First timer - retouch using SlickForce Technique

[BWild]

I'm just trying my hand at retouching, all image are pictures I took myself, so go ahead & be brutally honest. But if you see something I can improve on tell me where & how please.

My background, I have spent the last 3 years part time at night school learning photography, mostly landscape. This winter I decided to try my luck at portraits. Total different world. Just starting to get comfortable with models & the lights.

Thanks for looking.
PS if I have to tell you which one is retouched, I guess I "did not" do a very good job.

[Moniquette]

Hi Bob, I think you have some nice images to start with.

I will refer to the first picture, the bikini photo. I think it could use an overall luminosity boost, also I find the skin to be a tad too saturated red/yellow and the retouched image has a magenta overcast...as a personal preference, I like the colors in the raw version better. The skin on the model's legs looks too smooth in comparison with the skin on the rest of her body. You lost the texture on her legs, did you use some kind of blur to even out the skin?...I think dodge and burn would work better to preserve texture.

Just my 2 cents. And I must add I want those apple shoes in the second picture!

[BWild]

Moniquette - all good points. Yes I did blur the legs a little, I thought they showed way to much of the veins in the original.
When working with images of people I have a hard time with skin color.. Always fools me

Thanks much appreciated
Bob