Critique please

[Marketa]

Hi, I'm Marketa.

I have never used Photoshop before but I've been drawing since I was a small kid and I find it very similar. I've been retouching since three months and I'm copletely loving it! So much that I start considering that I would try to this as a full time job.

The question is: Am I good enough? Here I would need your help. Would you, please, have look at my images and give me hones critique? I'd really appreciate it.

You can see my images on my ModelMayhem website: http://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/1638741/0

Also, if you saw any potential, I'd greatly welcome any advice on how to get into the industry.

I'm a huge perfectionist and I especially enjoy beauty retouching.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

KR,
Marketa

[csuebele]

I'm not a beauty retoucher, so take what I have to say with a grain of salt. A lot of your images, the skin has been over smoothed to the point that it looks plastic. You need to tone down the skin imperfections, but left some texture to the skin. Looks like you're headed in the right direction though.

[TommyO]

Marketa,
Welcome and I am please you posted.

First, posting in the "critique" forum can certainly be a tough experience. You will receive both constructive and harsh criticism, not just critiques.

With that said, these are images we have seen many times. There are many things I like about your images. So, let's hit those first.
- most color values are consistent, no add colors sneaking in.
- you approached many aspects of the images, not just the skin.
- with only a few exceptions, you kept the retouch well within the bounds of normal.
- you started with good practice images, so initial quality is not an issue.

Items that may require your attention or further refining:
- some areas of skin left devoid of texture.
- some excessive skin texture in a few areas.
- a few small distracting blemish/defects.

Looks like small stuff to me. So, I'd be happy. Improving these issues should be a snap for you. Then you can worry about other items like workflow.

Best of luck to you.

[Marketa]

Hi,

So it seems I'll have to pay a bigger attention to keeping the skin looking more natural. This is not for the first time I can hear this. The thing is that with my personal taste I tend to prefere more "perfect"-looking images so I'll have to fight with myself to tone it down

I'm glad to hear though that (with a high probability) I'm heading the right way.

Thank you very much for your critique! Most helpful.

Marketa

[LloydM]

Originally Posted by Marketa

Hi,

So it seems I'll have to pay a bigger attention to keeping the skin looking more natural. This is not for the first time I can hear this. The thing is that with my personal taste I tend to prefere more "perfect"-looking images so I'll have to fight with myself to tone it down

I'm glad to hear though that (with a high probability) I'm heading the right way.

Thank you very much for your critique! Most helpful.

Marketa

Your work is over-all good.. and you are heading in the right direction..
But 'Perfect' does not mean 'plastic' looking -unles you want it that way- Leaving a little more texture, and cleaning up some of the stray and cross hairs would be in order .. ..

[Robrasil]

Hi Marketa,

I'm yet to have established myself as a fashion and beauty retoucher, so take from this what you will.

I agree with the above posts that a lot of texture has been lost from the skin. On the other hand, I think you have a good eye for what needs retouching and your images have impact.

You might benefit more from dodging and burning, if you don't know of it already? I do it with two curves adjustments.


If you are interested you can take a look at my website. Each image in my portfolio has gone through a few hours of dodging and burning.

Rob Dewey
http://www.robertdewey.net

[Marketa]

Thanks everybody for their comments. Really appreciate it