for me to try to improve my developing techniques?

[0lBaldy]

I think it looks pretty good except for all that stuff in the background and those shadows.... simple solution... Crop... If the couple says it's OK!

[TommyO]

Timmy,
It is certainly an improvement, and good job bringing out the image.

I would be a bit cautious about cropping without their permission (as OlBaldy said). Most women like to see all of that expensive dress ! For a friend, I might go as far as taking a few wrinkles out his trousers. However, they may have to pay me to remove the distractions in the background. Not that it's hard, it's just hard to put in a rail or something that looks realistic as the ending of the deck.

Also, the light on them may be just a smidge too bright. Play with it just a little and see what you think.

[mikedimples]

Like Tommy said, it's a little too bright. You took the shadow/highlights command too far, losing the shadows that gave form to their faces. It's great to lighten unflattering shadows, but getting rid of all of them brings all the features to the same plane causing flat-face. Use the light and shadow as a way to enhance the natural structure of their faces. Look at how nice her cheekbones look the original.

Great work for a beginner - welcome to RetouchPRO!

[Maya]

Hi,

you did a good job, certainly. My only point would be.. a lot of the nice evening atmoshere is gone, and with that.. there is suddenly more distraction of the cluttered background. My idea would be.. leave the background more in the dark (you do not have to crop, in this case) and let the couple come softly out in the light.

Succes!

Maya

Portfolio

www.artwanted.com/Gabrielle

Maya

[Aleksman71]

You have to remove the shadow

[pettisson]

Shadow/Highlights to lighten the background. Then curves to lighten the couple. Then curves again to darken the table. Hides it well and you wont notice it.

[Cupcake]

Light Painting to remove what you do not want.

[timmy1729]

Originally Posted by Aleksman71

You have to remove the shadow

That looks wonderful! What techniques did you use on this? Or should I post that question in the thread in the Image Help forum?