Retouched Beauty Image....Hit me where it hurts...

[anchorbuildings]

i shot this recently for a jewellery client...

constructive criticism welcome...

Pre
http://somaphotos.com/site/client/re...Heath_1283.jpg

Post
http://somaphotos.com/site/client/re...ath_1283_1.jpg

[lurch]

My eye goes immediately to the model's lumpy arm and the stray hairs on her shoulder. Have to look for the jewelry. I personally don't like quite so much dark space.

[Godmother]

Originally Posted by anchorbuildings

i shot this recently for a jewellery client...

constructive criticism welcome...

Pre
http://somaphotos.com/site/client/re...Heath_1283.jpg

Post
http://somaphotos.com/site/client/re...ath_1283_1.jpg

For Beauty it's ok - The retouch needs work,like it was already mentioned.

But for a jewellery beauty I think u need a more "classic" approach, specially for such a small piece.

something like www.nataliataffarel.com/approach.jpg

I don't mean manipulted it, i mean re shooting it.

x

[anchorbuildings]

Thanks Lurch, you're not the first to mention the lumpy arm. I was going to leave it as it was but think i'll correct it now. I'm not bothered by the negative space though.

The shots are more for a lifestyle feel to the brand rather than close up detail. They already have somebody else to shoot the product shots which is not my thing.

So the same thing for your criticism Natalia, I have closer in shots like this one

http://somaphotos.com/site/client/re...Heath_1344.jpg

already so don't need a tighter crop... I see what you did with the colour balance but I already corrected it back from that warm tone to a slightly cooler feel deliberately...

thanks for the feedback...

[Markzebra]

•*maybe her expression is a bit bored? but other than that i actually dont have too much of problem with image
•*Shoulder blade restructured - and shape of arm (only slight reshape on arm, but shoulder needs work)
•*cross hairs got rid of (especially visible top right of image)
•*more work on retouching as has been mentioned. Things like neck lines, edge of dress
•*top edge of lip needs to be straightened
•*colouring good

[Steve13]

I'm not a fashion expert, but I don't think all the skin below the pendant is attractive or sexy with this model. Maybe bring the neckline up or crop higher. Just my opinion.

[slash-5]

I may be wrong, but it looks like you have a couple different light colors/sources going on here. Actually, Now that I looked at it again, it may be uneven foundation around her mouth/left side. It's like there is a pink/gold/white color change in a small area...

[anchorbuildings]

slash-5 thanks for your constructive criticism
aartist- no thanks for your useless criticism...

[aartist]

The useless criticism has been deleted.
My comments were inappropriate and I apologize.

[anchorbuildings]

@aartist good for you...

[anchorbuildings]

@aartist i don't care if you don't like the image... that's your personal taste... but it's of no use to me (or anyone else) unless you can constructively explain to me where i might be at fault or where i might improve. cheers.h

[DavidBickley]

The second shot you posted is much stronger than the first. If this is for an ad and you need a landscape image, fine...but, I'd work the 2nd one otherwise. I also agree with Steve13 that it needs to be cropped a little higher or the chest should be addressed in another fashion. The shadow around her sternum is unattractive.

Everyone else already touched on the rest of the retouch issues so I won't repeat them. Just remember that the ultimate goal is to sell the jewelry...don't let us get distracted by anything else (wonky shoulders, etc).

[rsvrdogg86]

just to reinforce whats been said already...definitely the lumpy misshapen arm needs fixing. you've got a nice start on the eyes..with just a little work on the eyebrows and maybe eyelashes it can make a huge difference. also the cross hairs mentioned, and maybe try enlarging the necklace and using some high pass sharpening techniques to make it pop?

[amymonel]

i think you kept the subject very natural.
since its a piece about the jewelry, you should enforce the emphasis on the jewelry...
i think the retouching was minimal and not too over the board, only thing I would change is the ridges right at where the pendant is located.

[Zaire43]

Of course, beauty-retouching is a quite deceptive art. The masters of Photoshop create illusions which are hard to tell apart unless you have both a genuine photo and the final result in Photoshop and can directly compare them. In fact, every day we consume perfectly retouched stars and models online and offline which just look different in the real life.

[Solstice]

Some topics that may need to be looked at based on what you feel.

* Contouring the arms, in terms of shape, and the shadow structure. Eyes go directly to it. If you are cropping, do not worry about it.

* Subtle eyebrow work

* dodge the neck lines a bit

Everything else looks fine

[Godmother]

Originally Posted by Solstice

Some topics that may need to be looked at based on what you feel.

* Contouring the arms, in terms of shape, and the shadow structure. Eyes go directly to it. If you are cropping, do not worry about it.

* Subtle eyebrow work

* dodge the neck lines a bit

Everything else looks fine

Hon, I know you're eager to help but look at the date on the original post

x

[Solstice]

Originally Posted by Godmother

Hon, I know you're eager to help but look at the date on the original post

x

Whoops! It was back on the main page after Zaire commented recently. I need to keep a mental note of thanks, thanks !